A Question Regarding Justice; Does it NEED to Be Televised?
Melizmatic
2012/04/10 00:07:27
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In light of all the controversy surrounding the recent tragedy in Sanford, Florida, there's been a lot of public outcry from various factions.
Some of it is quite justified, while some of it is just simply mind boggling; from some people's apathetic and nonchalant attitudes about the unnecessary death of an unarmed minor, to the counter-productive grandstanding of repugnant hate groups like the Aryan Nation and the so-called "New Black Panther Party."
And of course, our favorite little 'cyber-playground' hasn't been exempt from all the inflammatory rhetoric.
One of the most disturbing trends that I've noticed is certain people trying to negate the horrific aspects of the situation down in Florida by comparing it to completely unrelated heinous and inhumane crimes perpetrated by people of color.
The usual rhetoric is that there has been 'no public outcry' for the victims of such crimes, along with the myopic implication that this can only be the case because the victims were white.
Never mind the fact that in most of the cases that I've seen sited, the perpetrators were taken into police custody in a timely manner, given their day in court and then sentenced to serve prison sentences if they were found guilty before a jury of their peers.
(That alone is a glaringly HUGE difference to the case in Florida.)
Nevertheless, people will always view things from their own perspective, even if that view is severely limited; such is life.
However, this trend got me to thinking hard about the people who really matter in all these stories:
The victims.
Having once personally experienced violence at the hands of another, I know how it feels to be victimized, and how it can utterly shatter someone's life.
I also know that after the fact, what I wanted more than anything else wasn't 'media attention'; I wanted justice.
In fact, the national spotlight would have been the last thing I would have wanted as I tried to put my life back together; it would have only made recovery all that much more difficult and elusive, IMO.
It seems to me that being put on display and having my entire existence suddenly shoved under a microscope would have been quite detrimental to the healing process.
Such reminiscences often make me wonder if the the people who make such arbitrary comparisons ever stop to think about the victims, or their friends and families, and how they were impacted.
Perhaps those people who didn't get any national attention were relieved and even thankful that the relentless vultures of current day media weren't trying to milk their misfortune for all it was worth.
Perhaps those who actually were in the "spot-light" cursed it and those who focused it on them, for keeping their wounds raw and fresh, in pursuit of mere ratings and revenue.
So I ask you, now; what if it was you?
What if you were in the shoes of a victim of a horrific crime; would you really want the entire world's attention to be fixated on your pain and suffering, as you tried to rebuild your life?
Or would you just want justice to be served?
And before anyone answers; please take the issue of race or ethnicity completely out of the equation.
This isn't about the perpetrators or how you may feel about them.
This isn't about anyone who would try to profit from senseless tragedy, and there are many of leeches of all colors out there.
This is ONLY about the victims getting their due.
IMHO, everyone deserves justice; no matter what they look like or what they did in their past.
All that being said you should know the routine regarding my questions by now:
This is a post in the Living section.
No politics, no religion; You have an entire section of forums dedicated to those subjects.
No baiting, bullying nor acting like an asshat.
Be civil or begone.
Lastly, prayers to all the victims of senseless inhumane violence, world-wide; no matter what you may look like.
We are all red under the epidermis, and we ALL matter.
Some of it is quite justified, while some of it is just simply mind boggling; from some people's apathetic and nonchalant attitudes about the unnecessary death of an unarmed minor, to the counter-productive grandstanding of repugnant hate groups like the Aryan Nation and the so-called "New Black Panther Party."
And of course, our favorite little 'cyber-playground' hasn't been exempt from all the inflammatory rhetoric.
One of the most disturbing trends that I've noticed is certain people trying to negate the horrific aspects of the situation down in Florida by comparing it to completely unrelated heinous and inhumane crimes perpetrated by people of color.
The usual rhetoric is that there has been 'no public outcry' for the victims of such crimes, along with the myopic implication that this can only be the case because the victims were white.
Never mind the fact that in most of the cases that I've seen sited, the perpetrators were taken into police custody in a timely manner, given their day in court and then sentenced to serve prison sentences if they were found guilty before a jury of their peers.
