Moving Forward

One of the most valid statements that I have ever made about the American justice system was in a conversation the other day.  When my advocate called to tell me that after the police took about four years to get the file and evidence to the district attorney that there wasn't enough evidence, which there never is enough in cases in when the police are more concerned if the victim is a legal cigarette smoker at 31 yrs old in America, that I got to tell her that I was told that the person was dead.  She said, "we hadn't heard that yet."  If he's dead, then it shouldn't matter except no one can tell me where he's buried.  I am going to find out where he's buried.  I have things to say to this so-called dead man's grave.

One of the things that I have learned is that the police are more frustrated than I am by other police officers who won't do their jobs.  It's really simple.  When people are able to take care of their own internal issues, then they don't wind up having their organizations brought into court.  Usually, things are scapegoated away by those whom would say that people who approach the courts are just after money or fame or whatever.  The courts are no place for fame and are too costly.  Those whom would claim such a thing I think are the ones whom would seek money from the court systems in order to seek money.  The would be "in it to win it."  My question is still:  what game?  

My advocates, fortunately, seemed to be far more hopeful when I said that I had been told that he was dead, but no one knew where the grave was.  What happened to the body?  Three days later, I was sitting in a room studying scripture when someone else asked the very same question about someone else.  Where is the body?  Where are the dead man's bones?  Those questions spring from the very thing that I have created this blog for: the relationship between the law and grace.  The law is there to prosecute those whom would harm others and there to uphold citizenry and decency for others.  Everyone has a basic human rights.  How those rights are protected and who gets protected seems to change in practice to whomever has the most gold and friends.  It is important to remember that grace brings joy.  

It was grace to be able to say that I was told that he was dead to my advocate.  I was grace to hear her voice lift saying that they hadn't been told that.  It was grace to hear another person question where a dead man's body was.  Grace comes everyday in simple yet miraculous forms.  It is important to know that the way we interact with one another isn't a game.  It's life.  I've been asked whether or not it was worth it over and over again.  

Life is well worth it.  To know that I have done every single thing I could do to have actual justice is worth it.  Absolutely!  Whether or not people realize it, my Baptismal Covenant expects it.  It expects that I would seek justice for myself even within the church, seemingly against the clergy, even it I am thrown out (which happened) for doing so.  Living is worth it.  Knowing that I did everything within my power to exercise my rights as an American citizen in a co-called Christian country (which it isn't) is worth it.  To know that at least I did something and didn't sit there indifferent to what was going on is worth it. 

No.  I don't hold up poster boards at protests for GLBT rights....whatever those are.  Human rights are for everyone.  Every person is a person.  Until every person is a person and use the rights we are told that we have, it is unnecessary to have them.  Since we have deemed it necessary to have a judicial system in order to serve humanity, being able to use it is paramount.  

Yes.  It's worth every mile I have walked instead of driven.  It has been worth ever minute of pain, tears, poverty, and hunger I have experienced.  Yes, dear advocate.  He's dead, so where's the body?  

Life is worth it.