I'm sure many would be outraged if they "knew" some of the people that were out on work release, but they don't. It's quite obvious why so many are outraged, the charges, followed by one conviction, followed by the storied highway stop. Some are outraged because they feel a serious case of class preference is showing. Some are outraged because of who she is. Whatever.
I haven't seen a story showing exactly why the jury didn't convict her of other crimes. I "assume" it's because the prosecution team didn't present a convincing argument. I wasn't convinced by the defense's arguments, but that's just my opinion. I put the blame on them, since I can't read the minds of the jury, but the judge's statements were pretty explicit. Whatever.
My only bad feeling in this case came from one particular photo. That's when the verdict had been rendered, and Erica and her friend were smiling as they left the courtroom. My opinion, of course. I read Erica's enormous smile as a "beat the system" devious sort of smile. I understood it when I saw it, because she did "win", if a winner can actually be declared in this mess. I would say the bar(s) that served her won as well, as they did in the other tragic boating accident.
Those that are personally involved in this matter have every right to whatever feelings they have. Those on the periphery of this matter, just looking in, only get to see the system in action, not much else. The families involved are changed forever, especially the family with a missing loved one.
Maybe the letters of outrage will change their minds on the release. I doubt it, but maybe. I've seen little reference to increased enforcement on the lake, on-water training for boaters, nor outrage over the MP budget. Hardly a mention was made either of failure to convict on a single other charge. I think that was fair game, and patently obvious.
Many people learned a lot from the accident itself, which is a good thing. Fear of tragedies like this are a good reminder, and a good deterrent. They still happen every year around the country, and always will. But at least this year there are good groups of people working on safety issues, with good intentions and open minds. This is as it should be. Good deeds and good intentions can be contagious. Rarely does anything positive come of malice, nor an us versus them grudge match.
In that light, Scott and many others have come away from this past year and this case with positive attitudes, working with the Power Squadron to assist boaters. These people volunteer their time to help people, and promote safety on the lake. I would suggest all those people with a bit of outrage and anger left, instead devote those energies to promoting good will and safety on the lake. Instead of focusing on the accident, or the legal system, instead use the accident as a reminder of why safety counts, and how these things could happen to anyone. (and they do).
Just as the NEWBIE thread was a great example of this comradere, many other threads on boating and safety could benefit far more. WBB offered up a thread on personalized on-water boating instruction, an Excellent idea. I just think it's time to divert energy towards positive results, since they're the only ones that could possibly elicit good outcomes.
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