It was all such a shame, thought those in charge. It should never have come to this. It’s awful, but of course, it’s for the good of the whole community.

It is better for one person to suffer for the good of the people.

No one likes seeing violence, of course. It’s better to turn our eyes away when it has to happen and hope for it to be over as soon as possible.

Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?

None of us is really to blame. None of us chose this. We’re not responsible, not really, at least not individually. We wouldn’t hurt a fly.

I am innocent of this person’s blood. See to it yourselves.

Anyway, we delegate the nasty parts out to trained professionals. They can handle it.

When the commander saw what had taken place, he said, “Truly this man was innocent!”

The thing is, it’s not any one person’s fault. It’s about economics. You can’t argue with the bottom line. The market wants what it wants, and actually, it always works things out for the best in the end.

They weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver.

Anyway, they probably deserved it. They shouldn’t have talked back; shouldn’t have dressed that way; shouldn’t have made any sudden moves.  They brought it on themselves, really.

Those who see me laugh and mock at me; they shake their heads and hurl insults.

We’re not really sure what happened anyway. We’ll never know. Who can say, really? I have my facts and you have yours.

What is truth?

Anyway, what’s done is done. At this point we need to make the best of it and work on crafting the right media narrative. It’s only fair to make sure it’s our side of the story that gets out there.

What I have written, I have written.