Does that name gain attention or what?

The Laci Peterson murder center is a half hour from us, along with some of the nation's recent top ten murder events. My on line friends think it  must be the water.  While we followed the murder, along with the entire United States, we aren't particularly closer to it than anyone else. Well, except for my DH's inability to easily walk into the Modesto Town Hall this past year, and the constant buzzing in these small towns by people who did know them.

I held my breath for the verdict, but was aghast at the sentencing. Worse was to witness the chat rooms (don't say ONE word, I am truly sorry I went) where eighty percent of the people were belligerently calling for his blood, using words I would not allow my children to hear, let alone use. The attitudes truly made me ill. Nothing I could type would wake them up to see what I saw. Perhaps these were children simply wanting to shock others, but I kept contemplating the fact they really might act and speak the same had you had them in a private conversation. That was a scary thought.

These people are my constituents.
These people are those who could be my jurors if ever I was accused and on trial, falsely or not.
These people vote.
These people do not know any more inside (or correct) information than anyone else.
These people let their gut feelings decide whether Scott was innocent or guilty.
These people would not consider for one moment, looking at another point of view.

I do know that twelve people have condemned a man to death based on circumstantial evidence in the fair country of the United States.
I do not know if Scott Peterson is guilty of this phenomenally horrific crime, or not.  I do know someone is.
I did not witness what the jurors did in the courtroom that determined their decision. I can only pray they sleep at night.

I posted on the Scott Peterson boards a short statement pointing out a bit of what you have already read.  What surprised me were the private emails I received in turn, opposed to responding in public on the boards. Vicious and truly ugly. I can laugh to think they reacted to someone voicing their opinion with their own until I weigh the attitudes. I expressed mine in hopes someone might stop and think about another point of view, where they insisted their opinion was the only correct one, in a forceful and genuinely sick manner. The letters reinforced my belief that there are sadly, many changes needed in our world. Feed back is one thing, hate mail is another.

Just for one slight moment in time, pretend you do not believe that Scott did not kill his wife and daughter. Just one moment. Imagine the hell he is experiencing. Imagine being sentenced to death for killing your wife and unborn child.  Imagine what life would be like for his entire family, being branded this way, for the rest of their lives, no matter where you live, where you shop, or where you work. The rest of your life.

Laci's family experiences another hell. They have lost their daughter and grandson, just as the Peterson family has lost their grandson and now look forward to the death of their son. There can't be anything as painful as losing a child during your life time, especially in such a manner. Your nightmares would be full of imagining her last moments for all time. If my children were killed, I would not rest, ever. I would have the need to kill her murderer, too!

But, was it Scott? Really? Are we 100% SURE?

And this kind of blood lust and cheering for a man's death? Even with those who were guilty beyond doubt, those caught with body parts in their dinner bowls, their hands dripping with their mother's blood from their sword, to join in the screaming for his blood? What I would give for any of them to explain to me what that feels like to witness. What enjoyment they receive from getting on the bandwagon and becoming one of the out of control, barbaric, inhumane crowd? What would that feel like to have a nation of people who have never met you or have any idea what the real circumstances were calling in this manner for YOUR life?

After the witch trials were over and everyone came to their senses, how ashamed were they? They killed my umpteenth great aunt. She died at the hands of the mobs, but she smiled all the way to her death, bless her heart and her short life.

I will not return to any chat room or board again, to lower myself, attempt to open any minds, witness mob mentality, expose myself to the hateful hearts and complete lack of compassion or intelligence, and no respect for others, let alone themselves.

I will not return to any chat room or board again, to lower myself, attempt to open any minds, witness mob mentality, expose myself to the hateful hearts and complete lack of compassion or intelligence, and no respect for others, let alone themselves.

I will not return to any chat room or board again, to lower myself, attempt to open any minds, witness mob mentality, expose myself to the hateful hearts and complete lack of compassion or intelligence, and no respect for others, let alone themselves.

I will not return to any chat room or board again, to lower myself, attempt to open any minds, witness mob mentality, expose myself to the hateful hearts and complete lack of compassion or intelligence, and no respect for others, let alone themselves.

I will not return to any chat room or board again, to lower myself, attempt to open any minds, witness mob mentality, expose myself to the hateful hearts and complete lack of compassion or intelligence, and no respect for others, let alone themselves.

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