WE WANT JUSTICE AND WE WANT IT NOW!

I am honoured by how many people tell me they have been enjoying my blog. It truly amazes me that my ramblings are being read far (Scotland) and wide (USA). I know humour is part of the appeal in my writing, so today I want to warn people in advance that what I am about to write about about may not be funny. If you can't handle my serious side , now may be the time to move on to the cooking blogs.

Yesterday for the first time in twenty five years living in this town I felt fear. Now I've had many worrying health diagnoses so I have certainly experienced fear , but yesterday was fear of a different type. And it was all because I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A very sad event occurred recently in our town. Two people were the victims of a hit and run and the case many weeks later is unresolved. People are angry over this and they want justice...and so they should. So they took to the streets in a protest march.

Driving around the corner oblivious to what was happening I came face to face with the oncoming mob. Reports say 300-400, I'm going for at least 500. These people were angry and they were moving up the towns main street showing it. I was stuck with nowhere to move. Police who had magically materialised advised me to put my window up and brakes on and to stay put. But the anger was palpable and I was afraid.

The angry mob got angrier when they saw my car in the way. They abused me by deriding my colour, they kicked the wheels of my car and they poured water over my windscreen. All the time they chanted " we want justice and we want it now".

As the mob passed, I had the inclination to speed out of there but I noticed the last person struggling to keep up with the others.. She is an old lady by the name of Elvie and she is an "elder". Elvie has frequently helped me at school. She is a wise woman and one deserving of respect.

So because Elvie was passing I resisted the urge to fly out of there and waited till she passed. I didn't do it because she is black, white or brindle (is that even a colour?). I did it out of respect.

I know this is a very sad situation but that is what we need more of. We need respect for our justice system that is slowly working through this. We need respect for each other as it is being worked through and above all we need patience.

Everyone wants justice and everyone wants it now. That's fine, as long as a whole heap of injustices are not created along the way to get to the solution faster.