"I'm not the same person I was two years ago. I don't even recognize the person I was two years ago... But I wasn't biased. I didn't act out of hate." -Dharun Ravi
Everybody makes mistakes. You will never meet a single person that will tell you they haven't made a mistake when they were young, or even now. Have you ever made a mistake in your own life? The answer is probably a yes. 
Dharun Ravi made a mistake. 
THE FACTS: He mistakenly set up a video chat with his fellow hall mate, Molly Wei, aimed at his gay roommate's encounter with another man. Afterwards, that same roommate took his own life. Dharun Ravi is receiving a ten year sentence for a "hate crime" and being deported to his home country.  
Now think about it. Suicide isn't a one event problem. This was probably building up for years. It is obvious that Dharun Ravi was just the stick that broke the camels back, and caused the suicide. Is that really worth a ten year prison time? The jury is being too hard on him. He was a good student at Rutgers university. He didn't start bullying. He just was immature and added a little joke to it. A joke. Has the jury never made a joke that hurt somebody before? 
It happens to everybody. Everybody has been bullied and bullied others (whether they know it or not) at sone point in their life. 
I believe Dharun Ravi has been made an example. He is just an example of what of could happen if you "bully others" yet gets his life ruined because of it. 
I am not saying Dharun's choices were correct. I am not saying that bullying is okay. But I am saying that forgiving others is more than okay. That is what needs to happen now. Especially for those that are nice inside. Look at Dharun's face. You can see the niceness in his eyes. He is a guy who wanted to fit in by making a joke. It shouldn't have to come to this for him. He shouldn't be the example of how your life is ruined when you make a mistake. At this point, isn't he is being bullied himself?
Everybody makes mistakes. If you have ever made a mistake, this petition is for you. You are not a hateful person and neither is he. Don't let Dharun Ravi's life get ruined because of a mistake. Please.

Thank you for reading this statement of freedom of speech.