OJ Simpson Trial 2½: The Smell of Fear
So OJ is back in court, and this time he is found guilty on 12 new counts of criminality. White folks the world over are celebrating that this murderer has gotten his due. Fifteen years after the obvious miscarrage of justice in that original trial, Orenthal is getting locked away for a long time. As for that first trial, the proof often heard is “well everyone *knew* he was guilty” is the same kind of “proof” we encounter daily in youth rights. “Everyone *knows* that teens are incompetent”. So without making any pronouncements myself about the guilt or innocence of OJ, I kindly ask people to get off your smug, high horses.
So I hate the attitude most people - on both sides - have about this case. The facts, as far as I see them, are:
- I (and you) know far less about this case than any of those jurors.
- I am unwilling to morally condemn any man to prison or death based on a gut feeling, “common sense” and media reports.
- If Simpson was a poor black man instead of a rich black man he would have gone away for the rest of his days with some certainty.
- I am tired of people being happy or angry over this man.
- I could give two shits about OJ Simpson.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Hehehe. Well said.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Indeed.
I have no idea whether Simpson really is guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping, but I’m pretty sure that the jury in this case (and everyone else) doesn’t give a shit. They don’t care whether or not he’s guilty of the offenses with which he’s been charged, they only care that he was acquitted back in 1995 and they think he should have gone to prison then. I think the jury would have convicted Simpson in this trial regardless of the evidence.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Which is a huge problem. Though I’m sure they tried to vet the jury for prejudices toward OJ, but having an open mind about these things is essential.