Letters To The Editor
(From Letters to the editor, Friday, October 6, 1995): An inadvertent editing error omitted crucial words from a letter by David Bauer of Coeur d’Alene that appeared Thursday. His letter should have read: The real tragedy of the O.J. Simpson trial is that despite a year of testimony and the spending of millions of dollars, we the people will never know the truth. The truth of Simpson’s innocence, or the truth of his guilt. By now it should be apparent to all that truth is irrelevant to the American system of justice.
TRIAL AND TRIBULATION
A matter of ‘emotional responsibility’
In regard to the verdict handed down by the O.J. Simpson jury:
There has been a lot of talk about race, money and power. People have to understand that the African-Americans have had a very sour taste for the judicial system for the last 100 or more years. How could a jury not find O.J. Simpson guilty? It’s called emotional responsibility.
For most people, the judicial system has been known to act as a machine that consumes the innocent and intimidates the not so well informed. The judicial system for many years has not been, and in some cases still does not, rest in favor of the minority.
Members of this particular jury in some small part have seen the judicial system work and, in their opinion, it simply doesn’t work, especially for the minority. Let’s not forget the Rodney King verdict and the riot that followed.
The facts of this case were overlooked and the emotional responsibility on behalf of the jury was a given. Johnnie Cochran knew of this emotional responsibility because he is a part of the old school, and that’s what makes him a great attorney. Guy Thomas Spokane
Sadly, Goldmans’ pain is locked in
After the verdict delivery in the O.J. Simpson trial, I watched the Goldman family reduced to tears.
These people have been denied, by the due process of law, the only chance they allowed themselves for closure. Now, there is no way that they will ever see the man they are convinced killed Ron and Nicole suffer for the crime of murder.
Even a guilty verdict in a civil case of wrongful death will not satisfy their desire for justice as they see it.
Let this be a lesson to anyone who becomes the victim of a crime in a similar manner as a family of the one who is hurt. The best way to achieve closure is to start with forgiveness. Then, when the person you assume is guilty cannot be proven so in a court of law, the pain will not continue the way it will for the Goldmans.
When my own wife was struck by a car, risked losing the ability to walk or even control her own bowels, with God’s help I was able to practice my own advice. Then, when I heard his story and experienced his own shame and sense of guilt, I was able to acquit in my own mind the man who ran her down.
I regret that the Goldmans denied themselves this opportunity. The only possibility they have for closure now is if another suspect is found and then proven guilty. If not, they can only suffer until forgetfulness steps in - if it ever can. My heart goes out to them. Art Seaton Spokane
Truth is beside the point
The real tragedy of the O.J. Simpson trial is that despite a year of testimony and the spending of millions of dollars, we the people will never know the truth of his guilt.
By now it should be apparent to all that truth is irrelevant to the American system of justice. David Bauer Coeur d’Alene
Ignorance remains unchallenged
The O.J. Simpson trial is a sad commentary on how ignorant this country and the judicial system are and wish to remain about domestic violence. LeDeane Stewart Medical Lake
We can learn and grow from this
As I struggle to understand and put into perspective the acquittal of O.J. Simpson, I draw upon my past law enforcement experience. During my career, I served with highly efficient and respected African American co-workers with whom I enjoyed excellent rapport. I remember their dedication to law and order and, yes, justice - justice without regard to racial considerations.
Although I am saddened and concerned that this verdict could further polarize the African-American and Caucasian communities, I am determined not to allow this polarization to touch me. God has been good to our nation and in his own omniscient way he will make good come from this O.J. saga, despite how uncertain the prospects seem.
There is a multiplicity of rather complicated rationale for how this O.J. case evolved. It is time to begin learning the lessons implicit in it.
As upset as I am with Mark Fuhrman for his convoluted and mysterious role in this case, his involvement can be a source of enlightenment about our human condition and how such officers can evolve into such complicated personalities who seriously damage and contaminate the image of the decent majority in law enforcement.
I believe that we as citizens of Spokane can and will rise above any bitterness or racial animosity and find ways to meet the challenges ahead as we struggle to effectively deal with our growing, diverse community. Calm and reason should be our goal during this difficult time. Ken Van Buskirk Spokane
To serve and protect, and …?
If Mark Fuhrman had been paid to sabotage the O.J. Simpson trial, he couldn’t have done a better job. Hmmm. Diane Stepak Spokane
Shapiro’s words telling
On the issue of race in the O.J. Simpson trial, it was all said by Robert Shapiro, saying at the end he would never, ever work with Johnnie Cochran or F. Lee Bailey again. That shows race was at the bottom of the trial. Glen Rathbone Moses Lake
Spectacle bought at terrible price
Judge Lance Ito’s decision to allow television into the courtroom turned the O.J. Simpson trial into a media circus. For one thing, it became a cause celebre to black America. The white establishment was trying to depose an uppity black icon who had risen far above himself. O.J. could have admitted his guilt in open court and black America would still have declared him innocent.
