General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAmanda Knox (thread): After I was convicted of murder and sentenced to 26 years in prison, when...
Last edited Sun Feb 26, 2023, 11:18 AM - Edit history (1)
Link to tweet
/thread
I didnt know what an epiphany should feel like, but it was cold. Like a clear breeze blowing in and brushing the back of your neck, making your hairs stand up.
I knew something deep down that I hadnt known before, and I spent the next several months peering into that epiphany, trying to consider all of its implications, like watching the ripples spread out from a drop of water in a pool.
My epiphany was this: I was not, as I had assumed for my first two years of trial and imprisonment, waiting to get my life back. I was not some lost tourist waiting to go home. I was a prisoner, and prison was my home.
Id thought I was in limbo, awkwardly positioned between my life (the life I should have been living), and someone elses life (the life of a murderer). I wasnt. I never had been.
The conviction, the sentence, the prison cell*this* was my life. There was no life I *should* have been living. There was only my life, this life, unfolding before me.
The epiphany itself didnt feel good or bad. It was just true. If there was a feeling, it was the feeling of fact, and it came with the next logical conclusion: my life was sad.
I was imprisoned for a crime I didnt commit. I would be locked away for the best years of my life, and deprived of opportunities many of us take for granted: falling in love, having children, pursuing a career.
My world would be so small, trapped within concrete walls and surrounded by traumatized people, many of whom were a danger to themselves and others.
And this life would inevitably take me further and further down a path that would alienate me from everyone I loved, who, despite their best efforts to be there for me, were on their own paths moving in very different directions.
The feeling of clarity, though, was in realizing that however small, cruel, sad, and unfair this life was, it was *my* life. Mine to make meaning out of, mine to live to the best of my ability. There was no more waiting. There was only now.
I was alone with my epiphany. I tried to explain it to my mom, but she couldnt hear me. She thought I was depressed and giving up. She could not, and would not, accept that *this* was my life. She was going to save me, and she just needed me to survive until she did.
I told her I would, and it wasnt a lie. I *would* survive. I knew that, deep in my bones. But I knew that precisely because I had finally accepted that I was living *my* life, whether I was eventually found innocent and freed, or not.
I allowed myself to begin to imagine alternate realities. What if I had been home that night, not Meredith, and Rudy Guede had killed me instead? What if I was acquitted and freed in five years? In ten?
What if I served my entire sentence, and came home in my late 40s, a barren, bereft woman? What if I killed myself
I imagined all of those futures in vivid detail so that they no longer felt like shadows creeping over me from the realm of unconscious nightmares. And that allowed me to see my actual life for what it was, and to ask myself: How do I make *that* life worth living?
That was a big question, one I couldn't answer in its grandest sense. But there was a smaller version of that question: How can I make my life worth living *today?* I could answer that question, repeatedly.
That was entirely in my power. So I did that. Doing sit ups, walking laps, writing a letter, reading a book these things were enough to make a day worth living. I didnt know if they were enough to make a life worth living, but I remained open and curious to the possibility.
And while my new emotional default setting remained firmly stuck on sadI woke up sad, spent the entire day sad, and went to sleep sadit wasnt a desperate, grasping sadness.
It was a sadness brimming with energy beneath the surface, because I was alive with myself and my sanity, and the freeing feeling of seeing reality clearly, however sad that reality was.
I was slowly and deliberately walking a tightrope across a bottomless foggy abyss, with no clue where I was going and nothing to hold onto but my strong, instinctual sense of balance.
In many ways, though Im now free, legally vindicated, a woman with a career in the arts (as Id always dreamed), an advocate for justice (which I never dreamed), a wife with a loving husband, a mother with a joyous child...Im still walking that tightrope.
The abyss never leaves. Its always there. And anyone whos stared into it, as I have, knows the strange comfort of carrying it with you.
This is a picture of me in the prison yard in the thick of all of this. Everyone is going through something, even when they're smiling. If that sounds like you, I hope reading this helps.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1629181705830670336.html
* The replies to the thread are worth reading, too.
MaryMagdaline
(6,854 posts)Her wrongful conviction made me realize two things: how Americans are so deeply hated; how women are so deeply hated.
betsuni
(25,508 posts)many British/Australian members were convinced Knox was guilty, believed all the ridiculous tabloids, thought nothing of saying the most hateful things about Americans.
MaryMagdaline
(6,854 posts)hlthe2b
(102,260 posts)excellent source of accurate information and an ardent defender of Knox and her innocence. So, I was pretty convinced as to her innocence as well. (Just giving credit where credit is due to a fellow DUer).
obamanut2012
(26,071 posts)And the deliberate disinformation campaign against Knox.
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)I was so happy to see her finally vindicated.
ecstatic
(32,701 posts)But in my opinion, that was a really well done post. I think she should write a book if she has not already. Her perspective could help a lot of people. Even the worst circumstances can potentially be an opportunity for growth. Sometimes I wonder how people can stay sane and keep going when they've lost everything. I guess this is how. By adjusting one's mindset and accepting realities that we can't control.
Tree Lady
(11,460 posts)present life even at the worst and that allowed her to go forward every day.
When we fight and numb out our feelings and thoughts about our life we stop growing.
ShazzieB
(16,392 posts)I haven't read it, but I think I want to now.
Joinfortmill
(14,417 posts)milestogo
(16,829 posts)Pachamama
(16,887 posts)
the history of the prosecutor coming after Amanda Knox and how the investigation was handled would have understood and known she was not guilty.
