Looking to Long Island, Jay Evensen editorialized in the Desert Morning News that "forgiveness has power to change the future"….

He wrote about Victoria Ruvolo, a 44-year-old collection agency manager, and 19-year-old Ryan Cushing. Mr. Cushing and his friends stole a credit card and then took off on a shopping spree…for no reason.

They stole a 20-pound frozen turkey and proceeded to throw it from their speeding vehicle headlong into the windshield of the automobile driven by Victoria Ruvolo. The result: the victim underwent surgery for six hours as metal plates and other pieces of hardware were fitted together in an effort to rebuild her face….

The prosecutor in Ruvolo's case stated that for crimes such as this one, victims often "feel no punishment is harsh enough." In fact, "Death doesn't even satisfy them," the attorney stated.

How did Victoria react to what had happened to her? She was primarily concerned with "salvaging the life of her 19-year-old assailant." She did not seek revenge in any way. She sought information about the youth and how he was raised, insisting that he be offered a plea deal. He could plead guilty to second-degree assault, be put in the county jail for six months and placed on one year's probation. He could have been sent to prison for 25 years, returning to society middle-aged with no job skills or prospects.

According to editor Evensen, "this is only half the story. The rest of it, what happened the day this all played out in court, is the truly remarkable part."

The young man walked "carefully and tentatively" to where his victim was seated in the courtroom. With tears and in a whisper he apologized, "I'm so sorry for what I did to you." He and Victoria embraced, both weeping. She stroked his head, patted him on the back, and comforted him. "It's OK," she said. "I just want you to make your life the best it can be." It was reported that "hardened prosecutors, and even reporters, were choking back tears."

The editor concluded: "Slowly, humans seem to be learning to understand the power of forgiveness. As a healing agent, it appears to be stronger than any surgery, counseling or anger-management course."