What up bitches! I hope y'all read that greeting the right way. If not, please re-start this post imagining I'm greeting you as I enter a banging house-party "Can't Hardly Wait" style of house party, without lame ass bitches like Jennifer Love Hewitt -- or shit, wait a minute, am I that girl? Nevermind, its impossible to the that girl with walking into a room with a salutation like "What up bitches!"
Anyway. How you doing? I hope, as always, that this finds you well. I hope you've calmed down from yesterday's shocking verdict news. Jesus Christ, if you had any question as to whether or not America (in addition to having the largest prison population in the world -- just to keep the subjects in the same arena . . .) was in fact the most ridiculously reactive nation, you didn't have to look further than your favorite hoodrat's Twitter feed. Now, before we get into all this, even though you may feel so-omg-life-endingly (too soon? no pun intended on the real, y'all!) upset at the news, I really don't give a shit whether or not you agree with the verdict, wanted to fill a glove with rocks and slap Jeff Ashton across the face; or were secretly hoping the train-wreck of a mistress Crysal Raine would be giving lap dances at a discount (and a horrible lisp) if you'd allow her to call you George Anthony. What-evs!
I spent alot of time with this case, and didn't figure out the exact timeline, motivations and batshit-craziness that motivated any of the Anthony family until like Sunday. My theory (by "theory" I mean the opposite of the definition of "theory" . . if you follow) covers all characters, occurrences and fuck-ups (lit/fig). I'm keeping it to myself, for now, only because Nancy Grace is one hard bitch to get in touch with. Don't even get me started on Jose Baez.
I spent quite a bit of time last night on the first draft of what this blog post will end up being. I know I'm wordy, and its a really delicious read, but delves a bit too deep for the general mood of "the blowout." Given the fact that we're still recovering from my birthday week, coupled with trying to dig out of the hangover that accompany July 4th like a pair of well-worn jorts, I'm not going to throw you into anything too intense. I might in the future, if you behave yourselves. Furthermore, please keep in mind that, while we probably banged out a few times, we aren't that well-acquainted, and to put it bluntly, I don't really give a shit if anything I say is too brash for you. I don't have the time to go through mindless bullshit - I already have a Facebook and Twitter account. Please don't think I'm not saying this as sweetly as possible. Because I most definitely am. And to those I know and love, text me the fuck back! (maybe, only if you're drunk and planning on being entertaining.)
If you haven't heard . . . "Hot Body Anthony" (no, in this case, I'm not referring to Cindy) was acquitted of the charges that she caused the death of her daughter. This didn't surprise me, for two reasons. First, as I described above, the legal and psychological expert I have become as a result of non-stop "In Session" coverage realized that this is the sentence that, given the evidence (and by evidence, I am referring to the cold, hard facts, because after all, in this instance I can include whatevs I want to) from both sides; removing my own judgment (which was so hard - judging ranks number 2 on my favorites list, truth) and emotion, with a quick scan of what she was charged with, and a basic understanding of the law (obtained through many hours logged in the Special Victims Unit with Detectives Benson, Stabler, Munch . . . and whatever the fuck Ice-T's last name in the show is) - this is the verdict that'd be reached given the circumstances described above. This isn't to say I think its right, nor does it mean that I, or the jury for that matter, think she's innocent. One of the many reasons I was surprised at my Facebook feed yesterday was the constant confusion of so many who came to the conclusion that "not guilty" was a synonym for "innocent." IDK, with the right accent, and the wrong education, perhaps the two sound similar. I'd be willing to play a game of charades to determine this at any time.
The backlash was . . . holy shit, I don't even think there's a word that I feel adequately describes the sheer number of grievances, lamentations, frustrations, anger, disgust (and so on) that were expressed yesterday. I did catch a bit of Nancy Grace, but the guest who sounded like the gender-confused spawn of Gilbert Gottfried proved to be too much for my own Independence Day hangover. And plus, Nancy's hair looked like shit and her entire body didn't combust within the first few minutes, I didn't really see a point. I think its fair to say that there were not many people who didn't encounter some Casey Anthony related thought in their social media news feeds. (Ir)regardless of your feelings on the verdict, I am relieved to see that more people than I expected join me in my frustrations.
