Scrutiny on the Bounty

There is a bounty of evidence in this Anthony case thanks to Florida’s Open Government in the Sunshine law and I think it’s safe to say that it has enlightened a lot of us and will continue to do so for at least another 6 months. Certainly, not all, but many of us have learned a little about forensics, for example - at least more than we knew before Casey came along. Part of the scientific research involved in studying pathological evidence in a murder case is in the field of microorganisms, like bacteria, fungi and viruses. Actually, microorganisms and other disease-causing organisms, pathogens, come in six different types: bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths, viruses and trolls.

This post will study what life is like with one of the most deadly kind: trolls. Briefly. Mostly, it will be about George Anthony, who recently submitted a letter to FOX35 in Orlando . The letter was followed by an interview with Holly Bristow. Speaking of Holly, Holly Gagne left her daughter with Cindy to babysit? Only it’s not true. Wherever that information came from, it isn’t factual. Cindy did not and does not babysit any child or children of Holly Gagne. Let’s put that rumor to rest right here and now. Who they babysit is not for public consumption. With that out of the way, let’s move on…

Yes, George wrote a letter. Now, a lot of people have accused me of being an Anthony lover. I am not, but everyone is entitled to an opinion. Along with learning about forensics, plenty of bloggers and commenters have learned how hate-filled people can be, especially with regard to the Anthonys and anyone who refuses to trash them. Yes, it has clearly split into the thems and the those, where you either love them or hate them with passion. There is no gray; no in-between, as many out there profess.

In George’s letter he described a life so surreal it’s hard to fathom by people who have never lived it. There is nothing like losing a loved one, especially a young girl like Caylee. I must agree with him. Anyone who would deny him his love is a person beneath the realm of conscientious sanity and devotion. I can certainly understand the public’s dismay with some of George and Cindy’s public displays, but there are areas where people are not just questioning, but stating as fact that they know George and Cindy are striking it rich off their deceased grandchild. In his letter, George wrote, “People who don’t know the facts re-victimize the victims.” There are things about this case that people are not aware of. What they do not know, they make up. I, for instance, know for a fact that the money paid by Good Morning America in December of 2008 did not go into George and Cindy’s pockets. It was “The Source” that told me and that is all there is to it. Where the money went, I am not at liberty to say because I gave my word of silence, but you should be made aware that what people perpetuate in the world of blogs, forums and clearly, the media, does not necessarily constitute the truth. It’s no different from how FOX News reports one way and MSNBC does it another. What is true sometimes depends on one’s view.

When I wrote a post titled I CALLED THE COPS!, I took with me one very important bit of advice from Captain Angelo Nieves, head of OCSO Media Relations. He told me explicitly that if it did not come from his office, do not believe it. I took that as meaning that, although not claiming that any of the information on blogs and forums are out and out lies, misdirections or distortions of the truth, none of us should automatically believe what we see and hear, including (and especially) what we are told from any of the media outlets. Unfortunately, people have a tendency to pick and choose what they want to formulate and believe and I think a lot of them will be very surprised come trial time. Yes, I am basing that on what I’ve heard from extremely reliable sources and what my opinion is on the subject.

The following is George’s letter, interspersed with my commentary. Although not earth-shattering, I think it is worthy of discussion.

Living under a microscope

By: George Anthony

Suddenly, you are thrown into a life that you have no control over. Your everyday walking/talking is dissected, analyzed and just plain torn apart.

Although I believe we do have control over our lives, there are circumstances, like a murder, that take away from logical thinking. Emotions run rampant and just as there is a fine line between love and hate, there comes a time when a fine line separates sanity and emotional breakdowns, which really sour logical thinking. It does no good to be torn apart by anyone outside of people who are close to the victims. In this case, George and Cindy are more than mere victims of Caylee’s death. They are victims of a harsh, cruel and cold public. Did they do anything to deserve it? Yes, but who gave the public license to destroy them?

You did not ask for this, but the microscope is on?

Is it fair? No, not by any shape of the imagination. Does it hurt? More than you can realize. You stay as strong, emotionally and physically as possible, but people can be so cruel.

People can be cruel beyond reproach. I am living through it right now. Thank God I did not lose a child. Imagine living under the shadow of it coming at you from both barrels. BAM! BAM!

Your family is talked about in hurtful ways, not just words, but physical violence. People stand in front of your home, your sanctuary, as a modern day lynch mob. I ask: “What would you do?” Would you cower down, lock yourself up in your home? Can you answer that honestly? The microscope is on……

I will never quite understand the psyche of the human mind. On blog after blog and forum after forum, commenters have urged the public on. Because of who the Anthonys are and what their daughter stands accused of doing, it is perfectly right to throw rocks at their windows and yell and scream at all hours of the day and night. Huh? How does anyone explain flunking Humanity 101? Just because the Anthonys act beyond our notion of normal, does it justify any of us to act the same way? Worse, as I found out?

I have asked many people “want to change places with me?” Walk in my shoes, if only for a minute a day? But they cannot. People say “I know what you are going through.” The only person that knows are truly the people who have been through this.

