Main Street Maury
COLUMBIA WEATHER

The sad Rittenhouse situation




Campbell

Campbell

When the jury returned with a not guilty verdict on all counts, it did not come as a surprise. Any individual that even remotely followed the Kyle Rittenhouse trial saw the writing-on-the-wall for quite some time.

While the judge displayed bias throughout the duration of the trial, the prosecution also seemed incredibly inept. There were times during the process that the judge seemed more inclined to give Rittenhouse a bear-hug rather than facilitate a fair trial.

I will not pretend that I am a lawyer or anyone with legal expertise. If someone wishes to gain an intimate legal understanding of the trial, I’m not the individual to deliver this knowledge.

I am able to communicate the profound misery associated with Rittenhouse and the trial.

Regardless whether you believe Rittenhouse to be innocent or guilty, his life will forever be impacted by the tragic events that occurred in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Once he killed the second person and wounded another that night, he sealed his future in the eyes of many. By inserting himself, strapped with an AR-style rifle, in to the protest that night, he effectively placed himself in the middle of the lion’s den.

It was all so very avoidable. Did Rittenhouse believe that he was there to protect Kenosha, a city where he did not live?

Although a jury of his peers ruled him innocent, he is most certainly guilty of placing himself in a situation where he had no business in being. When confronted and chased, he resorted to killing people. While this very well may be self-defense, it is also pulling on the tiger’s tail and then crying when the tiger comes after you.

Moreover, his family shares a degree of fault in this whole mess. While it’s not true that his mother transported him to the protest, he did travel there with his sister and his friends. He strategically kept the weapon at the house of a friend and retrieved it before stalking the streets that evening. Rittenhouse’s mother was unaware that her son was in Kenosha. While she should be pushing him to apply to colleges and for scholarships, her non-involvement has set her son up for failure and years of mental issues.

Any individual that is lauding Rittenhouse as some type of hero should take a long look in to a mirror. This young man killed two humans that were protesting police brutality. The far-right, including President Trump, is comfortable idolizing an individual that willingly traveled to a protest and only added to the chaos and disorder. He didn’t bring peace and order. He didn’t provide aide to the overwhelmed police force. He’s certainly not a hero by any standards.

Ultimately, the verdict in this trial will lead to other individuals attempting to be vigilantes and they will feel empowered to kill protestors. The right to protest is an important tenant in our society and Rittenhouse made the decision that he would insert himself and then provoke the protestors.

While he has been congratulated and embraced by several people with questionable morals, Rittenhouse will have an uphill battle moving forward. He might be invited to speak at some Republican events, but the media and politicians will fade away. There will be a book deal and appearances, but that won’t be forever either.

Eventually, he’ll be left with his thoughts and the overwhelming guilt of killing two people. A teenager that is directly responsible for multiple deaths will carry an immense burden for the remainder of their life.

My sincere hope is that he can pivot begin recovering from such an experience. Rittenhouse had the right to defend himself, even if he inserted himself in the protest, but the death and anguish he caused for many will live with him for a long time.

Although he was ruled innocent, his conscience will struggle with the guilt forever.

Seth James Campbell is from Columbia, Tennessee and is an educator. He also runs Hound Dog Holler Animal Rescue. He has degrees from Columbia State Community College, University of Tennessee, and Trevecca Nazarene University. He can be reached at sethjcampbell74@gmail.com.

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