It's a Sin to Kill a Mockingbird

Why U.S. Politics and Justice Need More Leaders Like Atticus Finch

If you have not read the Pulitzer Prize-winning work of Harper Lee - To Kill A Mockingbird, I urge you to do so. I recently re-read this masterpiece after remembering that it spoke to me as a child, but I did not truly understand or digest just how profound this piece of literature was until I re-read it.

Recently, in Glynn County, Georgia, the profiling and shooting of a young black man went largely unreported. Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old simply out for his daily run, was ambushed and murdered by a father and son, armed and acting on baseless "suspicion" that Ahmaud fit the profile of a burglar, they took it upon themselves to confront him. Their actions ended in his tragic death. This was not a citizen arrest gone wrong, this was a modern-day lynching. Ahmaud was not putting anyone's life in danger - why did they even bring guns in the first place? It’s chilling to consider that without the viral video of this shooting that surfaced, justice may never have even been pursued. A shooting is a serious crime, regardless of the circumstances, yet, it's highly likely the father and son involved would have evaded accountability. Even if no one openly admits it, prejudices often shape how cases are handled, and this one could easily have been ignored. Thankfully, the video left no room for doubt, exposing their guilt to the world.

When their arrests were finally made, it was not because the authorities saw the video, but because we, the people, saw the video on social media and what followed was a massive outcry for justice. It should not take a video going viral to get the authorities to seek justice, they should be seeking justice all along. The people who committed this crime are a product of what is being tolerated and we are witnessing an abdication of responsibility on the part of state governments. If this behavior was unanimously unacceptable across states then individuals with such prejudiced belief systems would fade out fast. In this case, and many others like it, the criminals and the judicial system are clouded by prejudice and delusions of grandeur. In no conceivable scenario in the U.S. would a young white male be ambushed and shot while out for a run without it being widely reported!

The Secret Courts of Men's Hearts

Atticus Finch, a white lawyer in 1930s Alabama, is a major character in To Kill a Mockingbird. A single father, he is fiercely intelligent, brave, honorable, and compassionate. He represents Tom Robinson, a black man, in a society where an all-white jury makes fairness impossible. Despite clear evidence of Tom’s innocence and Atticus delivering a brilliant defense, he cannot win - because Tom Robinson is black. One quote that sticks with me is "the secret courts of men's hearts" describing how the jury’s unspoken prejudices shaped their verdict. Atticus knew he would lose but took the case anyway, hoping to plant seeds of fairness for the future. That’s how we should all aim to live our lives.

What's bad for the hive is bad for the bee? People are much better off when their whole city is flourishing than when certain citizens are, the same applies to countries and the whole world. We are all bonded together in this thing called life, like it or not. If we forget the fundamentals of decency, we are not as evolved, or advanced as we think, especially when we turn a blind eye to an ugly archaic system like racism. Equality of rights under the law, to all persons, is so basic a principle to democracy, and commitment to the ultimate value of the individual - it must be reflected in the fundamental law of the land.

Racism is bad for everyone! It sets the tone for bad policymaking and bad decision-making. Plus I can't even imagine how exhausting it must be to carry around all that fear and anxiety towards another person. Isolating oneself and manifesting hate, forgetting our common humanity. We can have differences in our core beliefs; politics, religion, sexuality, guns, etc.. while still respecting each other's characters and abilities. We've lost the ability to converse with our opposites, and that is the space where growth happens. We must acknowledge the social stratification that divides us and work together to dismantle these barriers, building a society where all individuals, regardless of race, have equal opportunities to succeed.

It’s a Sin to Kill a Mockingbird?

“It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird' — a symbol of innocence destroyed by evil and as Atticus Finch says in the book, 'Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy.'? Ahmaud Arbery, like a mockingbird, was simply going about his day, causing no harm, yet his innocence was tragically taken by cowardice and hate. We must recognize these injustices and commit to protecting our communities better.?

Atticus Finch, in a moment of truly beautiful parenting, tells his children “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what”? It's a powerful lesson about moral strength and standing up for what’s right, even in the face of almost certain failure. Though Atticus Finch is a fictional character, his unwavering commitment to justice, fairness, and moral integrity offers invaluable lessons for both us and our legal systems, reminding us that true courage lies in standing up for what’s right, even when it’s not easy.?

Be Kind to Every Kind.

Tanya