First of all, Thank You to Everyone who reads my ramblings. And a second Thank You to those of you who respond. One person told me that the "comments" didn't work for her. I don't know what's wrong, I thought I had it set up so anyone could leave a comment. I will try to check later in the week, or next week.
This week, beginning today and continuing tomorrow, I have the new experience of (county) jury duty.
The first thing that happens is a person becomes part of a jury "pool". Most of us without any knowledge of how to "swim" through this.......let me tell you!
We were all packed in hallway. The line for signing in went down one side of the hallway and wound back around the other side. As I got closer to the door, we were told to pass along that "M-Z" last names had plenty of space in their line. This kept repeating the whole time, periodically reminding the rest of the line that if their last name was "M-Z" they could get in the other line..
I did NOT want to be here. Not just because of being packed in with a lot of humans, but because of my own experience with "justice" in my lifetime. I was determined to find a way to explain in detail and with all the controlled rage I could muster exactly why I have no respect for the alleged justice system. Unfortunately, before I went to Packed Hallway Central, I stopped in at the chapel. I'd been awake since 5AM arguing with God, and I was still arguing in the chapel. I made the fatal mistake of saying, after calling God out for not helping me "back then" and not appearing to help me "now", of saying, "I didn't ask You what You want".
Never say that to God.
Well, almost never.
You'll most likely find yourself packed in a crowded court room digging in your fanny pack for your ear plugs.
Remember, I don't have a car. I didn't know if there would be a place to safely leave my bicycle, so I walked. It isn't that far, but, tomorrow morning it's going to be ice cold going into that North wind. Anyway, the car thing will come up a bit in a minute.
When I got inside the room, I knew I had to put my earplugs in, so, I juggled my tote bag, coat slung over one arm, my shoulder holding the door I was propping open for other people, trying to get my earplugs out of my fanny pack. I muttered something about getting them in before I started screaming.
The man in front of me heard me and asked if he could hold something for me. The lady behind me said she'd hold the door. It was the first time I can remember complete strangers being simultaneously kind to each other. It wasn't just to me, it was everywhere around the whole court room........even when there was standing room only, and then those of us left standing were told to go up front while chairs were fetched. We were taking turns moving around the chairs, letting each other have a seat first.
I looked around the room. It seemed everyone was clutching their papers and their big purple "JUROR" cards. I didn't have a big purple card. I noticed them even through the windows of the courtroom doors when we first got there. When I went up to sign, the lady didn't give me one. Before we were seated, as I was standing in the back, catching myself lightly banging my head on the wall, the lady who came to stand next to me held up her purple card and said, "Does this mean we're a juror?"
I took my earplugs out and said, "I'm SO glad you asked that. I thought I was the only one who didn't know. That's for your parking. I know this, because, I don't have a car, and, after I signed when the lady didn't give me a purple card and I asked her about getting one, she looked at me like I was an Idiot and told me it's for people who are parking their cars. So....on top of everything else, I'm stigmitized here because I don't have a car............I don't get a big purple "JUROR" card." I rolled my eyes. We both laughed. The lady said, "I'm so glad I now know what my purple card is for!'
After we were all seated, we had to "rise" for the judge. He was ok. Even had a bit of a sense of humor. He impressed upon us that being able to have a trial by jury is one of the great rights we have in this country. Even though he did that, he also impressed upon us that we really don't have much choice in being part of the jury pool.
We were chosen from the DMV list. If I hadn't kept up my driver's license, if I hadn't sent in our current address after we moved to this house, I wouldn't be spazzing out over jury duty. My husband, who is close to legally blind and told he should NEVER drive a car and this past summer got told he shouldn't even ride a bicycle, found the whole thing amusing that since he doesn't have a driver's license he most likely will never have this experience.
Husbands!
There are very few groups of persons who are exempt from duty. To be exempt for mental health or physical reasons, you need something in writing from a doctor. You are also exempt if you've committed a felony..........one poor guy who confessed in front of us all that he'd been in the county jail got asked "Was it a felony?". "No," he quietly replied. "Well, then, you aren't excused!"
So I'm sitting in the courtroom spazzing out because I kept up my driver's license, although I have no car, and I didn't commit a felony. I wonder if I can commit a felony between now and whenever my name is drawn to show up for the next session..........my name got drawn for immediately--tomorrow bright and early in the morning........................
There seemed to be a genuine sympathy towards those of us who got drawn first by those who get to wait until next week. I've been thinking about this the rest of the day, this, for lack of better word, comeraderie of strangers. Then it hit me--we're all victims in this scenario We have no escape. We can have hope of escape and allow others to have that, but, we are stuck in the jury pool until March or until we actually serve. Still, there's something else I'm sensing that I can't name. I've been in other groups of people who were trapped. Frequently there is a nasty spirit of turning on each other. I don't know why this is so different.
Why does it matter? Because, I want to "bottle" it and take it back to Church with me!!!
It's most likely something to do with the temporariness and that we are mostly all strangers to each other. What does that say about getting along in community?
Can the two situations even be compared?
These are the thoughts I have after being awake since 5AM this morning, arguing with God, finding out I'm trapped because I did the Right Things............I know...........go get some sleep already!
I may not blog tomorrow. I'm not sure what is going to happen. And, of course, I know I won't be able to write specifics about the case, but, if there are some general things I can reflect on in the experience, I'll post them.
Sorry this wasn't more entertaining. Besides being tired, the North Wind is howling around this room, almost as whiney as I am. ;-)
Keep your driver's license and address current. Don't commit felonies. Be kind to each other, particularly persons you are close to every day.
Ritagail
Comments [2]