Betrayal and Raw Emotion

Betrayal and Raw Emotion

The verdict in the Casey Anthony case has brought forth emotion rarely experienced by the masses. The coverage continues, mostly repeating excerpts of the trial, jail visits, and other sound bites and the reading again, and again, of the ‘not guilty’ verdicts.

Protesters and even a few supporters of the verdict have been diligent in making themselves heard. Rumors continue to circulate that death threats and other harassment of the family, lawyers, jurors, Casey, and other familiars of this case continue to make the media, as well as the recurring call for boycotts and creation of new laws.

Why has this case, brought such raw emotion to the surface? What is it about Casey, Cindy, George, and in a cameo, Lee that has made those that follow this case in large part have such strong emotions in regards to the guilt or innocents of all the members of this family?

What was it about Caylee that made her a member of America’s family, the wide eyed, cherub, that now is the nucleus of legislation dubbed, ‘Caylee’s Law’

To understand why this case became the media monster it has, one has to go back to the beginning, back when we first heard of Caylee, when we first saw Cindy Anthony make the pleas for the return of her granddaughter. We have to look at all the drama and intrigue that was created by the family, because this, in my opinion, was the root of how this case went completely out of control.

When Cindy made her first appearances with the media, she seemed to be like any other loving family member of a missing child. She offered information, always ending with the plea for help, for anyone with information to come forward. This was the first Cindy Anthony we met, we related to, and felt sympathy for, slowly, methodically this Cindy Anthony became less the grieving grandmother, and more the unrelenting defender of her daughter.

This defense knew no bounds. Every lie Casey told was excused. Anyone that questioned even Cindy or George’s first interviews or observations, became the enemy. But it didn’t end there…it went further, it went into accusing obviously innocent people. It turned to attacking volunteers, with such comments as, “Get off your asses and look for my granddaughter” followed with other disturbing remarks, such as giving the dog’s tooth brush for comparing DNA.

Is there any wonder why, those that felt a bond to Cindy, to her pleas, and a growing love and concern for Caylee would later feel betrayal?

That is what this rage boils down to, betrayal. People rallied around the Anthony family, they searched, prayed, donated time, money, supplies, they offered their love and support, only to be verbally attacked when they dared questions the many changing stories of Casey Anthony.

But the changing stories were not exclusive to Casey alone. After a period of time, it seemed to be a family trait, to either completely deny something previously stated, or to attempt to spin it in such an illogical way, it was insulting to the intelligence of those that began to hang on every word in hopes of finding out the truth.

While I do not support hostile demonstrations, it was in many ways inevitable that this was going to happen. When a person feels betrayed, the emotion is completely raw. Many times under such stress, people have done things that are and would be completely out of character. This is, also, the reason that ‘Crimes of passion’ have been considered a mitigation factor, in criminal cases. Once betrayal is thrown in the mix with a ‘mob mentality’ it becomes a toxic mix of acute emotion and rage. This is what we witnessed in front of the Anthony house in the early weeks of this case, and what we experienced again, though somewhat muted, after the verdict, and when Casey was released from county jail.

Caylee Anthony’s life may have been short, far too short, one thing for sure, she touched many lives. Her legacy may be the creation of laws that would bring justice to parents that otherwise would dodge any punishment for the unreported death and dumping of a child. I know, I for one will never hear ‘You are my sunshine’ without thinking of this precious little girl.

Even the most destructive fire will eventually burn itself out, and that will become true in this firestorm, as well. New cases, sadly will present, and the media is going to follow the next intriguing case with the same fervor as this and others have been covered.

The one positive note, that draws at least this part of the saga to a close, has been, ironically, the actions of the public. The inspirational final walk for Caylee, that ended at her memorial went without cruel chants, nasty remarks or any form of harassment. It was simply the way the community sought closure, and the way they said goodbye to America’s brown-eyed girl.