by Wilbur Witt
As we wait for the ultimate fate of Jody Arias I have mulled over a range of circumstances and possible outcomes to the saga that has dominated the media for months. My opinions have fluctuated from distain to outright attraction, but I have settled on some opinions. These opinions have been formed by Miss Arias' actions, but have been salted by the actions of the contributing parties as well. One of the lovely things about being sixty two years old is you can voice opinions that are not necessarily mainstream.
First let's examine the crime itself. We all know the scenario, twenty seven stab wounds, cut throat, two shots to the head, horrific to be sure, but put it on a scale. Is it worse than a drone attack on a terrorist that also kills a three year old child who just happens to be in the same building at the same time? How about the college student a few days ago who was shot accidentally by the same officer who was trying to save her? A few years ago I lived in the same neighborhood with a general in the army. it came to light that he had employed a certain method during the first Gulf War to dispatch a number of Iraqi regulars that was, well to be honest, a bit unorthodox. Seems he used one column of tanks to route them, and employed another group to run over them. When CNN showed up he summed his action up in one sentence. "I'm sorry to be the first one to tell you this, but there's just no nice way to kill people!"
Ask yourself, would Jodi's crime have been better if she had just shot Travis between the eyes with one shot? Would he be any less dead? To be sure, most women, so motivated would have done just that. Women, by nature are not into knife wielding violence. A small caliber pistol provides a more "lady like" tool for a woman than a butcher knife, Lizzy Borden aside. We move into the realm of mediating circumstances. What made Jodi employ that knife rather than a .25 semi automatic pistol? What forces made an artistic party girl suddenly try to cut her boyfriend's head off? A person with no criminal record, never violent toward any boyfriend, a person who accommodated all of Travis' "needs?"
I listened to her final plea to the jury yesterday. I learned about her childhood. Like my own, she didn't have much, but she put a value on her relationship with her family. My father was a roofer. He drank beer. He loved a TV show called "The Guns of Will Sonnet." We lived in the projects. He would raise hell if we couldn't get that show on for him on Friday nights, and I hated that. Kinda wish I could watch it with dad one more time.
I looked at the nude photos of Jodi. Frankly, with all this hub bub I expected to see a drop dead gorgeous woman. What I saw was a girl who's legs were a bit too big, saggy, with a goofy face. I saw a girl who most likely drifted from boyfriend to boy friend whom upon becoming tired of her simply faded away. She had accepted that role all,of her life.
Travis Alexander was the fulfillment of a dream for Jodi. He had good looks, he was a businessman, he was religious, had a house, he had it all. He took trips to far away lands. Unfortunately for Jodi, he was also an asshole. I understand the feelings of his siblings. The relationship between brother and sister, or brother and brother is never the same as the one between a man and his sexual partners. Travis Alexander, in Jodi Arias, had found the perfect sexual toy to vent his desires upon. I listened to his voice on the famous phone call last night. Two things struck me. One, he wasn't very good at phone sex and two he was a classic Narcisstic personality. He spent a large amount of time descibing his sexual exploits as Jodi giggled, and spurred him on. And Jodi, chasing the dream, would submit to any suggestions he might have in the faint hope that finally she would live the dream. She would,,at last, grab the ring!
He wanted to be done with her, ok. She'd had that before. She stalked him, ok. Her dream was fading away like cotton candy in her mouth. She showed up on his doorstep hoping for just one more shot. In spite of all the testimony about how he thought she was stalking him, Travis Alexander opened the door now ask yourself, why did he do that? She gave it her all, just look at the pictures, and that final day Travis said, "Not good enough. Next!" Then, he had the nerve to march into the shower and parade around while she took pictures. I was particularly taken by the one shot where he stares right into the camera with that movie star look. Then he turned his back on a woman scorned. Death by stupid!
Did Travis deserve to die, certainly not. There are lots of manipulative men in the world who live to a ripe old age, usually a lonely old age filled with gifts like ED. Was Jodi right in what she did, absolutely not. People get rejected all the time. If she had been thinking she should have rose early that morning, keyed his car while he slept, and slipped off. When Travis Alexander told her that she would not be going to Mexico with him after she submitted to all of his wants and fantasies, and then gave her a show in the shower Jodi Arias reached the end of her rope. I've read about how he was afraid of her. I've read about how he was avoiding her. He thought so little of her feelings, and according to him he understood she was obsessed, that he turned his back on her! He should have never let her in the door in the first place! Jodi Arias didn't just kill Travis Alexander, she killed every man who ever used her. She killed her LIFE!
Should Jodi die? She already has. Choking her to death on some gurney years from now after most people have forgotten who she was will not serve justice. Jodi died that morning when Travis told her she would not be going to Mexico. She died of a broke heart, and took Travis with her. In a way she got what she was seeking. She and Travis will be forever linked in eternity. In her rage that afternoon she sealed their union in blood.
Should she spend her life in prison. Yes. Jodi didn't kill twenty school children. She acted in a fit of jealous rage. Her best choice is prison. You may be amazed at what comes out of her if she gets life. She's clever, manipulative, and artistic. Believe it or not people settle down in a life in prison, and as she tells her story to her "cellies" those women there will understand her motivations. They will understand them far better than any psychologist, or wannabe prosecutor in "Somewhere," Arizona! And hopefully, someday,,this tortured soul will find peace.
Gentlemen, never take a woman's feelings lightly. Never think that just because she's submissive that she is in concert with you. Handle their hearts with care. Women are not the weaker sex. They give BIRTH! Unfortunately, for people like Travis Alexander, they can also give death.
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