Tsarnaev Trial: Was Justice Served?
5/17/2015 by L. Coast (guest author)
We as a people cannot continue to be blind to
injustice and inhumanity. If we do not open our eyes, eventually no one will be
left who can see beyond the lies to the truth.
D. Tsarnaev
The verdict and sentence of death by lethal injection in the Tsarnaev trial is a classic example of a jury acting on their emotions. Only by willfully ignoring their
sworn duty to convict solely on the evidence could they have unanimously voted for the death penalty for this young man. Had this group of 12 jurors been truly impartial, able to
set aside an often heavy-handed prosecutorial manipulation, they would have noticed no real proof was presented of the brothers committing the
acts for which Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is to pay with his life. The photos and videos
offered as confirmation of his guilt were inconclusive, grainy and could just as easily
have been altered or Photo-shopped as not.
Clearly, none of the jurors were bothered by the inconsistencies surrounding
who made the bombs, and where. Doubtless
they didn’t even realize there was a major gap in the Fed's story about it.
And then there was what seems to have been an abysmal failure of the defense’s strategy. Was it because “It was him” risked not being enough to convince the slower members in the jury box, that we then saw defense attorneys carefully explaining why their client should be sentenced to the most severe punishment - a slow decades-long rotting away in a cell, cut off from the world? A punishment they said would more fitting than the death penalty, which we have learned is historically reserved only for the “worst of the worst” crimes and the criminals who commit them.
I am an American and live in the Pacific Northwest. There has been little coverage of the Dzhokhar Tsarnaev trial here in the media - just general information - and no one I know discusses it. It is too far away and does not directly impact people here, which of course is a scary attitude and untrue. My friends (and family) think I'm a little crazy when it comes to this subject. I have followed it and discussed it on social media sites and with friends and family from the very beginning. I will continue to do whatever I can to right this injustice. I refuse to sit passively by and watch our civil liberties and rights continue to be eroded and people from "other" religions, cultures and backgrounds be targeted for abuse. If no one stands up for what is right, then we deserve what happens.
Our families and forebears have all been "the other" at one time or another as we are a nation of immigrants. The exception to this being the Native American people, who have - since the arrival of Europeans - been subjected to genocide, forced relocation, disenfranchisement, broken treaties and promises. Ditto for African Americans whose ancestors were brought here against their will and enslaved.
The minute I heard S.A.I.C. Richard Des Lauriers say "look at no one but these two individuals" I knew something was amiss. My disappointment in our government, its agencies and the (lack of) an impartial Justice system knows no bounds. I can't abide liars, particularly when my tax dollars are paying for them. Corporate interests are driving our government, thanks to the Supreme Court rulings such as Citizens United, and their only motivation is profit. Hence the constant wars required to drive the military-industrial complex, desire to privatize everything including prisons and now the push to privatize schools. God help us.
Americans have become lazy and complacent. Only when we are directly and personally affected, will the majority wake up and see the need for action. I hope it's not too late for us to do so.
All of the above and more constitute the reasons we need to continue to expand our understanding of all the parameters, hidden and exposed, of this case. Many things may be brought to light that could effect positive changes for all of us, including Jahar.
And then there was what seems to have been an abysmal failure of the defense’s strategy. Was it because “It was him” risked not being enough to convince the slower members in the jury box, that we then saw defense attorneys carefully explaining why their client should be sentenced to the most severe punishment - a slow decades-long rotting away in a cell, cut off from the world? A punishment they said would more fitting than the death penalty, which we have learned is historically reserved only for the “worst of the worst” crimes and the criminals who commit them.
I am an American and live in the Pacific Northwest. There has been little coverage of the Dzhokhar Tsarnaev trial here in the media - just general information - and no one I know discusses it. It is too far away and does not directly impact people here, which of course is a scary attitude and untrue. My friends (and family) think I'm a little crazy when it comes to this subject. I have followed it and discussed it on social media sites and with friends and family from the very beginning. I will continue to do whatever I can to right this injustice. I refuse to sit passively by and watch our civil liberties and rights continue to be eroded and people from "other" religions, cultures and backgrounds be targeted for abuse. If no one stands up for what is right, then we deserve what happens.
Our families and forebears have all been "the other" at one time or another as we are a nation of immigrants. The exception to this being the Native American people, who have - since the arrival of Europeans - been subjected to genocide, forced relocation, disenfranchisement, broken treaties and promises. Ditto for African Americans whose ancestors were brought here against their will and enslaved.
The minute I heard S.A.I.C. Richard Des Lauriers say "look at no one but these two individuals" I knew something was amiss. My disappointment in our government, its agencies and the (lack of) an impartial Justice system knows no bounds. I can't abide liars, particularly when my tax dollars are paying for them. Corporate interests are driving our government, thanks to the Supreme Court rulings such as Citizens United, and their only motivation is profit. Hence the constant wars required to drive the military-industrial complex, desire to privatize everything including prisons and now the push to privatize schools. God help us.
Americans have become lazy and complacent. Only when we are directly and personally affected, will the majority wake up and see the need for action. I hope it's not too late for us to do so.
All of the above and more constitute the reasons we need to continue to expand our understanding of all the parameters, hidden and exposed, of this case. Many things may be brought to light that could effect positive changes for all of us, including Jahar.
VISIT OUR MAIN ARTICLES AND FEATURED STORIES INDEX HERE
Want more? For NIPS, quick takes, and blog posts by the main contributors to this site visit here
________________________________________________
We actively encourage comments, discussion and debate on this site! Please remember to keep it relevant and be respectful at all times.
Want more? For NIPS, quick takes, and blog posts by the main contributors to this site visit here
________________________________________________
We actively encourage comments, discussion and debate on this site! Please remember to keep it relevant and be respectful at all times.
