How?

How could this have happened?

How could society let this go?

How can she get away with this?

How could Casey Anthony do this to her?

How could this woman to this to her child and accuse others of her crime while also throwing out blame on others for why she may have done her dirty deed?

An excerpt from an Alan Jackson song, "Where were you when the world stop turning?" asks a pinnacle question: where were you when you heard the verdict for Casey Anthony?

I myself was in a salon full of ladies getting their nails done when one of the patrons, a mother of two girls who were along with her, got a text from her husband. She scoffed and we all tried to ignore her. The next thing she said caused an uproar.

"My husband just texted me. He said 'that chick just got away with killing her kid.'"

Instantly the room began to bustle with whispers of distaste. Many of the women there at the time were mothers themselves and they were the most furious. Mothers young, mothers old, mothers strict, mothers lax and free-spirited. None, however, like the one that just escaped the same fate as her daughter.

As I am not a mother, and I plan to be one in my future, I reacted very curiously to this announcement. I had been following this trial very closely and I formed my own opinion in all of this . when I heard this announcement, several emotions flashed through me, causing me to feel like a mother myself.

Emotion one: Anger

The first emotion I felt when I heard her innocence declared. I was mad as all can be. Mad because she didn't let the police know of her dilemma for thirty days. Mad that she blamed a woman she didn't even know with the taking of her child. Mad that she led her family and the nation on a manhunt that she must have known was going to fail. Mad that she lied to police from the first moment they began to try to find her daughter. Mad that while her daughter was either dead or dying, she went out with friends and acted like a rebellious teenage girl who liked to party and had no care in the world. Mad that she would not man up and admit even to herself that this was her fault and had she been a loving and caring mother she would have told the police sooner about the disappearance if it really was that and not gone out to party and spend money while her daughter could have been safe and sound. Mad that if Casey Anthony loved her daughter enough, but wanted her old life back, she would have let a young couple with no way of getting a child to accept a little girl who could put as much joy in their eyes as Caylee did with her grandparents. Mad that little Caylee would never grow up and experience school, not eating vegetables, wanting to dress up like a princess every day, the drama of high school and growing up, kissing a boy, falling in love, having a husband and a family, growing old and seeing grandkids. Mad because one woman's jealousy overtook her and she solved a problem that had other solutions.

Emotion two: Frustration

The second emotion I felt was brief but powerful. I was frustrated that out of the entire jury, there were several women who are mothers themselves. How could these women look past what was right in front of them and think that that woman was innocent? A mother has gut instincts and when something is not right, they know all about it. Where was their gut instinct those ten hours and forty minutes as they debated the fate of a murderer? Why would it only take just under eleven hours to decide that that woman should go from the death sentence to only maybe going to jail another year for serving most of her possible sentence?

Emotion three: Sadness

My final emotion that I felt was sadness. I felt sad for that little girl. She had nothing to do but live a beautiful life and that all came crashing down when her life was ended at the age of two. Sadness for the family that had stood by the side of Casey when she needed it most and she blatantly accused them of heinous acts for causing her to become a liar and possibly be the ones to do the deed. Sadness because all that woman could have done was tell the truth sooner and maybe things might not have gotten as they had. Maybe things could have been simpler.

But they weren't, and now she is free.

I believe in freedom of speech and I also believe in getting what you deserve. Some of you may or may not agree with this, but I have my opinion and that is why I am glad to be an American. I'd rather the verdict be different, but that is not the case. As this is the trial of the century, I can understand the opinions of everyone paying any and all attention. Please feel free to leave any opinion at the bottom in a review and if it would give you a little more security as to the nature of any comments, please feel free to message me privately. I accept any criticism and agreements and I thank you for reading this.

As another side note, as I was writing this, a song came on my iTunes playlist and it made me think of this exactly. "A Dangerous Mind" from Within Temptation reveals in the lyrics some of the reactions by many critics and those paying close attention to the case.

"I'm searching for answers
'cause something is not right.
I follow the signs,
I'm close to the fire.

I fear that soon you'll reveal
Your dangerous mind.

It's in your eyes, what's on your mind.
I fear your smile and the promise inside.
It's in your eyes, what's on your mind.
I fear your presence, I'm frozen inside.

I'm searching for answers
Not questioned before.
The curse of awareness,
There's no peace of mind.
As your true colours show
A dangerous sign.

I just have know, while I still have time.
Do I have to run, or hide away from you?"