Would anyone really like to change places with him? If you tell yourself NO, and you do, then you understand he and his family are going through a lot of pain and stress. Don’t misconstrue this as a method for me to elicit sympathy for them. No, it is just to have us see that this has been no picnic for them and it will never be.

Others stand on the sidelines and judge. Seeking their 15 minutes of fame by blogging, sending threatening emails, letters, phone calls and text messaging, stating we are unfit. But they, themselves should look in the mirror and ask, “what would I do if my life or family was under a microscope? Makes you stop and think, doesn’t it? Living under a microscope!

Yup, I’m a blogger. Guilty as charged, but there’s a huge difference between my blog and the ones that spread hate and unsubstantiated rumors. I don’t love anyone related to this case and I try to be fair to both sides. I have always maintained that we are in no position to judge anyone and until George and Cindy stand trial, we should refrain from writing scathing diatribes and mocking parodies about them. Casey rests in jail. Attack her if you will, and her defense team, but no one in the public has a right to claim ownership of Caylee, as if she is a rag doll who would be torn to shreds by anyone who has never met her. She’s mine! No, she’s mine!

Humans can be so cruel. When a tragedy happens their whole thought process changes. People who don’t know the facts re-victimize the victims. Again, under a microscope.

An opinion, article gets released, printed and that becomes gospel for a slight few.

Please remember, if it doesn’t come out of OCSO Media Relations, it is not gospel. That’s not to say we can’t scrutinize evidence when we see it, but how many of us are trained in the sciences related to this case? Valhall comes the closest and this is not to discredit any of the fine, fine blogs out there that do their best to stick to facts. Opinion blogs are great and many are written with that in mind. God knows we are all opinionated and it seems to be tearing at the very fabric of what we collectively are seeking - justice. Not our justice, but the brand divvied out by the good people of Florida.

Media, as it is today, would rather report the wrong in the world than collectively start out reporting something good. The first 7-10 minutes of a newscast, front page of a paper or magazine gets your attntion by shock value.

Wouldn’t it be nice or wholesome to see a report of something positive or heartwarming for a change.

With my experience in the newspaper field, as fleeting as it was, I understand the concept of what sells and sensationalism will forever be at the top of the list. Sure, it would be great if Brian Williams started his nightly newscast with, “Once upon a time…” but that’s never going to happen. As I mentioned in a previous post, the day the first caveman peeked out from behind a rock to get a glimpse of what his neighbor was doing, the urge to hear and spread gossip was born. It’s human nature, plain and simple, and to be quite frank, the days of It’s a Wonderful Life are long behind us and we might as well get used to it. In the real world, it’s nice for the holidays, but road rage can kill you. Is blog rage not far behind?

You’re photographed and videotaped without your knowledge or permission. An etching/tattoo of a loved one is made fun of. How hurtful. I personally am proud of my etching/tattoo in my skin, because Caylee is forever with me.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out what difference it makes to anyone if George and Cindy get tattoos. Here, you could be living in your spouse swapping world and you condemn them over a tattoo? Since when were they against the law and immoral? They’re not, and the more I read about how horrid it was, the more I thought about some blog commenters being the biggest hypocrites in the world, where they hide behind false names spewing their morality for the world to read while ignoring their own daughter’s tattoo. Trust me, you do not want to disagree with them or you are an Anthony lover. They know. They know everything.

Only, they don’t.

Under a microscope, I personally look at life differently. Finding ways to help others. Be it thru some life changing advice or being there to help them up when they fall. That is the right thing to do. God likes gestures; that’s what is needed. Living under a microscope.

I don’t know exactly what George or Cindy do to help others. Do you? Are they still running their non-profit? Are they really striking it rich? Do we have the papers in front of us? If so, what do they point to beyond a doubt? Is it prudent to assume anything as fact? Since George mentioned God, my main question is, more or less, about the Eastside Baptist Church. Are the pastors and congregation wrong in giving the Anthonys their complete love and support? Why, and why can’t we be more forgiving? How many blogs have I read where the blessings of God are mentioned in one hand and complete condemnation of the Anthonys is preached in the other? All along, my statements regarding the Anthonys have been centered on this one tenet. Who are we to judge? Who are we to do this to anyone? This is not about love for the Anthonys, it is about love for everyone.

Unfortunately, germ warfare will continue on the blogging and forum worlds. People will continue to take sides and never look at areas that fall in between. In a sense, I feel a little closer to George and life under a microscope. Although I will never feel his loss, I understand his aversion to the public because of what it is capable of destroying. For a few days, I let a small group of trolls consume me. I am sorry for my poor judgment. I let unwarranted accusations get the best of me. I never did anything of the sort of what the trolls claimed and I firmly stand behind my words, but I should have let it go. I should have shrugged it off and taken the high road. I did not. Now I know what it’s like to live under a microscope and the giant eye can be a monster. It brings with it a bounty of scrutiny.

We all have feelings. We are all human. The offending posts have been taken down. Trust me when I say it was my decision and no one else’s. I was under no legal obligation or direction from anyone. This has mushroomed way out of control. Do what you will with me. It is dragging me into a viral Hell and I have had enough.

Comments

[Cynthia]

The link to your article, "I Called the Cops" is broken. Can you please point me to where I can read the article?

Thanks