‘ Politicians who change their mind rather than doubling down should be celebrated not vilified. Admitting you’re wrong and changing is what we need in more people. We teach our kids that right?
let’s just celebrate and publicise this turn around’
I don’t think we have a choice, tbh. If we are going to dismiss as a hypocrite or coward everyone who claims to have seen the light ( however late) we are going to have very few allies, and we are going to need them. The TRA are not just sitting on their hands saying ‘ oh okay, fair cop, I’ll roll up my banner and put my stilettos in the charity bin’.
when Christianity became ‘legal’ in the fourth century CE there was considerable conflict between the Christians who had proclaimed their faith in the face of persecution , and those who had shut up, burnt the incense in front of the Emperor and practised their faith in private. ( Of course, the ranks of the former had been considerably thinned by martyrdom). Eventually, the reconverting bishops and laity were accepted, partly because there just weren’t enough of the steadfast to fill the new hierarchy. The concept of forgiveness for the prodigals did some heavy lifting.
(not many of the latter are recognised as Saints, though.)