“You Are A Free Man, Congratulations”
These words were uttered today by a judge in Bartow, FL. Who was he referring to? James Bain, age 54. Mr. Bain was cleared by DNA testing in the case of the rape of a 9 year old boy in 1974. Yep, 1974….35 years ago…let it sink in. I didn’t even exist 35 years ago and neither did most of my friends. 35 years, sitting in jail, going through God knows what, for something that you didn’t do. In fact, Bain is the 246th person in the United States to get exonerated by DNA evidence. Of the 246 released, he has served the longest time in prison. Who/What is to blame for such injustice? I can’t even imagine on how much of life he has missed out on. He used a cell phone for the first time today. I used one in the early 90s that was the size of a VCR but a cell phone nonetheless. How should he be compensated? Should he be compensated? Will his experience in prison make him a threat to society? These are just a few of the questions that will be answered over time.
But you know what really made my heart smile? When he said, “I’m not angry,” when questioned by reporters after a brief hearing following his release. Now I don’t know about you but I call myself a Christian and I still don’t know if I would have that type of humbleness if I were in his shoes. That statement alone made me check myself. With that being said, please know that Mr. Bain and his family are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope that they will let the past be the past and build the best future that they possibly can!
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/12/17/florida.dna.exoneration/index.html
