Few national events in recent history have so deeply stirred American public opinion as the OJ Simpson murder trial. It is estimated that over 80% of us watched the final verdict live on televison, and it seems that nearly all those watching have very strong opinions on the outcome of the trial, and on its impact upon our society. Few are in the middle of the road on this issue.
What is it about the Simpson case that incited America so? That is what we asked our writers this week, and in their thoughts, they paint the Simpson case from many different angles. In so doing, we see that there is no summary judgement, no simple answer. There are, however, many things revealed in the crime, the investigation, the trial and the verdict.
We begin with the end, as Jo Campbell tells us how the long-term effects of this case may well affect the political futures of minority candidates, and black people in this country in general. If you read nothing else on the Simpson case, read: The New -- The Real Black Power. It's as close to a bottom line as you will find anywhere.
Nicole Brown Simpson was lost long before she was murdered, says Kelley Rouse, and she was lost again in the trial. While others may forget her pain, Kelley cannot, and in her sympathy she brings us the chilling horror one finds in a victim's heart. It Is She, Who Is Not.
In Did The Guilty Go Free ? new contributor Lori Patton Bier shares her experience as a trial reporter, and advises us that juries are often less interested in the truth than in relieving their boredom.
We consider the cops in the case, and speculate that the down-side of the adversarial system will always be the need to win at any cost regardless of liberty, ...and Justice For All.
But enough is enough, and even we know that. Recent suggestions that a fall gathering of our internet community have turned into actual plans, and we let you in on what they are, and encourage your participation in: Stone Soup Revisited.
The Yungels are always busy folks, and Kathleen has been keeping a toe a'tapping on the floor and an eyeball peeled on the Salsibury Alternative Music Scene.
Have you ever wondered just how many people live in the town too big for one state ? Quinisha Smith did, and tells us just how big Delmar is in Delmar Delineated.
Our recent good fortune to make new friends at The Atomic Cafe has expanded our horizons considerably. And over that horizon has drifted an SOS of all things, and believe it or not, the people, plants and animals there are under attack by the French, who apparently want to see The South Seas Obliterated
When some ICNet users were suprised to find their Netscape Navigator had gone on strike, we asked long-time netizen Scott Bethke what's up with that ? He tells us in his usual amusing manner in: Public Places, Public Matters.
There is no rest for the weary, and certainly none for those who safeguard the freedom of our electronic wonderland. The good folks at The Center for Democracy in Technology keep us up-to-date on who's trying to do what to whom in: CDT Policy Alert.
Finally, in Changes, we explain the new look and assure concerned readers that Meshach is still alive and well in the Pocomoke Forest of our hearts.