Agree to Disagree

Okay, so I'm not really one to keep on the up-and-up with news, let alone blog about it. But I happened to catch a news story at the gym the other day, and I just felt compelled to discuss it. Not because I think my opinion is right or anything else, but just because it's something that legitimately bothers me.

Here's the background. Last year, a guard at the penitentiary was killed by a few prisoners during a failed escape attempt. Both inmates have since been sentenced to death (totally not what this is about. I'm certainly not going to scratch the surface of the death penalty issue). However, the widow of the guard (and the attorneys of the estate) has now filed a lawsuit against the Department of Corrections claiming that evidence indicates the staff knew the pair were plotting the escape and did not stop it. Additionally, the lawsuit claims the criminals were not being held at the appropriate security level (more specific details available here courtesy of our local news station).

Now, here's the thing. I am, by no means, discrediting the validity of the claims in the lawsuit. I really have no grounds to make such judgements. However. I kind of disagree with the whole filling of the lawsuit in the first place. I mean, not only has this widow had to deal with the loss of her husband, but then she had to go through the trial of the two criminals, and now? A lawsuit? Additional prolonging of the pain and agony associated with her husband's death? And all for what? More money? I mean, unless this death has left the widow in some serious financial hole, I just don't see the point. I mean, I suppose I understand the fact that she (and/or the attorneys) want to make sure justice is sought along all avenues in the death of her husband, but I still don't think I would want to deal with continually re-hashing my husband's death. Especially because ultimately, no matter what the outcome is, the fact that her husband is dead won't change. And I think that personally having to overcome that fact would be hard enough without having to face it in the courtroom. For who knows how many more months (or years).

Again. I know this may just be me. And I know this just may be my naive opinion since I've obviously never been in such a situation. And I'm really not looking to start any fights. But if I lost my significant other I think that I'd suffer enough reliving the death that I wouldn't want others to be constantly doing it for me. Don't you?