As the first chill of fall spread through my bones walking down Newbury Street, I felt uninspired. A depressing realization hit me: there was probably no hyperbole or intricate imagery I could weave about Boston that hadn’t already been expressed in letters, books and newspaper articles. There are just some cities proclaimed photogenic by manic tourists milling around, poking lenses into shop windows and aiming at timeless buildings. Buildings which have probably been captured by previous generations of other, less advanced lenses, held by less worrisome people, who lived in what we consider a less sophisticated time. Creatively frustrated, I grappled with a concept that weighed on my mind all week: expectation. We vigorously seek its fulfillment, yet become equally disheartened at its destruction. Hopes are piled up like stacks of clothing that you never have time to hang up in your closet. An inner turmoil brews. This week alone, our world has witnessed two instances where expectation has disappeared into the deep abyss of disappointment. From hushed tones in court as a verdict is reached, to a much anticipated unveiling of technological advancement, we watched with bated breath as fate took its unpredictable course.
Meredith Kercher was the victim of a ruthless murder in November of 2007. What ensued was a cruel, real life game of Clue as investigations spiraled into a tangled mess of contradictions. Meredith’s family has endured grueling emotional volatility throughout their trips to Perugia, Italy, hoping for any evidence that could bring closure to such tragedy. Adding insult to injury, Amanda Knox, Meredith’s roommate and a strong suspect in her murder case, was acquitted in an Italian court earlier this week. Televisions, newspapers and websites have been bombarded with images of Knox making an emotional appeal to jurors. Tears streamed down her face before she received her verdict. In America, the common perception of Amanda Knox is of a hapless victim who suffered the failings of Italy’s judicial system. Simultaneously, in Europe she is painted as “Foxy Knoxy”. Much like a leaf being blown away by a gust of wind, Meredith’s memory has been sidelined to accommodate a feeding frenzy of public opinion and warped media perception. In the circus that we call life, perhaps this case has succumbed to being just another ball tossed in the air by a complacent juggler.
From the theatrics of court, our eyes and ears travelled to the drama of technology. All the elements for a grand spectacle were present. Fifteen months had passed since Apple had unveiled a new product in the iPhone range. Steve Jobs, the supreme commander of his technological empire, was no longer at the forefront of the company’s daily operations, and has since tragically passed away. Tim Cook, his successor, was faced with the opportunity to charge the arena filled with dreams as a roaring gladiator. What actually transpired lacked the ferocity we had all expected. This was not the iPhone 5, but the iPhone 4S. I have no doubt that this well-designed piece of machinery will take communication and technological convenience to new heights; the device has already revolutionized voice command technology. However, the bubble of hype surrounding this unveiling burst with a resounding pop. Human nature is characterized by an affinity for the spectacular. While Apple has enjoyed admirable progress in the past four years, no matter how many accolades you accumulate over a career, you will always be remembered for how steady your hands held the weight of society’s expectation.
I waded through headline after headline on my battered laptop. Global markets were tumbling due to questionable stability in Europe. Disney is contemplating the re-release of “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid” in 3D. Michele Bachmann made a fool out of herself . . . again. Schools in France are planning to ration ketchup in the name of patriotism against American snacks. I grew tempted to turn off my phone and computer in resignation. Surely somewhere, anywhere, there were individuals who could say that life exceeded their expectations. Teetering close to the brink of hopelessness, Sloan Churman saved me. After living a life without sound for 29 years, the miracle of an advanced ear implant allowed her to marvel at her voice for the first time. Finally, a miracle demonstrating hope in a world disillusioned and chaotic. Overwhelmed by the momentous occasion, she broke down into sobs of delight. She would finally be able to have a conversation with her doting husband. For once in her life, she would be able to hear bubbly squeals from her baby. I smiled as she exclaimed in between sobs, “I can hear myself cry!”
Sofiya Mahdi is a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences and a weekly columnist for The Daily Free Press. She can be reached at sofiya21@bu.edu.
This is an account occasionally used by the Daily Free Press editors to post archived posts from previous iterations of the site or otherwise for special circumstance publications. See authorship info on the byline at the top of the page.
Amanda Knox’s acquittal “adds insult to injury?” Really? Amanda Knox was held in a foreign prison, had a false confession beaten out of her by the Italian police, and had to face the possibility of 26 years behind bars. Yes, Kercher’s parents didn’t get much closure, and I agree that they deserve some. But you’re implying that the result of the trial was a disappointment, even though there was absolutely no evidence to convict Knox, and she didn’t have an even slightly plausible motive to murder her roommate. Amanda Knox was never a “strong suspect.” If you just wanted to see someone punished for the crime, whether they were guilty or not, you have a seriously warped concept of justice.
Lauren, The presiding judge has stated he thinks she (Ms Knox) may have been guilty after all. Read the interviews published after the verdict. And don’t forget, this was an appeal; Knox was previously convicted and it’s not over yet.
Still, I think you are missing the point. Uncertainty, the blunting of values and spot-judgement by mass-media are intrinsic characteristics of the times we live in. Our sense of judgement wavers with the wind, as does yours when you readily accuse the writer of a warped concept of justice.
I find this article uplifting. When it comes to the crunch, basic human values and needs are to be celebrated and appreciated.