Politically UnEZ

Well I am back from a month of travels just in the nick of time.

The verdict is in.

After so many trials of hype and media frenzy in the past decade, the Zimmerman verdict is another reaffirmation that the American system of justice simply works when trial by a jury of ones peers rules the verdict.

Zimmerman, like Casey Anthony, like OJ Simpson and many other high profile creations of a news industry run amuck became victims of a media system which holds the First Amendment in one hand and the quest for personal aggrandizement in the other while standing on a barrels of advertising money and most recently wearing a hat of political influence.

In spite of fame seeking prosecutors intent on media attention to foster their graduation to careers of lucrative private practice, book deals or “expert” talking heads, and in spite of similar minded defense attorneys looking for the most controversial cases they can take to the court of public opinion, either guilty or innocent, and in spite of varying competence level of justices serving on the bench who often wear their political, socio-economic and racial biases on their sleeve, the Jury of ones peers prevails as the ultimate arbitrator of guilt or innocence.

Time and again, the common man or woman has been proven in collective bodies to have the foresight, insight and conviction of moral character to cut through the theatrics, hype and hysteria to pronounce a thumbs up or thumbs down unanimous decision or to have the courage to comeback with a stalemate.  Not enough evidence to provide a decision one way or the other.

The Zimmerman case more than any other fell victim to the most media fed racial prejudices, since Rodney King and OJ Simpson.  Fueled my charlatans, false prophets, and bigoted politicians at the highest levels, it was quite a feat that a jury could be seated at all.  Now that the system as prevailed and Justice has been served, the scum is starting to leech out of the pond.   The next few days will be full of second guessing, emotional outbursts, cries for vengeance from the violent elements of our society and probably more than one clash with police and peaceful protestors.  Amidst all of this circus filled atmosphere, six people, selected through the biases of the individual counsels and ultimately found acceptable to both, tasked with the impossible charge; deciding the fate of the life of an individual professing their innocence and charged with a heinous act, served admirably and should be commended.  Although some will fall prey to the bright lights of their fifteen minutes, many will remain anonymous, choosing to fall back into the obscurity of their every day lives.  Bravo to you who serve without complaint, and take this sacred task to heart.

You are the soul of the American Justice System.