What Ties Us Together

A curious phenomenon has taken place. Strangers, who first came together on the Internet to discuss the Phil Spector trial, then went on to an unhappy private message board (previously discussed in earlier posts), and then fleeing from that nightmare, have found real friendship. Not lifelong, agree-with-everything-you-say, practically siblings' friendship, but real friendship nonetheless.

It's fascinating that so many have coaleced the way we have in this short time. It was that trial for the unnecessary murder of Lana Clarkson that brought us together. It was the terrible non-outcome that kept us focused on the injustice of a mistrial, of a hung jury that was caused by one rogue juror and eight others who couldn't make a dent on his concrete - or contrarian - mind.

We are from everywhere - east, west, north south, the middle of the country and Canada too. Big cities, small towns, urban and rural. We are politically and religiously disparate; we have various levels of formal education; different levels of incomes. We are a true snapshot of free-thinking individuals.

Medicine, insurance, sales, law, entertainment, farmers; there are full-time moms, grandmothers, and retirees, at least one person has returned to school, one is looking for a new career, and some are retirees.

There are many issues we don't all agree on and some that aren't really discussed much at all. Occasionally someone will mention attending church or praying or not believing in anything, but for the most part, we are all mature and smart enough to have made our own spiritual choices . We don't feel the need to foist our personal beliefs off on other people.

Politics do come up, inevitably in this primary season - or would that be this primary decade. We represent a broad canvas of opinions and affiliations, and there is one uniting feature: not one of us seems to be happy with anyone or anything currently offered in the political arena. There may be some who hold out hope for this country, but many of us have been too repeatedly disappointed, angry, and disenfranchised to feel that way.

Only today we were having a discussion about this, and as posters dropped in and out giving their perspectives and opinions, it became crystal clear that all of us are worried about the future of our Nation. Even if we disagree on the solutions, we respect one another, and each individual's outlook and beliefs.

The uniting factor, the real glue that binds us seems to be the desire for a lawful society, a society of justice that protects, and when appropriate makes sure criminals are punished. We are also bonded by anger at the inequity of a system that seems to favor the defendant over the victim. The mere allowance of a "defense" consisting of denigration and marginalization of the victim is simply unacceptable.

We wonder how can it be right that a real human being, who once was flesh and blood, loved and needed by others, is now viewed as last week's news ad yesterdays trash.

The Phil Spector defense team tried best to muddy the truth - and only intermittently succeeded thanks to a no-nonsense judge - to turn Lana Clarkson into a cliché of an aging actress who couldn't deal with the passage of time or lack of success. Nice try sleaze artists!

We utterly reject your efforts. Lana Clarkson was a vibrant, beautiful, smart, caring woman, a working actress, who struggled with the same challenges that affect us all. Who doesn't doubt their own level of success, who doesn't reach forty without getting a shiver of what lies ahead? Who doesn't get sad or overwhelmed or lonely from time to time?

Lana Clarkson paid with her life for not knowing who she was dealing with. Not knowing this creepy, evil little man was capable of total disregard of life for his own convenience or pleasure. This cataclysm should not have happened. It also should not go unpunished for these five long years.

There is no conclusion to this blog entry - these are just my thoughts on a rainy afternoon. I marvel at the way this group has come into being and continues to keep rolling along as various issues and events come and go. This is a safe, smart place. It is comfortable to voice an opinion. There is mutual respect, courtesy and honesty here. As a group we are remarkably articulate, and both very funny and very kind. And more than anything else, we are ethical. We are who we are, say what we mean, mean what we say. There is no pretense, no deceit, and no underlying agenda.

I wonder what Lana Clarkson would think if she could see what her tragic death has set into motion? This is one time I wish I believed in an hereafter, because I would love to think that somehow she knows how an amazing group of strangers found each other and continue to honor her spirit. Thank you Lana.