Hello everyone. I decided to take a small break from studyin' to work on some writing. This is the week before Finals Week, which pretty much means its also finals week. I just want to wish all the students good luck, because if you're like me, then you'll need it. I'm not worried though. I mean, I'm goin' over the notes, and readin' over what the professors say, so I can't say anything about a lack of tryin'. Maybe some lack of interest, but not for lack of tryin'.
I want to start by talkin' about my disgust over the O.J. Simpson trial. Just to give some general background into, O.J. went to trial in 1994 for the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman. He was acquitted of those charges in 1995 after a long trial, thanks to the help of his high-profile defense team lead by Johnnie Cochran. To date, O.J. has paid little of the $33.5 million awarded for the wrongful deaths to the families of the victims, after being tried again in 1997, where he was found liable for damages. In February of 2008, upheld a renewal of the civil judgment against him. So, the guy definitely knows his way around a court room. Meaning, this is not his first brush with the law. It has been said that Los Angeles was divided racially after his acquittal, as blacks celebrated and whites were angered. Personally, I can't say anything about it. I mean, while it was highly publicized, at the time, I'm sure I was too busy watchin' Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. So, I go with that fact that if he was acquitted, then I see him as innocent. My point of all this is to say that today, after over a year of another trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to at least 9 years in prison. The trial was held against O.J. for robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon, first-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon (which carries possible life sentence), coercion with use of a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit a crime. A mouthful right? I would have understood and been impartial if I hadn't watched news coverage almost find joy in the destruction another human being. I mean, at what point did I not get the memo that angry mobs were okay? Why not just lynch him? It seems to me like that's what everyone was hopin' for anyway. So, there were no African Americans on the jury, and the judge "just so happened" to make a speech about how the 1995 trial was not brought into the judgment of this trial, I personally think foul-play was involved. They hit O.J. with the 'Cism! It's obvious. I believe that certain people were so upset that he was able to beat the "justice" system the first few times, that they just had to get him. I'm a conspiracy theorist, sure, but I also see where O.J. was in the wrong. But I have to wonder if it were anyone else, would things have gotten in such an uproar. This man's name has been dragged through the mud, he's been embarrassed, and now he could finally spend the rest of his natural life in jail. Congratulations,you all finally got him. One black man, who happened to win the Heisman trophy, make the Pro bowl 6 times in his career, Pro Bowl MVP, NFL MVP, NFL offensive player of the year, just to name a few accolades, is now in jail to basically die. He's 61 years old, he has to serve at least 9 years of a 33 year sentence. Who actually believes he's gettin' out in 9? I don't. Not with that California system. I guess the straw that broke the camel's back was when he laughed at you all by releasin' his book IF I Did It. I'd kinda be mad too if this man laughed in my face after all these years. But, despite that, it was sickening to see that the family of Ronald Goldman was at the trial, and found pleasure in the fact that O.J. was lead out in cuffs, possibly never to be seen free again. My only hope is that an appeal is made, and the new trial will be more fair and balanced.
On a sadder note(if that was even possible), a friend of mine found out that he lost his mother last night. David Chapman, who I met last year when I lived in Rather, was a cool dude, and we always played the dozens, and made "mama jokes" and things like that. But, I'm saddened that he has to go through this. I mean, to lose your mothers seems like the worse of all pains you could experience. I just want to let him and the family know even if he doesn't read this, that my heart goes out to them all. And never will another joke come from my mouth pertaining to any of this. I hope he can stay strong for the family because I'm sure they need each other now more than ever. Even though we have our differences, I'd like for him to know that I'm here for him in anyway I can be. We'll go back to the normal stuff soon enough.
I want to say again, good luck to everyone on their finals. Let's show this university that we're not intimidated and won't just go away despite the odds against us. And I'm not just talkin' about blacks, I'm talkin' about us all. Because with the economy the way it is, it will get harder to maintain student status. It will get harder find jobs and pay bills when we leave here. So, let's all try our hardest. Don't be a failure, it's really not an option.
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