Wednesday, November 22, 2006
There are two sides to every story. When I first heard the news that OJ Simpson was writing a book “theorizing” how he killed Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman, I was appalled, angry and generally thought it was a very stupid idea. Why give this moron more time in the spotlight, which he desperately craves.
Then the news came that both the story and interview were both cancelled and I was elated. Finally, somebody with a sense of decorum intervened and stopped this madness. But a part of me wondered if we did not miss the rare opportunity to see into the mind of a sociopath, a killer and find out why and how they operate.
Then AndyR, a friend of mine, sent me this article written by Judith Regan, the publisher who masterminded the entire scenario, and, after reading it, I think the OJ book should be published. The interview should be broadcast as planned. Let this sociopath tell how he did it so the entire world can see this killer for who he truly is. Now all of the black men who defended him can now eat their words.
This is a must read article and I would implore anybody who was outraged by the announcement of the OJ book to read this before passing judgment. We did miss a golden opportunity to see into the mind of madness. Eventually, we will have to come to grips with people like OJ if we are to defend ourselves and our families from them. It’s ugly but it’s a reality that there are many people in the world just like him.
Hopefully, this book will still be published and will someday be hailed as a breakthrough, just as Adolph Hitler’s Mein Kampf is still published and read today. Then we must all remember to give Judith Regan the proper credit for her vision.
Again, please read the article before leaving comments so you know the reasons why Judith Regan came to the conclusion of allowing this story to unfold.
Also, everybody have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.
Then the news came that both the story and interview were both cancelled and I was elated. Finally, somebody with a sense of decorum intervened and stopped this madness. But a part of me wondered if we did not miss the rare opportunity to see into the mind of a sociopath, a killer and find out why and how they operate.
Then AndyR, a friend of mine, sent me this article written by Judith Regan, the publisher who masterminded the entire scenario, and, after reading it, I think the OJ book should be published. The interview should be broadcast as planned. Let this sociopath tell how he did it so the entire world can see this killer for who he truly is. Now all of the black men who defended him can now eat their words.
This is a must read article and I would implore anybody who was outraged by the announcement of the OJ book to read this before passing judgment. We did miss a golden opportunity to see into the mind of madness. Eventually, we will have to come to grips with people like OJ if we are to defend ourselves and our families from them. It’s ugly but it’s a reality that there are many people in the world just like him.
Hopefully, this book will still be published and will someday be hailed as a breakthrough, just as Adolph Hitler’s Mein Kampf is still published and read today. Then we must all remember to give Judith Regan the proper credit for her vision.
Again, please read the article before leaving comments so you know the reasons why Judith Regan came to the conclusion of allowing this story to unfold.
Also, everybody have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.
Labels: Rant
posted by DarthImmortal at 8:21 AM
5 Comments:
I have mixed feelings about this. I would never have read the book or watched the special but pulling it ...... I do not know. I do feel for the families. The Brown family once lived in my neighborhood and many people remembered Nicole with fondness.
I hated how the whole OJ trial put people in two different camps. I am sure without a doubt he is guilty but I am remember fighting with people at the time who felt the opposite.
Opps Got to go! Gato has a hairball!
xxx
Jeff, I know a few days ago you were totally against the release of this book. I wasn't too thrilled about it either, but as your brother Matt pointed out, society always has to be on the lookout for censorship, which goes against the very principles our Beautiful country are founded upon.
As mankind as a whole, learns to be adaptable, to be able to change positions on topics as new information comes to light, rather than stubbornly cling to incorrect views that are more about ego than Truth, we will slowly rise from the stupid, and petty issues, and grow into a more loving, more compassionate, integrous country and world. So I applaud your ability to re-examine and make a new decision based on the new information.
That article really opened my perspective a lot, and I can tell you, from the bit of knowledge I have from my client CVAC, that the search for "why" that a victim has, is a strong one. Releasing this book could provide healing to both sides of this, those who thought he was guilty, and those who thought he wasn't. Not everyone will agree with this, and that's okay. Just as long as people really think about this, feel it. If the latest research about serial killers and their ilk is true, there could be a genetic predisposition to damaged frontal lobes leading to a damaged center of conscience, whereby the killer is unable to have empathy towards their victims, and an inability to learn from previous mistakes, and no concept of consequences. If true, than this is a genetic illness, and needs to be caught early, in childhood, and studied to see if medications or surgery can help control or repair this, before the child has become an adult capable upon acting about their urges. It may also teach us something about compassion, as well ("Love thy enemy.")
CVAC(Crime Victims Advocacy Center), formerly Aid For Victims of Crime was the first organization in the country to provide assistance to victims of crime. It was started here in St. Louis, MO in 1972 by Carol Vittert, and my friend Ed Stout was director until a few years ago. From one victim's drive to provide help to those who had none, (when she herself was a victim of crime), came AVC which grew into a statewide organization (MOVA) and then a nationwide one (NOVA).
What happend to Nicole Brown should never have happened, and the breakdowns that occurred all the way up the chain of events, moments where had things gone differently, she would still be alive today, was just an example of our failures as a society and unfortunately a horrible part of mankind's eventual evolution into Enlightenment. But this is an extreme example. There are A LOT of happy endings as well! I know, I have seen what CVAC has done to provide for victims in the St. Louis area, and they are part of nationwide organization dedicated to this service.
So if anyone reading this is the victim of abuse or crime, or you know someone who is, there is help available!
Crime Victims Advocacy Center (CVAC):
http://www.okbemad.org/
Missouri Victim Assitance Network (MOVA):
http://www.mova.missouri.org/
National Organization For Victim Assistance (NOVA):
http://www.trynova.org/
All it takes is for one person to find the courage to stand their ground, and say, "Never again, I will NOT yield, This far and NO farther.. and eventually the One becomes Many and gives rise to a new Way of Living.
E Pluribus Unum ("From Many, One").
I will probably always believe that OJ was guilty despite the fact that our judicial system and a group of his peers found him not guilty in criminal court.
Still I don't think that releasing his book shows "support" unless people buy it (the same with the TV show). What are we afraid of in this country?
I would never buy the book or watch the TV show and I believe that would be the true test of our society...not banning...eeek!
my first impression was like yours..i went and read her version and i can understand your point of view.
really sad that this is a topic of discussion at all. kids are motherless out there.
chana,
Another good thing about the book was the all of the earning went directly to the kids.
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