(That alone is a glaringly HUGE difference to the case in Florida.)
Nevertheless, people will always view things from their own perspective, even if that view is severely limited; such is life.
However, this trend got me to thinking hard about the people who really matter in all these stories:
The victims.
Having once personally experienced violence at the hands of another, I know how it feels to be victimized, and how it can utterly shatter someone's life.
I also know that after the fact, what I wanted more than anything else wasn't 'media attention'; I wanted justice.
In fact, the national spotlight would have been the last thing I would have wanted as I tried to put my life back together; it would have only made recovery all that much more difficult and elusive, IMO.
It seems to me that being put on display and having my entire existence suddenly shoved under a microscope would have been quite detrimental to the healing process.
Such reminiscences often make me wonder if the the people who make such arbitrary comparisons ever stop to think about the victims, or their friends and families, and how they were impacted.
Perhaps those people who didn't get any national attention were relieved and even thankful that the relentless vultures of current day media weren't trying to milk their misfortune for all it was worth.
Perhaps those who actually were in the "spot-light" cursed it and those who focused it on them, for keeping their wounds raw and fresh, in pursuit of mere ratings and revenue.
So I ask you, now; what if it was you?
What if you were in the shoes of a victim of a horrific crime; would you really want the entire world's attention to be fixated on your pain and suffering, as you tried to rebuild your life?
Or would you just want justice to be served?
And before anyone answers; please take the issue of race or ethnicity completely out of the equation.
This isn't about the perpetrators or how you may feel about them.
This isn't about anyone who would try to profit from senseless tragedy, and there are many of leeches of all colors out there.
This is ONLY about the victims getting their due.
IMHO, everyone deserves justice; no matter what they look like or what they did in their past.
All that being said you should know the routine regarding my questions by now:
This is a post in the Living section.
No politics, no religion; You have an entire section of forums dedicated to those subjects.
No baiting, bullying nor acting like an asshat.
Be civil or begone.
Lastly, prayers to all the victims of senseless inhumane violence, world-wide; no matter what you may look like.
We are all red under the epidermis, and we ALL matter.
Top Opinion
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*Mahogany Goddess of P.H.A.E.T 2012/04/10 17:12:20If It Were Me, I Would Want Justice to be Served, not Media Coverage.
Justice should be objective. When televised, everyone's sweating over the political angle.
...and let's look at it this way. The ones that are televised are the unlucky ones.
I might suggest RECORDING all proceedings, but not releasing the videotape for, say, 30 days. I think the Supreme Court's approach of releasing audio recordings is a reasonable compromise.
Great post, Melz. You know how to take what's in your heart, and along with many of us and put it out there. ;-)
That proven moment when you realize many lack self control here...
Thanks.
._.
Too much to say - I hope this clears where I'm coming from:
http://www.sodahead.com/unite...
This post is about the victims of violent crime, the pursuit of justice for the victimized, and whether or not people think that said justice HAS to be televised or not... Not race or racism.
As for you being "annoyed", I say this with much affection:
Suck it up, buttercup.
You didnt have to make a comment; you could have just ignored this post... as I'm sure you well know.
Kisses.
The incident in Florida has worn many people's patience and tolerance thin, and that's understandable, to a point... but it still doesnt excuse misplaced aggression and/or frustration.
All that being said I am SO ready for this week to be over...
About that last part:
*lolz
No harm, no foul.
To end the code, do the same, but put a backslash / in front of the word strong.
:)
Thank you. I learned something today.
=D
I know some people do choose to go to the media, and while it's not a choice I'd make, if it brings about justice I can understand their decision. Those that wish for privacy should also have it given to them. Hounding the victim's loved ones during their grieving process is abhorrent, as is casting judgement based on information provided by the media.
What's really ironic is I can make a post about underwear, and it gets almost 300 responses.
Make a post about being considerate of the victims of violent crimes, and its practically crickets.
That's a sad testimony to many people's superficiality.
They seem addicted to the negativity.