If you are a citizen of Texas, then the legal process of our State was followed.

Yemi Babalola was tried by a capable Brazos County jury, found guilty, sentenced to a term of imprisonment, and has been released from prison. Your opinion on the severity of punishment or length of sentence does not matter, because it was not your call to make.

Yemi was imprisoned according to Texas law and has served that term in prison. He can't vote and can't own a weapon, but Texas law does not prevent him from playing football.

If you are Christian, then you are to forgive Yemi if he personally wronged you:

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Mark 11:25 ESV And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Matthew 6:14-15 ESV For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, (15) but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Luke 17:3-4 ESV Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, (4) and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Matthew 18:21-22 ESV Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” (22) Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

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If you are a Christian and Yemi did not wrong you personally, then you are not personally involved, so why would you act as his judge, jury, or jailer?

If you are not a Christian, then consider the Golden Rule, a universal truth found in too many cultures to count: consider treating Yemi as you would want to be treated if you were in his shoes.

Thank you.

Well said. Now duck...

A Christian endorsing Christ-like principles. I am refreshed. There is an individual who will not agree with you. I hope that individual eventually finds peace with what happened to him. I also hope Yemi has sincerely changed and realized his wrongs and isn't just BSing. Time will tell. What he did was despicable, but we should allow him the chance for atone for that.

Agree 100%

Pshaw. ESV

(grin…well said Jag)

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Pshaw. ESV

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HEY!!!!!!!

J/K!! Well said OP!

Meh

Well said

Was it Kierkegaard or Dick Van Patten who said, 'If you label me, you negate me' ?

I doubt Yemi is a bad kid... he might have screwed up a few times but it happens and he could have just been confused. Keep in mind that I believe both his parents are college professors either at a JUCO or a University so you would think he was raised well. I wish him well in whatever he does and know that he will be a very productive member of society.

yemi was given an unbelievable opportunity to be a Texas Aggie, free of charge, for his ability as an athlete! He severely EFFED it up with what he did! As a Christian, I hope that he asks for forgiveness, and turns his life around.....and realizes that he may still be in a position to turn this negative press into a positive.....that it is never too late to give your life to the Lord and use this publicity in a positive way! Go Yemi!

Agree with OP. I forgive Yemi and hope the rest of his life is positive and productive.

JAG!!! WHOOP!!!!

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He can't vote

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Jagavocate: I am not an attorney but I have slept in a Holiday Inn (but never in a prison).

The election code in Texas:

Title 2, Chapter 11, Section 11.002 (4) (a & b)

states (and I paraphrase) that as long a person has served their sentence and has completed their probation, they can vote in Texas.

I am not arguing the pluses and minuses of the law but it is a misconception that convicted felons cannot vote.

They indeed can.

BTW good luck Yemi.



[This message has been edited by brazos county observer (edited 12/28/2011 5:53a).]

There is a difference between forgiving and providing a platform of sponsorship and allowing him to associate with the university. I forgive him, but I don't want him within 1000 yards of the program. He might have a great story, but so do 1000 other motivational speakers an players that didnt Rob people at gunpoint.

I don't think psu will be handing jerry Sandusky interviews when he finishes his sentence and I don't see why we are either.

You jock sniffers are pathetic. TexAgs is quickly making me hate other Aggies.

Good grief, why does every other thread have to reference Christians these days. Go to the religion board!

Why is it a great story? What has he done other than get out of prison. What did he do while in prison? I am all for a good story when there is one. But get him off the pedestal until he does something to warrant it. Doing your time does not make you rehabilitated. What he does from here on out will determine that.

People are way out of line when spouting "Christianity" as a defense for a criminal, whether he's done his time or not.

[Not sure if I would consider getting paroled equal to doing his time..ie. more like it is his getting another chance for the same reason he had so many chances to do right prior to going to jail, but just couldn't make himself do right.]

I can "forgive" someone that wronged me, as a Christian, but I have no jurisdiction to "forgive" someone who wronged another. The idea of forgiveness stems from us "wronging" God by sinning and "believers" are forgiven of that wrong when they confess, repent (turn away) and don't continue to sin (God cannot look upon sin). Therefore, as God has forgiven us our "trespasses" against him, we are to "forgive" others trespasses against us. The criminal to be interviewed didn't wrong any individual spouting "forgiveness", unless there's evidence not yet presented, and thus cannot be "forgiven".

His transgressions can be overlooked, ignored, or whistled past, but the smart man is going to wait to determine if this guy has made a change (getting out on parole isn't evidence of change...sorry but that don't fly), not lift him up as if he's changed and is a big story. He's done no such thing and until he addresses those he's wronged in the past he's still a transgressor and should be viewed as such. Talk is cheap and as Emerson said, "What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say."

As I read the writings of the enablers and excuse makers I keep hearing this:

“An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.”

I guess everyone has a price at which they will sell their honor...for some it is pretty low.





[This message has been edited by Divine Wind (edited 12/28/2011 7:55a).]

to the OP, so you wouldn't have a problem with your daughter dating a violent criminal so long as he had asked forgiveness and served his time, right?

or might you decide to keep him about 1000 miles away from her.

playing the Christianity high horse card

Divine wind nailed it.

nm

[This message has been edited by Dave R74 (edited 12/28/2011 9:31a).]

OP

He may have paid his debt but Texags has killed his credit score

Felons

Time will tell if he's changed. Most inmates find God while incarcerated. Problem is they leave him there when their sentence is complete. Only to find him again when they repeat. Ask many inmates in jail awaiting trail if they are innocent, their response will be,"I can beat this charge!" In my opinion accountability is the big reason why former inmates eventually end up back in the prison system.

Think its good he is changing his life around but he shouldn't be praised for doing what is expected...and I find it odd he would take an interview like this..You think he would just want to move on?

Agreed, take this crap to the religion board.

Sometimes, whether you like it or not, religion becomes inextricably linked with an A&M football player's life story. That's the case with Yemi and complaining about it and telling people to take it elsewhere is pretty futile. Don't wanna read religion? Don't click Yemi threads.

It becomes linked with every football player's story.

The problem is that those football players who get in trouble like this normally aren't very bright, and they think a good way to restore public trust is to play the Jesus card.

Which usually works, as we can see here.

Some people like hope. Others don't buy it. Fortunately, TexAgs welcomes both but won't hide from either. Gonna be a pretty interesting half-hour.

devine wind > jagvocate