Should we use different words for “student loan forgiveness”?
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In perusing the Internet recently, I frequently read the term “student loan forgiveness”…….again and again…….and again. Setting aside the differences of opinion of whether or not this is a good idea, my point here is to suggest that the term should change. There is a large difference between legal pardon and forgiveness. Legal pardon is not a moral virtue. The one who pardons the loans is not the one who was offended by the loaner. Forgiveness, as a moral virtue, in contrast, is concerned with reaching out to those who have been unfair and hurtful toward the forgiver. Given these distinctions, let us make a turn and refer to the loan issue as “student loan pardon.” Why? It is for this reason: Forgiveness already is misunderstood by many. For example, forgiveness can be erroneously associated with “just giving in” or “letting the hurt go.” If we now equate forgiveness with third-party people taking debt away, we are continuing to move away from the true meanings of the word forgiveness. Let us correct this. Student loan pardon needs to be the new term.
