Where lay the guilt?
I once saw a Twilight Zone story about a man caught in a recurring dream, where he’s a prosecuted man sentenced to die. Once he’s executed he wakes up to find himself back in his cell waiting to be trailed again, only this time his lawyer, the attorney, judge and jury have all changed characters. And he’s always trying to explain to them they will disappear if he dies. Nevertheless they continue the same routine: accuse, defend, judge, sentence and execute him endlessly.
Can’t stop thinking if we switched characters in this story Presunto Culpable. What if we changed the defense lawyer for the witness, the witness for the accused, the accused for the attorney, the attorney for the judge, the judge for the police chief and the police chief for the defense lawyer? I’ve the feeling the outcome would turn out to be the same. Our society, media and politic class have at the disclosure of this documentary focused on criticizing the law and judiciary system as the responsible for this and many other unjust verdicts, when what is really wrong with our culture is our own selves. We’ve a complacency to simply comply with a quota of arrests and convictions, only to get by and hold on to our jobs ("es mi chamba!"). No one is really interested in getting down to the truth of things.
The only time we’re interested in unveiling the truth is when our own lives and freedom are at stake and affected by “The System”. But if we were an honest people that same “system” would bring justice to the innocent and punishment to the guilty. This documentary Presunto Culpable just might promote a change in laws, procedures and policies; it could trigger a “New System”. But if we do not go to the heart of the matter and continue to be our own petty hollow selves, our true nature will find a way around these changes, and we’ll be back in business as usual again.
Abraham Lincoln knew very well the true enemy lay not outside ones frontiers, but it lays within ourselves. I believe if we change peoples’ minds and hearts, “The System” will change by itself.
Thing is, we’re merely buying for time… and it’s running out