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A response to the GUILTY verdict of Stephen Lawrence murderers Never has the word GUILTY meant so much to so many people. We are pleased to hear about the convictions of two of the gang members involved in the death of Stephen Lawrence. Even if they did not draw the knife, they know who did, and their refusal to give names makes them corroborators and accomplices. Doreen and Neville Lawrence have been exemplary in their dignity and attitude to this whole scenario. Others would have lost credibility a long time ago, through anger, losing temper, irrational behaviour and perhaps sending around the heavies to deal with the guys that everybody knows were involved in the murder. I am thankful that there are stoic people like this around who are an example and inspiration to us all. I have thought long and hard about the ethics of lawyers, who have to defend these criminals. Especially when they know they are guilty, but proceed to try to deceive us all that they are innocent. It must be hard to sleep at night when you know your actions has enabled a criminal to be free to commit the crime again. We would presume
that the other suspects are in hiding, have changed name, appearance
or left the country. It might be safer for them to be in prison,
since their name and faces have been plastered all over the media,
and it only takes one black gang to decide that they will take matters
into their own hands, because they are fed-up of waiting for justice. What causes the kind of race hate evidenced in this case? There are a number of factors: Racial superiority feelings passed down from parents or friends, or other contacts; Inexplicable feelings of hate towards people or cultures which are different; Ignorance or non-acceptance of differences; Fear of violence or crime from another ethnic group; A bad experience with people of an ethnic group; Anger or Jealousy of economic or social status if good or better, or pity/judgment of economic/social status if the other group deemed to be generally poor and parasitic. Recession brings out feelings of racism by whites against blacks or Eastern European Immigrants who they feel are taking their jobs. There is also racism that Blacks or Asians have against white people. Racism is worldwide. Cultural differences sometimes cause friction but can also be laughed off in well-worded comedy sketches. We have to accept it is a part of life, but when it is manifested in hurtful name-calling as in recent football pitch situations, or cold-blooded murder - there has to be strong condemnation. I would advise the prison warders to place these guys in solitary confinement, or in a prison far, far away from London. They would be safer way up in the North of Scotland. Elsewhere, black prisoners - and there are many - will not take kindly to them, and liberal white prisoners will also take great pleasure in causing harm to these men. The Daily Mail is patting itself on its back, and seems to believe the guilty verdict finally happened because of them. Well, who can forget their screaming headline - Murderers with a picture of the five suspects in the murder of Stephen Lawrence hearing. The paper said "If it is not true, then sue us". We must commend them. For a paper which is sometimes accused of being too right wing - they certainly got it right on this occasion. The press conference held by black leaders on the morning after the conviction, seemed to contain people who are in subsections of a community. It was noted that the media would not have bothered to turn up if Rev. Jesse Jackson from America was not present. This was illustrated by the fact that the first 4 open questions were directed to Jesse Jackson, when there were 5 other British people on the panel. Sky news - the only mainstream media covering the event, cut the live coverage when questioning went to others apart from Rev Jackson. Although this is a brilliant news story - next week it will be something else taking centre stage. Life goes on. There is always crime, and some of it goes unsolved. The amount of violent murders over this Christmas and New year period is unbelievable. Crime from any community is awful, and we need to look at the wider society behavioural patterns and causes to try to stem this tide. Note that a number of murders who kill family, or go on killing sprees in colleges etc, typically kill themselves shortly afterwards, not wanted to face the consequences. But if they were so miserable that they wanted to end their lives, why not just do that instead of taking innocent people to death with them. It is totally selfish and unforgivable, especially where ex-partners take the lives of children to get back at the other partner. It is as if they are saying, "if I am not happy, neither can you be". What can be done, to help people control anger? If they are angry or just don't like someone, why not just walk away, move away, don't lash out with a knife or gun. What is the point? Do we need to teach Anger Management in the classroom? Do we need to ensure morals are taught, and not just assumed that people will pick them up from their parents? Doreen and Neville Lawrence have shown us how to deal with pain and trauma, and still go on to do good. Stuff happens, but it is how you deal with it which really matters. During their private pain - they have helped to provide healing and help to others as well as themselves. Thank you in particular to Doreen, who has in many ways battled on alone after the break-up of her marriage, and the subsequent return to the Caribbean of her husband. She came across as a humble and kind yet resolute woman on the documentary featured on TV about her battle and work. The 95% of right-thinking people in the UK, know that justice is being seen to be done, but I would imagine would be in uproar if the two get minimal sentences. It's the start of righting a wrong. And we just hope the police work hard to solve other crimes out there waiting for justice, from whether from black, white, Asian or other communities. We also hope the police prosecute those of their own involved in police brutality against black people in or out of custody. Black Economics |
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