This song by Tom Paxton sprang to my mind.

I Don't Want Your Pardon

I don't want your pardon; I don't want your amnesty.
Don't you smile with Christian sympathizing.
Don't you tell me you're forgiving me.
I am doing no apologizing.

I didn't kill no children; I didn't burn no towns.
I didn't leave no country nothing but craters.
Those who did are your kind of good clean kids,
While those of us who would not, you call traitors.

So save your pardon for the ones who really need it.
I'm not ashamed to do what I had to do.
I'm the one who understands, had no blood upon my hands.
Maybe someday soon we'll see about pardoning you.

Hey, you think your forgiveness is everything on earth,
Something so important that I'd pay plenty.
Let me ask you: How much was it worth
To pardon that old man in San Clemente?

So save your pardon for the ones who really need it.
I'm not ashamed to do what I had to do.
I'm the one who understands, had no blood upon my hands.
Maybe someday soon we'll see about pardoning you.

I don't want your pardon; I don't want your amnesty.
Don't you smile with Christian sympathizing.
Don't you tell me you're forgiving me.
I am doing no apologizing.
Don't you tell me you're forgiving me.
I am doing NO apologizing.