For another thing, the defense didn’t really have to play the race card. It was already there in the courtroom, with the nine black jurors sitting under the television cameras that hung above their heads like the sword of Damocles. Does anyone believe a black juror could have voted guilty and survived for more than 24 hours in Los Angeles? Could the two whites and one Hispanic have survived?
There is money to be made all around by everybody because of the television coverage. Aside from apparent beneficiaries, O.J. and a whole passel of others will make their fortunes. Someday, O.J. will say that the best thing he ever did was slit Nicole’s throat.
Who ever heard of Marcia Clark or Chris Darden before the trial? Then there’s the jury. Would a verdict of guilty sell as many books as a verdict of not guilty? Let’s not forget Judge Ito. Had you ever heard of him before television?
Yes, everybody made a buck from the television coverage of the O.J. trial except the people. We’ve lost everything. Pablo DeRuiz Colbert
Many guilty of conduct unbecoming
I cannot believe the people in the Inland Northwest. I am personally relieved that the jury found O.J. Simpson not guilty of murder. I cannot understand all the closed minds I hear on television and radio.
The jury had a job to do and the members obviously believed there was doubt. You cannot sentence a man to life if there is doubt. What if your son were on trial?
The evidence was not strong enough to convict. Both sides did what they could to present what they perceived was the truth. Jury members made up their minds based on that information.
The trial was about murder, not anything else that may have happened in his life. The punishment for spousal abuse is not life in prison.
Everyone in this community now needs to examine their own lives and get past their biased opinions and treat your neighbors and family as you would like society to treat you and your loved ones. I thank my mother and father for teaching me right and wrong, and how to see past color and social backgrounds. Anyone listening to the Tuesday evening news would walk away believing this town is a racist community. I do not want my children growing up with that perspective.
If everyone would go out tomorrow and make an effort to get to know someone outside their circle of friends, this town may prevent something really ugly. Audri Leeper Spokane
COURTHOUSE COMPLEXION
Improbabilities balance
After reading Bill Morlin’s article stating that less than 1 percent of the population in Eastern Washington is black, Carl Maxey’s complaint that only 8 percent of courthouse employees are black makes as much sense to me as the O.J. Simpson verdict. Mildred Howell Spokane
How far must proportionality go?
Regarding Carl Maxey’s Sept. 24 letter, “Courthouse full of white faces”:
I am curious as to whether he knows the statistics of what percentage of the Spokane population is black and if that percentage is equal to the number in the courthouse. Also, what is the percentage of professional athletes who are black compared to whites? Is this going to be a racial issue?
Should we make professional teams, as well as everyone else, have certain percentages of blacks and whites? Or should it be based on their skills and abilities? LeAnne Schubach Spokane
To the qualified go the jobs
No, Mr. Maxey (Sept. 24), we don’t want one-fourth nonwhite in the juvenile department just because there are one-fourth nonwhite offenders. That’s affirmative action and we’re trying to get rid of it.
If nonwhites are qualified for the job, they’ve always been able to apply for the job. If nonwhites drop out of school and join gangs, they won’t qualify for the job.
If you want things to change, change the men who father children and leave. What have you done to change that? People at the courthouse have worked to be where they’re at. No one’s counting how many blue, green or pink ones we have.
Give me a break.
Tell these youths to stay out of gangs, don’t break the law, stay in school and take college courses, get part-time jobs, mow lawns, deliver papers, don’t waste time at the malls, go home and do their homework.
You still want to hand people something they haven’t earned. You give people money and they waste it. If they earn it, they spend it more wisely. Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, he eats every day.
Teach your youths to obey laws, stay in school, work doing anything. Read about Marva Collins, the black teacher. Her advice: education. How many scholarships are in your name? B.D. Gaver Spokane
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: GOLDEN PEN AWARD WINNER The Spokesman-Review is pleased to announce that Jo Ellen Garrison of Spokane has won the monthly Golden Pen Award. Ms. Garrison’s letter commented on fatherless boys who need volunteer Big Brothers to play a part in their lives. The Golden Pen Award expresses the newspaper’s appreciation for letter writers and artists who demonstrate exceptional eloquence and clarity in their contributions to our Roundtable page. Monthly winners, as well as the weekly nominees for this award, are chosen by Opinion page staff members. The monthly winners receive a 10-karat-gold Cross pen. We congratulate Jo Ellen and thank all of the readers who care enough to debate public issues on this page.