February 4/1997

LIABLE AT LAST

1.Yes 2.Yes 3.Yes 4.Yes 5.Yes 6.Yes 7.Yes 8.Yes 9.Yes and 8.5 million dollars to boot! Well remember this date, since it will go down in history. In Santa Monica, California in the United States of America, O.J. Simpson's verdict, in what must be the most publicized ever civil trial, gives us all just a little faith that there is some justice left in this mixed up world. You know my spiritual belief is that Karma will prevail always and Karma can do a better job at justice that any courtroom ever could, but there is a certain satisfaction in seeing justice happen right before our eyes.

Personally, they convinced me beyond a reasonable doubt in the criminal trial that O.J. was guilty but I actually can understand how the jury would have been bound by the law and let O.J. go free. Let's face it, the first trial was more entertainment than law enforcement. I think a number of people involved got carried away with the whole thing and forgot there was a man on trial there for murdering two people! Race was a factor and as well, I don't blame the all black jury for sending its message to the the Mark Furnham's of the world, to the L.A.P.D., to the people of America and even to the people of the world. I don't blame them for saying...we're not taking this garbage anymore. Since Judge Ito allowed the trial to be turned into a carnival and race was allowed to be the dominant issue in the trial rather than the facts and evidence relating to murder, the system got what it deserved.

The verdict of this civil trial however, is about the issue of murder and not race (though some might disagree.) O.J. is a typical example of one of these smooth con artists who can charm women's pants off and get the guys on his side because of his sports and "manly" ability. However, even through the T.V. screen I could see those phony eyes staring into the cameras and I just knew he was a scumbag. I don't think I ever thought of him as black until recently when I noticed a picture somewhere of he and Nicole together and I could see how he towered over her. My mind raced to the social construct of their relationship. White tiny woman...tall and strong black man. The picture I saw just screamed racial tension. Before that, I have always thought of O.J. as a jerk who is used to getting his own way and who uses his charm and power to get him off the hook whenever he gets himself into a tight spot. I thought of him as a male wife abuser who thinks he has a right to ownership over "his" woman. I saw him as a representation and a typical example of many men in our North American culture who attempt to control women and their worlds through any possible means....

Well his luck and perhaps $$$ ran out. I don't think he could afford the kind of legal representation he had in the first trial and now...he's going to be crying all the way to the bank instead of travelling around with his usual cocky smirk. No matter what happens from here on in, the country has finally been granted a chance to speak its truth. Though O.J. was found liable and not "guilty" in this civil court case, we all know that the verdict clearly voices the fact that he was responsible for the murders in question. My personal belief is that there were others involved too but somehow they've eluded detection. Either way...O.J. will take the rap.....He may not live his days out behind prison walls, where in my opinion would be a nice place for him, however, he will live his days in a prison of sorts. He will never be free from judgment as he walks the streets of California. He is such a recognizable character that he would most likely have problems no matter where in the world, he walked around. He will soon be broke, jobless and will most likely have to watch his back as long as he lives. We can only hope that at this point, his children will be taken out of his care and granted a peaceful future.

It's not all over yet. I'm sure there will be an appeal process though I doubt if he will get anywhere with it. Yes the case has opened up the problem of racial tension in our culture, yet again, but we can't let a killer go free because white people have been treating blacks miserably for years. To me that isn't the answer to solving our racial divisions, though I am not egotistical enough to claim I know what that answer would be! I do sense though what is NOT the answer. Personal accountability, spousal abuse, and responsibility for one's murderous actions are the topics at hand.

When I talk to one of my closest friends in the world who is from Africa, I don't talk to her "blackness". I talk to her honesty, her faith, and her belief in me. In turn I hope she does not talk to my "whiteness". However, I don't "ignore" the fact that Monica is black. We have discussed her life as she grew up in Africa and I have attempted to learn as much about her culture as possible because I truly want to know who she is inside. Some day I even want to visit her homeland so I can further learn about her culture. I always am open to talking to her about any racial interference she has ever experienced in this part of the world. We unite though as women. Our friendship is based on trust and mutual respect and we rejoice and try to learn from our differences. It is true that I don't know the oppression of a black person and I never will. I know only the oppression of living as a woman in a sexist society. I know what it is like to have experienced violence and I know a little about domestic abuse. Can we then unite in our strengths and not our weaknesses? Yes our past shapes who we are no doubt, but hopefully we are learning a better way to survive. There are alot of jerks, assholes and people who are not learning anything in this life and are just around taking up space and making life miserable for everyone else. This is a fact. We have to unite (jes I'm starting to sound like Bill Clinton - but he's right in his bullshitty kind of way.) We've GOT to unite or the jerks will get too far ahead in the game. We have to think about the long term affects all of these issues of violence and racial tensions have on the children of our future. Children like those of Nicole Brown and O.J. Simpson. What is their future and what have they learned from all of this? That is where my thoughts now rest and those are the most disturbing thoughts about this entire legal drama. The defence rests and the prosecution rests but we must NEVER rest until we feel that there is peace in our homes which can ultimately lead to peace in our world.