Don't get me wrong, I love America. I love our freedom of speech and love that I can unfriend you if your status updates get too retarded. I'm not saying anything on the fact that so much was said. Thank heavens! The ability to say what we want to means we live in a free country; and most importantly that I'm allowed to dress like a slut while my parents pay college tuition for a classes I've never really been to, (Happy late Mother's and Father's day, yo!). The following, in my opinion, were "shocking" (as "shocking" as can be when Facebook & Twitter are used the way they were intended: for stalking purposes.)
First off, lets handle Kim Kardash (even though I know we're probably the last on earth who've yet to handle homegirl) . . . and her tweeted expression of shock and dismay upon hearing the verdict. Apparently, news of the acquittal left her "speechless!!!!!!" (I might have missed spelling "speechless" wrong and/or failed to include the appropriate number of exclamation points, please bear with). Speechless? If only! The profound silencing effect of the trial's result lasted far less than I would have hoped. (I mean, after all, I can't go more than 2 or 3 minutes without talking about my own Sketchers Shape-Ups, and I'm not even paid!) Before you kindly ask me to put down my cup of haterade, allow me to say that I only yesterday decided she and I could be better friends at a distance. I'm all about milking the shit out of the increasingly-dim spotlight you've banged your way into. You go on, girl! I'm certainly not mad at ya. I don't need to make any comments about the shitty blast song Ray-J put out that was still poetic enough to warrant an "Oh Shit!" upon first listen. I'm not even going to detail the odds I bet that, upon realizing the hubs-to-be is, in fact, actually white (its only his name that has an urban feel) and will end up looking like Skeletor Jenner one day. You wear that $20 million dollar rock on your perfectly manicured hands. You know Mama hates an unpolished nail. I'm not hating, queen bee. You've never put yourself out there as a bastion of knowledge, know-how (that doesn't involve skinned knees) or completely-there-ness. But, as has been noted by many in articles I've come across today (should I have altered the spelling "come" for more complete understanding?), your tweet was silly and even though I know that Kim realizes her pops helped the Juice stay loose, you don't let characterizations and words like "hypocrite" enter your consciousness. Because I assume you weren't lining up for a squeeze after Pops helped secure OJ's acquittal, right? I mean, in line for a squeeze after Orinthal reviewed Daddy's billing and ensured he was paid in full, right? Cool. Good, I was sure of that. Either way, you've never been valedictorian, and have never attempted to be. In reality, like the real world reality, you will, most likely, exit just like you entered, on your back (but maybe with a baby of your own!) Whoohoo! Can't wait to see the post-baby sex-tape, brought to us all by Sketchers Shape-Ups, natch.
Now that we're off Kim, allow me to continue. As has been stated, most of us saw the really sweaty woman on CNN crying over the verdict (you know, the one wearing the tube top with the wifebeater underneath) and we've seen the muddy-skinned woman with those cheap gold rings on every single one of her fingers (complete with her bitten-to-the-quick nails) in tears, and those reactions are, to a point, real. Caylee Anthony was a victim, still is a victim, and no matter what you believe happened, that fact will always ring true. The death of a child is sobering, sad and incredibly upsetting, and given the access everyone with cable television or an internet connection had to the events of the proceedings, its no wonder, we all, collectively, mourned for her passing. I noticed a few phrases continually posted by my Facebook friends. "Justice for Caylee" is understandable, the symbolic porch-lighting at 9:00 PM in her honor is also understandable, it gives us, collectively, the feeling that we're all in this together, it is, in a small way, a rebuttal of our own, a response to the injustice many felt yesterday, which I'll address in a moment. There was one repeated status that made me do a double-take, however, and it deals with a loss of faith in the American justice system. It puzzled me that this instance had elicited such a sentiment, a sentiment that I had never seen as much as I had last night. My knowledge of the "justice system" in America is not extensive. Its the compilation of what I learned remember from school, lectures I attended in college, my own journey through the Texas court system (an experience which was altogether inappropriate and riddled with sexual advances of which I had no idea how to respond and perhaps the topic of an entirely different blog altogether) and the extensive curriculum I've covered thanks to Dick Wolfe ("Law & Order" creator, of course) and America's sweetheart, Nancy Grace. (Shout-out to Lucy & John-David, the mini-cherubs of justice that they are!). Given that, and given the fact that, until a couple of CO's put their hands all over my county blues, I was a staunch supported of all that the US judicial branch represented, and even so, our nation is littered with injustice. Fucking full of it. The Salem Witch Trials, not to mention the two-hundred years in which over 5,000 Americans, mostly African American men, were attacked and overcome by mobs and lynched, displayed for any passers-by to see. Certainly, our country was an experiment, and experiments are not without bumps in the road. Although, it seems that the leaders and founders of our great nation would have had some that hanging human beings from trees in which to die doesn't portray the picture of equality and fairness. All of that is neither her nor there, its 2011, and we've come a hell of a long way since then, right? I guess it depends. If I wanted to fully hop over the left of the left, I'd copy and paste the increasing number of inmates exonerated from life sentences and, in some cases, death row (more than 250, to put a number on it), by advances in DNA, re-considerations of evidence, as a result of organizations like The Innocence Project, among others (if you feel so inclined, peep that shit here). In order to compare apples to apples, or at least apples to oranges, for the purposes of this post, we won't include those who are incarcerated, men and women who have become victims of the justice system and in the justice system, after all, most of us (myself and Nancy Grace included) ignore them anyway. We won't concern ourselves with those who, even as fellow Americans, were wrongly charged, convicted and, in the worst cases, put to death. Errors such as those, I think, are impossible for most to face unless directly confronted with such a grievance.