A good starting point - read the following book: The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston (yes - author of many well known books) and Mario Spezi
Crazy
.
https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Florence-Douglas-Preston/dp/0446581194/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LQL1UGEWXYDQ&keywords=Monster+of+Florence+hardcover&qid=1677427359&s=audible&sprefix=monster+of+florence+hardcover%2Caudible%2C224&sr=1-1-catcorr
True Story - not fiction like Preston usually writes - Doug Preston went to Italy for a Sabbatical and research for future book with his family and quite literally got caught in a real life crime (serial killer in Italy) and was charged by the very same prosecutor who went after Amanda Knox.
I read this 15 years ago - and without a single doubt, this prosecutor, Giuliano Mignini,who is a religious conspiracy theorist (Opus Dei?) freak who also went after Amanda Knox.
Great book and will give you a very good base to understand what Amanda Knox - a beautiful young college kid who is sexual and having fun in her year abroad and finding herself in Migninis focus.
ShazzieB
(16,392 posts)I was never interested in reading it in the past, but I am now!
Before this, I thought it was just an "unsolved mystery" kind of thing, and that doesn't interest me much. I'm a true crime ghoul, but I prefer to read about cases that have been solved, with the details about how they figured out who the perp was and brought them to justice. From what you just told us, I can see there's a lot more to this book than i realized.
Adding this to my "To Read" list!
Ilsa
(61,695 posts)too "mental" to play well on the screen?
3Hotdogs
(12,375 posts)That may be the most powerful sentence I have ever read.
I have gone a bit mentally depressed since turning 80.... wondering about the dark cloud over the horizon and when it will reach me. And wondering how my life will change when physical decay stops me from hiking, going on trips, and takes my loved ones away.
I hope I can keep that sentence in my head.
NJCher
(35,667 posts)Here's a story about my friend Bob, a jazz musician and rental property owner. He's late sixties. At dinner one night he said, "I'm over the hill and proud of it." The other three at the table looked at him quizzically. He went on to explain that the hard part in life was over, he'd proven himself, and now he was just going to enjoy life while working a schedule that was what he wanted.
While we're friends and see each other on a regular basis, I often see Bob at the library checking out a book on yet another president. Yes, that's one of his goals: to read "the" biography of each president we've had.
You can find out what's next if you want to. There is plenty of material on it and it will make you happy. Anyone can do this. The only requirement is an open mind.
3Hotdogs
(12,375 posts)finish line of work and money. I have a defined benefit pension and SS. and no mortgage. There is money left over at the end of the month. I don't have to work anymore. It took me 12 years after retirement to realize that I don't have to work and more important - I don't have to work.
I ain't wealthy. I don't have a yacht or Mercedes.
But financially, I am ok. Its the other stuff I listed in the earlier post that bothers me
Fla Dem
(23,661 posts)Many with an uncertain future or facing hardships could gain some encouragement from her writings.
Ponietz
(2,968 posts)Identify a purpose in life to feel positive about and then immersively imagine the outcome. Frankl was a Nazi death camp survivor.
Hekate
(90,676 posts)NJCher
(35,667 posts)if you hadn't.
I first read it in July of 1981 (I keep a book log).
Time for a re-read, just to see how age will have changed my perspective.
rubbersole
(6,689 posts)...isn't that rare. It's changed a lot of people's views on the death penalty. I don't know what you'd do with Ted Bundy to achieve justice, but the state killing one innocent person is one too many. Ms. Knox is amazingly strong and talented.
inthewind21
(4,616 posts)Like Manson. If you think killing the murderer is justice, it's not. The murdered is still dead and will remain so no matter what penalty is handed down. There is NOTHING that can make that right.
mitch96
(13,897 posts)If I recall correctly it was like they could not decide what to do..
m
maxsolomon
(33,335 posts)Her case had to get to the "Court of Cassation" before they could vacate the conviction.
Still amazed at how many on DU were vocal and argumentative in favor of her guilt. I'm convinced they were all British tabloid victims who'd come over to DU to fight.
mitch96
(13,897 posts)rubbersole
(6,689 posts)Hekate
(90,676 posts)2-26-2023
womanofthehills
(8,703 posts)Really worth the listen - Amanda tells her story & how she is now helping people falsely accused.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5N3DTJENpGqbRDFYalntkT?si=xrwacjAOTYq3HP4X2VoVpQ
mainer
(12,022 posts)They lie, they exaggerate, they rouse peoples' hatreds. That inspired the online trolls, who perpetuated more hate. There was a fantastic book called TRIAL BY FURY by Douglas Preston, which explored the whole phenomenon of online trolling, and the sorts of personalities whose lives revolve around ruining another person's life.
In some ways, Amanda Knox was a precursor to the Meghan and Harry tabloid feeding frenzy. You see the same patterns playing out, from the brazen tabloid lies to the online trolls.
yardwork
(61,604 posts)Fox News, etc. Riling up people's emotions to manipulate them is the goal.
Johnny2X2X
(19,065 posts)If we treated strangers with that in mind more, we'd be better for it. You never know what someone is dealing with, could be the worst day of their lives when you see them cut you off driving, or being rude in a market.
Reminds me of several years ago going to pick up Thai food and while I waited for my food, there was a man berating the old Thai couple who owned the restaurant because his order wasn't right. He was acting irrational and erratic. I had no idea why he was so angry about a simple mistake. He finally had to be asked to leave so another guy and I followed him and the owner out to make sure nothing happened. I was trying to talk the guy down, but he wasn't having it, just really horrible behavior. Finally, the guy broke down and I learned the truth. He was from out of town and was picking his terminally ill cancer patient 8 year old son up from Gilda's club. He wanted to pick up some Thai food for them to share because his son liked peanut sauce. He just didn't know how to process it all. This guy was berating and threatening to get physical with an old Thai couple in their 70s who combined maybe weighed 200 lbs, I was ready to throttle him if he got physical with them.
You just never know what someone is dealing with that day. Amanda Knox went through a lot. Hope she's had a fulfilling life outside of that.