For What It’s Worth, I’m Innocent

There is nothing more horrific than being held guilty when you are innocent. A judge once said he would rather a hundred guilty men walk than one innocent man be executed for a crime that he did not commit. History speaks a lot about the innocent being held guilty. While some crimes don’t seem so dreadful to be held guilty, there are others so terrible to be ever thought guilty of.

Napoleon Bonaparte is known for many things: A conqueror, historical figure, a lover, a military genius, a character in ABBA’s famous Waterloo, and so on. However, what is not as well known is his laws. These laws were called the Napoleonic Code, a brilliant set of laws that is the foundation of many European and other countries rules. One of the most important laws in his code would be how he changed the concept of guilty until proven innocent. Instead, turning it to the now well used innocent until proven guilty.

This thinking changed the whole way the law treated people who they believed to be a suspect of a crime. This ideal is so fundamental and important, that we can believe that when people have a shadow of a doubt that we may be guilty, the law will not believe so. It means that we can truly believe in justice in court.

The sad part about this though, while society still honors Napoleon’s memory or his excellent idea, we don’t at the same time. We don’t, because of what people believe. This is mainly due to the media's fault. Nevertheless, while it is the media's fault, it is our choice to believe in them, and not anybody else's decision.

When someone is charged or investigated, often we believe them guilty. The saddest thing is that even if people are proven later innocent, people still have the lingering belief that they might have been guilty. Worst still, people sometimes never hear that they were proven innocent.

The fact is, even though a court held them innocent, society still find them guilty. Ultimately meaning, they might as well be guilty because the way society is going to treat them for the rest of their lives.

This is really troubling, especially if people are innocent, but especially more so if you were accused of murdering someone. However, it could be wore still. For example, if you were accused of molesting a child; people would jump on you. Furthermore, since people hate pedophiles, and rightly so, instantly one might be branded for life, even if they were innocent.

Take for instance, the singer Cliff Richard. He was accused of molesting a boy or boys. He was innocent. However, his name was dragged through the dirt. He was innocent, scarred by the ordeal and some might still believe he is guilty, even though he was just being investigated.

It’s not that the law should not hunt those they believe to be guilty, but it should taken into account that people react to accusations as good as guilt. The law shouldn’t stop, but either it has to find a better way to check things or society changes.

The problem is that both these are just about impossible to change. Or if not, they both take time. Nevertheless, it’s time that we realize, innocent until proven guilty. No matter what things looks like it is never guilty until proven innocent. Otherwise, we might as well be judge jury and executioner, because our thoughts, and our voice, can condemn just as easily as those who do actual law. It is time that we realize mob justice is not justice at all.