So here's a public service announcement I never imagined I'd be making: I'm seriously not a terrible person, I promise. I'm a (reformed) liar, not a cheater (except maybe in cards on occasion). Please don't continue hating me from a distance. Or, in one particular case, from very close while I'm sleeping. (Attention: Malia) End PSA.
I wavered on whether or not I wanted to weigh in, or if I was even ready to do so, but I feel like I should as both a close friend of the person responsible and one of those affected by what she did.
It seems to me that calling those seeking justice and a trial for what happened 'a mob' is exactly why those same (honestly unmobbed) people are so passionate about it. It's a bit like negating the experience. Clearly, this is why it needs to happen. We didn't have a good enough system in place after the other experiences, but we can't let that continue or the next use of unchecked magic could be much worse. No one wants to live where the justice system has no teeth or backbone.
I see it as a spectrum, where the trial is in the middle, the hypothetical 'mob' is on one side, and the call for lessening what happened is on the other. I don't think it's right to step completely into mercy, not in this situation. And though I've seen a few comments to the contrary from those denouncing it, I've yet to see anyone actually call for a mob. (Because a group of vocal and rightfully angry people does not automatically a mob make.) I'm glad for that.
See, I fucking love Emma Swan. She's one of my very closest friends, in fact. She's a good woman, and yes, she clearly made a mistake. That's not something I think anyone is arguing against. You want a character witness? I'm your guy -- I'll tell you up and down how great she is, and how she'd never do anything intentionally to hurt someone else. However, that doesn't negate the fact that her actions, which I do believe were completely accidental, did hurt someone else -- many someones, in fact. Myself included. And truthfully, it's all hitting me a little harder than I might've expected it to. My father What I mean is that I'm on both sides of the fence. I support Emma as a person I care about tremendously, but I absolutely do not support what has happened. And see, this is about more than just her. We've got to get our shit together and get a structure in place for dealing with stuff like this, or we'll never be able to completely hold anyone accountable for anything.
If she turned herself in, she's accepting the system of justice in place (or the need for one). As some have said, a trial is inevitable. If there are people protecting her in jail, then this hypothetical mob of the violently angry won't be able to get to her. To be honest, she's probably punishing herself more than anyone could anyway at the moment.
I think when it comes to this subject, it's just as bad to come at it tip-toeing as it is to come at it with guns blazing. None of this negates the rights of anyone to be angry about it. Compassion and intent should and will have their place in the courtroom, but we've got to get there first.