What bothered me most about the numerous "loss of faith" comments was that the justice system is in place and was put in place to protect us, each and every American, and, if its shortcomings went unnoticed before, the deficiencies in our legal system were, even if just a bit, put all up in our grills, so to speak. The condition of "losing faith" is saddening to those suffering the loss, but it is not permanent. Those same laws denying justice to some, can allow others in our society to fight on their behalves, to champion the cause of justice for everyone. Right? Right!
Wrong. To the detriment of American innovation and progress, the case of Caylee Anthony, the loss of a child to unknown circumstances, perhaps malicious, but tragic nonetheless, is not unusual. Currently, there are over 800 children in our country that have been reported missing. The number is far higher, I'm sure, given the sad fact that not all children are born to parents and families who would report their absence. 800 children, their families, the countless people who knew and loved them, miss them each day. Most will never appear on Nancy Grace, most will never be featured on your nightly news. Where is their justice?
If we broaden our search, including other children who were lost too soon, at the hands of suspects, both known and unknown, our tally increases many times over. In 2008, the year that Caylee went missing, over 1,500 children were murdered; 600 had not reached the age of 4 years old. That in itself is disgusting, and while there is need (whether monetarily or whatever) everyone Americans seem to look, however, in the case crimes against children, we, as a nation, as communities, and individuals can change these statistics. To bring justice to other victims, to ensure the justice that eluded the Anthony case (if that is your opinion) is never excluded again. Keep your anger over the verdict. Focus it, and use it to right the wrongs that warranted such emotion. Use it past pressing "Share" on your Facebook page, use it to write to your elected officials, use it to do what you can. ice and consequence you feel should have been dealt by the jury this afternoon. Bring your own moral compass to assist other victims and help guide the countless other missing and lost children that receive one-hundredth of the attention we gave Caylee.
The need for a change is, as noted earlier, desperate in many areas. Classrooms, board rooms, main street, Wall Street, doctors offices, pharmaceutical companies, and so on; I am not even beginning to attempt to justify one area deserves more attention than another. I’m just proposing, or hoping or putting forth the idea that (as much we hate to believe) the legal system is terribly broken, but its weaknesses can be reversed. To have the legal system our founding fathers imagined is a daunting task, especially as cynicism seems to overtake idealism; but that doesn’t mean as a nation we have to accept when we feel justice has been ignored. America is the greatest nation in the world, we have been afforded rights and freedoms that cannot even be imagined by citizens of other countries and we take them for granted. Its an attitude that is uniquely American, for whatever reason. Facebook rants and Twitter dismay do nothing but allow that with which we are so disgusted by to continue. We were founded on greatness, by flawed but great men and through generations have let a system that was built to protect and serve every single one of us fall into disrepair. Rather than point fingers and place blame, let us rise to this occasion and use the means granted to us by our Constitution to do what we can, where we are, with what we have. As we all mourn the death of Caylee Anthony tonight and in the days and weeks that follow; as the Facebook campaigns are circulated and rallies are organized in protest of the verdict, let us not forget other victims of injustice. Each night, as you make sure your porch light is in support of Caylee every night at nine-o’clock, allow them to illuminate the other Caylee's our nation has lost, other Caylee's who will never be the subject of a newspaper by-line, let alone a social media backlash, who will never have their memory heralded and screamed for. Do something. Anything, as soon as you’ve updated your status, of course.
No comments:
Post a Comment