What is justice?

We've been in the throws of one of the most well-known court cases in the world. Orlando has been under the media microscope as the world watched the first degree murder trial of Casey Marie Anthony. In 2008, Casey's two-year old daughter, Caylee, disappeared and a massive ground search began in the hopes of finding either the young child alive, or to find her missing body. Casey story quickly disintegrated and she was charged with capital murder against her toddler.

The following three years were filled with media speculation, accusations, and finger pointing of everyone involved in the trial. After a month long court battle, yesterday it was announced that Casey was acquitted of first degree murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated child abuse. The only charges she was found guilty of is lying to law enforcement about the case. She's up against four guilty charges of false information to a law enforcement officer about a missing person, each with a sentence of up to one year in prison. Since she's already served near three years, it is likely that she will walk scott free after her sentencing on Thursday.

The response of the general public has been one of outcry that no justice has been found for the young child whose life was lost at the hands of lies and deceit. Who killed Caylee? How did she die? What happened and when will we know? How do we feel that justice has been served and why did the jury determine she was not guilty of a crime she so obviously committed?

I have followed this case closely and despite my beliefs that Casey is guilty of negligence, I do believe that the correct decision was made. In a justice system where you have to be guilty without a reasonable doubt in order to be charged, I do not feel that a case was made to prove she was guilty of first degree murder, aggravated manslaughter, or aggravated child abuse. The prosecution did a phenomenal job with what they had to work with, and built a strong case of a pathological liar with serious mental illness. However, her hard partying ways did not show that she abused her daughter, neglected her daughter, or wanted her dead. Do I think she's guilty in the death of that little girl? Yes. But if I were sitting on a jury, could I have sentenced the mother to death based on the information shared? No. There was not enough proof of the crime to charge her with it. As sad as it is, that is the way we have built our justice system, and fact (the facts available to the prosecution during the trial, that is) were not strong enough to sentence her. I don't think the defense did a good job - I think this was a clear cut case and her lawyer did not have to do anything to defend her...the proof just was not there. Casey is calculating and acts with purpose and has done a good job, her entire life, of covering her tracks. This is just another case of a girl too smart for her own good, using it for not so good ways.

My hope is that over time, justice is served. I believe in a higher being and I believe we all face a judgment day. I'm confident that in time, Casey will face her demons and be haunted by her choices. I would not want this on my shoulders on the day I face my maker and believe that what goes around comes around. Casey's quality of life will never be what it was before, and she'll never be able to escape the ridicule and knowledge of the truth. She will live in her own personal prison and be constantly reminded of the poor decisions she made in her life. Maybe that's justice. Maybe it's not. But who am I to judge?

The Irony of Election Day...

Today's election day. A pivotal day in the future of our country. Like many of my fellow American's, I stood in line today to cast my vote for our country. I hope you did the same.

On this serious day, I couldn't help but find humor in the scenes I passed. As I drove up to my polling place and walked to the end of the 400 person line, I was struck by how white and Republican we all looked. Talk about stereotyping a group - here we all stood, most of us with our hair perfectly quaffed, our nicely pressed clothing and our designer bags, standing peacefully in line waiting for our turn to change the future. The campaigners stood quietly by the road, raising signs and waving at passing cars and everyone kept to themselves. Is the group actually predominantly Republican? I don't know. But, I would say 300 of us fit the WASP description perfectly....guess I learned today the type of area I live in (not a bad thing...I like a quiet neighborhood). After an hour in line, I completed my task, hopped in my car, and headed on my way.

A couple of hours later, I was headed down Silver Star Road, in the direction of Pine Hills. I had passed several other polling locations along the way, all with varying types of scenes displayed out in front. And then I hit Pine Hills, and the irony of it all hit me.

Just as I crossed over Pine Hills Road, I was greeted by a group of barely 18 year old African American girls, standing in the middle of the road waving Cambrio signs (I dont' know who that is either...not on our voting list), booty dancing to music blasting from the precinct parking lot. The smell of bbq filled the air and what seemed like insanity ensued in the parking lot. Signs were everywhere there was a free spot of land, and the whole thing was a sight you could not miss.

Now, I don't point this out for race purposes, to pick on anyone. I just found the irony in how different cultures and different people live. How funny, that I can drive less than five miles down the road, and be greeted by what seemed like a completely different world? Interesting how some of us take the day so stoicly, as if it were a job, and others celebrate, as if it were a right. I have to appreciate the other precinct for remembering that this is a RIGHT and not a DUTY.

Who has it right? Who knows. Do we have to have it one way or the other? No. But seeing this, I felt like it was clearly divided as to which precinct favored which candidate....and how different people are all other.