Unveiling the Light

When the Rucker’s Lacrosse team was falsely accused of rape and kidnapping, there was a great rush to judgment in this country. The school turned against the team and forced the coach to resign. They were heckled on campus, faced taunts, signs calling for them to be arrested and comparing them to Hitler, the media was all over them with opinions on how this is common among fraternities and opinion makers talked about the rich white kids who were used to having their own way. The District Attorney saw all of this as a means to get reelected and, with the cooperation of the media and school, ignored all evidence that the accusations were false.

Now, in the most unlikely of circumstances, we have had a state investigative committee not only drop the charges for a lack of evidence but it has declared that these young men are cleared of any wrong doing. The state prosecutor made it clear that a great injustice had been done and that the rush to judgment had occurred in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. So where are the apologies? Not just from the District Attorney who had to as he is facing ethics charges and the likely suspension of his license. How about from the school that left them undefended and unfairly forced out the coach? How about the faculty that wrote letters condemning these young men? How about the students who turned against them?

Why are not Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson hogging the cameras as they did when they used this incident to condemn not just the players and sport but the college and educational system? Where are their apologies? What about the media that used this incident as fodder to get their ratings up and continually spoke of the rich white kids and poor abused minority? What about those of us in the public who accepted their guilt and jumped onto the crowded pile to condemn the young men, the sport, and all that was tied to them? There was a rush to judgment … where is the rush to apologize and admit wrong doing?

This whole incident reeks of the stink of self important elites who consider themselves above the rest of us. The media elite are the least segregated industry of all yet they dare to declare the evil in others based on the word of one person? How many people considered the feelings, self esteem, careers and lives of these men, some of whom are still teens? Does attending a good school exempt you from justice? Not all are rich but if it had not been for the families who were rich, what would have been the final outcome of this event. It is likely that without the power of lawyers seeking real evidence that these young men would have been convicted, especially in the public eye. If it had been limited to the middle and lower class members that depend on grants and loans, as well as their talent and hard work, to attend this college; then a great injustice would have occurred.

We all need to ask some very hard questions about this matter? Does true justice really still exist in our country or is it all a matter of public opinion, status, or beliefs? Those we deem guilty seem to be the ones that are in opposition to the political elite media and opinion makers. True guilt or innocence is the last thing we look at. What seems to matter most is the nature and seriousness of the charge, not the evidence that exists. Woe to the person accused of a politically incorrect crime. If they have no power or assets, they are likely to be convicted based on the racism or prejudice held by the media and public. How have we sunk so far?

Christianity is first based on justice and mercy. Why are we all so quick to condemn others, especially those we envy or those who are politically incorrect? Has our society so obfuscated the idea of right and wrong that we are each judged now by our popularity versus that of the accuser? If so, who is next? Can we get back to the point where real criminals are prosecuted and those who happen to be politically incorrect are allowed the freedom for which our country stands? Let’s take the crime out of who we are, and put it back on what we do. We need to regain the blind eye of justice. We also need to regain the integrity to stand up against popular opinion and to protect even those we disagree with. We need to be just to seek justice. We cannot expect of others what we are not within our own character.

Father Steven Foppiano

Posted by Fr Steven Foppiano at 02:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Imus has been fired both from the radio station and CNBC that carried him on TV. I have never listened to him on a regular basis and figure that in those times I have come across him, usually while channel surfing, I have heard no more than ten minutes of his show. From what I heard and from what is reported, it appears I did not miss much of value and did avoid much that is foul and degrading. I am not sorry to have him leave the airways.

I am sorry in the way it happened. Imus has a reputation for being equally foul to all races and peoples. He is, apparently, the Don Rickles of radio but without the class and without the inner goodness that allows people to take everything as a joke. The fact is though, and this is news to me, that he has had many reporters and politicians on his show and they have all been silent about his excesses … until now. Now most all decry how horrible his show is and how he should be taken off the air. Even CNBC’s reporters have appeared on the show as guests. They had nothing to say before but now have barred him from the airways and thrown him to the wolves.

This is morality by popular opinion. Imus made the mistake, not of insulting a race; he has done that before. His mistake was taking on an Ivy league team with powerful backers and who have done nothing to warrant being put up to public ridicule. This smacked of unfairness and then our two judges of good moral character, Jesse Jackson and Mr. Sharpton declared that he had to go. Never mind that Jesse once called New York City “himie town” and that Al Sharpton has made a career of putting down Jews, whites, and others. Once they went on the warpath the cultural media ran for cover. Imus’s fate was sealed.

I do believe that we are better off without Imus but what about the others? How come Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton get a free pass? What about Howard Sterns? Neither cable TV nor Satellite radio are on the public airwaves. Who insults Catholics, women, gays, and others more than Howard Stern? How about the rappers who speak of women as property, things, and sexual objects? The term Imus used is mild compared to what our youth hears every day. Where is the consistency? We cannot only attack those who fall out of favor with the media elite. That is exactly what happened to Imus. He thought himself to be above it all because he thought he was one of those elite. He is very liberal in his views but that did not save him from the feigned outrage of his colleagues.

The basketball team and the school and parents were right to be outraged and to seek redress. We should all be outraged at such terminology and demigod behavior. We also need to be careful. For some, anyone that disagrees with their point of view is wrong and profane. We need to be sure that we condemn true hate speech and true bigotry but to not paint too broad a brush. There is danger in either extreme. Don’t let the hypocrites use this issue to shut down legitimate opposition.

Father Steven Foppiano

Posted by Fr Steven Foppiano at 01:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)