For your entertainment

There are occasions when I wish I had a way with the written word.  The gift of gab? Got it, however when a subject is important to me, getting it down in writing is not my strong suit.

Today what will hopefully be the final chapter on the death of little Caylee Anthony has come to pass.  Her mother Casey was found not guilty of her murder, shocking many who have been following the case.  

I haven't been watching this case and don't mean to suggest Caylee's death isn't important.  The death of any child who has not been lovingly cared for makes me physically sick, but that's not my point.  

My point is also not to debate the jury and their verdict. I spent four days on a jury a few years ago and since that time I understand very well that a juror's job is not to decide what THEY think is right or wrong, but to listen to the direction of the judge on the specific questions you are presented.  

I would suspect many of the jurors wanted to lock Casey away forever, but that's not a jurors job.  It's the job of the prosecutors to present the case to the jury so that the jury can answer the questions from the judge with 100% certainty.  If they don't, they are a runaway jury.

But I digress....

What has me uneasy is the way many of us have twisted this girl's death for our entertainment and/or careers.  From multiple magazine covers, to Nancy Grace's nightly 'outrage' and ending with 24 hour coverage -because what ELSE is going on for 'news networks' to cover during the past 36 hours?  

Am I the only person who knows someone who took time away from Fourth of July festivities to check in with CNN?

There have been some jaw-dropping moments for me in preparation for this blog.  While doing a spelling check on Caylee's name I found there was a Caylee Daily website for the latest in "high profile cases."  Not crazy enough for you?  How about strangers camping out overnight to get a seat in the courtroom.  

This isn't a episode of CSI or Law & Order my friends, this is the tragic death of a little girl.  

So please don't tell me to support Caylee by leaving my porch light on, or changing my Facebook status for 24 hours.  If you are really "outraged" by the verdict, please put your money where your mouth is and support with your time and/or treasure the organizations in your town that advocate for the voiceless.  

In Rochester you can start with the United Way or Family Services.

 

 

Comments

[tiredofvikes]

Well said, ma'am!

I also did not invest a whole heckuva lot of time in following this event. Watching Nancy Grace last night(night after trial verdict given) was like watching the old lynch mob scenes from the Salem Witch trials! I pretty much knew that without blocking all talking heads and their "expertise", I could not be impartial like a juror. Indeed there are so many ways we can help a dysfunctional society by volunteering. I listen to guys coming out of prison everyday telling me how they simply can't cope with their lives because it has run away from them, due to their dysfunction. By simply listening and caring and gently guiding(NOT JUDGING!) them...we are giving them a new start and good, fulfilling goals in life.

[Kelly]

I'd say it is indeed your strong suit as that was beautifully written and so true.

[Steve]

Well Ms. McCray, once again you show your ignorance. In a harmless rant you display frightening stupidity. A jury is not instructed to return a verdict with "100% accuracy".

Before a jury decides the guilt of a defendant, the judge instructs that to return a guilty verdict, they must believe in guilt beyond a reasonable doubt (Shapiro, 1991). Reasonable doubt, however, is not absolute certainty. Ignorant, and dangerous jurors, like yourself, wrongly believe that reasonable doubt is the same as "100% certainty" and with that type of ignorance, victims like Caylee fail to receive justice.