As we contemplate the universe we see around us and extrapolate how it might evolve (depressingly) over the next googleplex to the googleplex power a googlplex number of times (the REALLY big picture) it can direct our thoughts in the other direction (if'n you all is enlightened 'bout shit as me) as to what was going on here in 'our' region of the "whatever-verse" that many years in the past.
The granting of a pardon is an imputation of guilt, and the acceptance a confession of it.