I just finished watching the Press Conference Covering the Dismissal of Charges related to the Duke Lacrosse team. Much was said about justice being served, the great injustice that has occurred over the last year, and how it was now the time to move forward.
However, there is one thing that was not said, and I wish that it had been said. It is so important, that I had hoped that one of the accused players would have been the one to say it.
Rape is real, rape exists. Rape is a violent crime against another individual and it is something that society should stand against in our justice system. Rape affects people, tears up lives, and makes an indelible mark on a person.
But just as a a false allegation is an injustice to those who are accused, false allegations are an injustice to those who who have had their lives destroyed by the violence of rape. False allegations make it more difficult for justice to be served, for all people.
Our litigious society and our media hyper focused society should remember that our justice system is built upon the notion that a person is innocent until proven guilty. As repugnant as that might be for those who are truly guilty - they deserve the same justice system to prevail.
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7 comments:
Sad days. I feel real pity for the Duke players, but also for the woman who made the accusations, who is clearly lost and searching for something; she was, I think, used by a manipulative system.
Here's another take.
That was a great post too. Thanks for sharing that.
The trials of O.J., Robert Blake and the Duke Lacrosse team have reminded us of the loss of the presumption of innocence. We were so cynical when O.J. got off that our legal system has never recovered.
The media have taught us that all allegations are valid, speculation is somehow proof, and that sensationalism should replace facts. Because of this the presumption of innocence no longer exists eexcept in theory.
I have seen enough people in handcuffs paraded in front of the press to know that most people think that a person accused must be guilty. Why else would they be charged? There must be evidence and proof that they did something wrong or the good people of the justice system would not be bothering them.
Two years of law school and a seven year career in legal services has taught me to be skeptical. Police do Rush to judgement...they do not always look to clear people. Just like D.A.s, they want cases closed.
What happened at Duke was a miscarriage of justice. It was a cheap, politically motivated frame up. Nothing more and nothing less. I hope the school can clear its name and move on.
A good question for us to ask is this: Is our justice system in Western PA Conference truly just? Are we fair to our own? Do we presume the best? In what ways are we unjust? We can't change the Duke lacrosse thing or O.J., etc., but we might be able to influence things a little closer to home, and prevent injustices 'round these parts.
I'm not a Rush Limbaugh (Lush Bimbo, as Savage calls him!) fan, but he made a good point today. He said that Duke acted swiftly in presuming the players to be guilty first. It brought great discredit to the university. Rutgers supported their team in the midst of adversity and show themselves to be of higher caliber as an institution. I know this is comparing apples and oranges, but there is a good point about justice and due process in this.
And Duke is the United Methodist school!
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