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Sounds logical to me, but not to the New Black Panther Party. They were protesting at Duke yesterday wanting some white heads to roll. Noticably absent was Al Sharpton, he learned the hard way with the Tawana Brawley case that with our judicial system you get the facts first, conduct a trial, THEN hand out the sentences if anyone is guilty.

Dan: I wish Jesse had learned that lesson too. I recon' it takes a few asses on both sides of the great centrist to make a country.

I have really waffled on this case. I am trying to wait until we know the facts but sometimes make judgments in my mind.

We all know that this is not an unusual charge. It has made such news because it feeds on many prejudices: "rich" white boys, athletes who think they are above the rules, black stripper, unwed mother, racist community (both black and white). Then we have Jesse Jackson stepping in with all kinds of statements based on his prejudices. The past mistakes of those involved have been dug up and probably blown up. Perfect fodder for the media.

I agree with the writer in that I pray that the truth will eventually come out. If she is lying, what a tragedy these young men have suffered. If she is telling the truth, what a tragedy for her.

Let's look at some facts that are already in place.

1 -- No matching DNA

2 -- An improper photo lineup

3 -- A photo of one accused player taken by an ATM camera during the alleged assault

4 -- An alleged assault by three men thirteen years ago and the complaint filed ten years ago

5 -- A police officer describes the "victim" as being "passed out drunk" a little after 1 am.

6 -- A DA up for re-election who now has the soapbox of a racially charged case the media is drooling over.

When I look at this case I throw out the sypmathies and prejudices and look at what I determine to be science or plain fact. If a half-hour rape and beating occured starting at midnite, how does one of the accused call a cab, get in the cab, and get to an ATM by 12:24 am and be raping and beating a woman at the same time? How does someone who alleges she wasn't drinking before she arrived at the site of the attack, argues with people over the price of her "services" for at least ten minutes, is attacked for half an hour, leaves the scene, and is then "passed out drunk" in the car at a local grocier? Too many questions surround her story and it sounds more and more like someone wants her payday.

Regarding matching DNA, I still say, it could have been someone who was NOT a lacrosse player who possibly perpetrated the crime. Has anyone considered this? And the lacrosse team could be "covering" for this other unknown person/s.

Then again, the alleged victim could not be telling the truth.

There are many varibles to look at regarding this case.

We will never know the full story, even after a trial, if one even happens!

Shalom

You know Darryl, I wonder about whether there were non-lacross players at the party as well. But it really does seem that both sides maintain that there were not.

I don't know if an entire team would take this type of bad rep in order to protect someone who is not a teammate either. I could possibly see them wanting to protect each other, due to bonds of loyalty between teammates, but for the ENTIRE team to cover for non-teammates is a bit more of a streatch for me.

Furthermore, if there were people there that were not on the lacross team, it seems to make the DA's photo line-up even more suspect.

However, now that the Black Panthers are on scene, I have nothing but confidence that justice will be done and the truth will be ferreted out and that racial tensions in the community will be healed. They are exactly what the town of Durham needed right now.

There is alot on the line here and all the above points are well taken. I wish the media, TV, radio and news papers and the like to maintain a much lower profile. This ball will not be dropped so the media doesn't have to dramatize so much. I'm afraid that the hype will become so large that no matter what the outcome, some group is going to blow its gasket. At this point,
I really don't know what the hold up is.