I'm reading all your comments.
I've responded to some.
I'll post some responses tonight on the main page.
John
Monday, October 23, 2006
To readers - brief
Posted by JWM at 12:52 PM
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I'm a history buff who's skeptical of much that mainstream media tells us. I'm rooting hard for America and civilization.
I'm reading all your comments.
I've responded to some.
I'll post some responses tonight on the main page.
John
Posted by JWM at 12:52 PM
5 comments:
John, I've posted this at Ruth's blog.I hope you and others will post and encourage her to "write again."
Dear Ruth,
It's time. There is something you owe us and I'm here to ask for payment due. Now. Today.
As a very talented writer... of a widely read column... in the area's most widely read newspaper, you were the voice of community outrage in the early days of the Hoax. Your powerful words "We Know You Know" in the column “Team’s Silence is Sickening”...will be the emblematic piece in every book written in years to come about the Hoax. When the hatred and hysteria and family heartaches are parsed...YOUR words will lead the paragraph and top the page. Powerful words that spurred powerful reactions.
Bear with me while we make, what might be for you... today… a painful review. But there is much pain in this case and yours pales in comparison to what others endure to this day.
You slammed the team for their "sickening silence." But TODAY, we know you know that Nifong misled you. The captains had been open and cooperative, given DNA and offered lie detector tests, without even availing themselves of legal advice at that point. You know that now. Time to write again.
You demanded "Shut down the team!" and called for Coach Pressler to be dumped by the University. Mike Pressler and his family must have read your words with frustration and fear. You were the voice of the moment, the screech of the crowd, the howl of the mob. Pressler indeed lost his job. Have you read of his efforts, the praise for him and the team by those who worked closest with them, traveled with them? The stellar academic achievement Pressler's team had had? You demanded his livelihood be taken away. In the Nifong-induced frenzy, you did not look for the complete picture. Time to write again.
As a rape victim yourself, you embodied the pain of the "soft-voiced" young "victim"...as the N&O called her, "new to dancing"...who got "an A in a hard class." You channeled her pain for your readers, and their outrage against these boys accelerated. Now, of course, you have read the sworn court documents, about the busy weekend of the sex industry worker...hotel appointments, and "vibrating" for strangers, ...appearing hardly "new" to much in that world. While you were directing your readers to the touching, "Our Hearts Are With You" website, we now know they could have given their sentiments in person.... at the strip club...where her manager says she was able to perform her routine “normally." The shy dancer that Nifong characterized as too traumatized to talk, was not too traumatized to perform her routine on a stage of a strip club. While you helped to polarize a community, Pole Dancer was at the Club. We understand you didn't know that THEN. But you do now. Time to write again.
"We Know You Know" will forever stand as the Battle Cry of the Hoax, but there are two other phrases that will resonate across time.
"Mom, she picked me."
Ruth, if you have a child, PLEASE, channel Reade's Mom, and hear those words as she must have heard them. Your son, your boy has an alibi...but the DA refuses to hear it. The accuser has told multiple versions of her story, there is no DNA, there is only AN ALLEGATION and NO EVIDENCE...but on that basis...people are marching, screaming, threatening your son. The boys HAVE cooperated but there are stories of a "blue wall of silence." The DA is on television nightly, talking about condoms and choke holds... that reports do not contain. And, Ruth, no one will listen. No one will hear you. It's a world gone mad, a mob mentality. All these people who believe "they know." But what did any of you know, Ruth? You were dupes of Nifong. You know that now. Time to write again.
"You're a dead man walking."
Are you looking at your child, Ruth? Hear THAT shouted by those who espouse hate, who, on the basis of all the early lies and virulent energy, may even believe today that there was a rape they must revenge. With violence. You used your talent to promote the Hoax, Ruth. We need you now to write the signature piece to unravel it. To touch your community. To expose Nifong. We've seen the power of your prose. Time to write again.
Can you feel what Reade's Mom felt? Can you, Ruth? Can you just ignore her, her pain? The pain of the other families? You DO owe them, Ruth. I think you truly are an empathetic person. I think it was your caring heart that fueled your fire against these boys. You were wrong. You were duped. You wronged those families. Time to write again.
Those of us who read your columns, remember the one we call "The Denouncement" where the scales finally fell from your eyes. . Speaking of Nifong you said, "Well, you would have thought he had something." From that time we have read between the lines. We know your husband is an attorney, a member of the North Carolina bar. We know you know. But could you face the families today, and tell them that column was the best you could do? Could you look those Moms in the eye, and say you'd done everything you could to set things straight?
We appreciate the change in direction, your new tone, ... the lead you have taken at the N&O to put the facts of the Hoax in perspective in your column. Thank you for that.
But that change is "small change", Ruth. On the tally sheet, you owe us more. Much more. It's time to write again.
You, with your talent and your widely read column, were the voice of community outrage against these boys. You were at the head of the mob…your eloquent, articulate torch held high. You have that place in the history of the Hoax. But for your own legacy, for your own conscience… for your own children who read about this later…for Reade's Mom, and Dave's Mom, and Collin's Mom... for those three young men in jeopardy, you need to do MORE. You can bring this all full circle.
Write that defining column AGAIN. Be the voice of outrage again. Outrage against a corrupt prosecutor who duped you, and divided a community who trusted him. One who deceived a national audience, and damaged forever three young lives for VOTES. Listen to Professor Coleman's words about prosecutorial misconduct. Feel the fear and frustration of Kathy Seligmann, as Nifong shuts his door to her son's alibi. See the "traumatized" Pole Dancer dancing on the TV screen, as Nifong continues to deceive and divide a community who trusted him. Remember the real rape victims whose ordeal Nifong has diminished and credibility damaged. Be our voice of outrage, Ruth. Do not let this stand. Speak to your community, your readership again. Be the voice of outrage AGAINST THIS HOAX!!!
Durham is about to vote. We have seen how powerful your words can be. Use them again, Ruth. NOW. You owe this to your Durham neighbors, to the players and their families. You owe this to yourself. On behalf of ALL who were duped by Nifong, all who were harmed by the Hoax.... consider this payment due on demand…and we demand it NOW. BEFORE the election.
Please, Ruth, it's time to write again. With your eloquence, your widely read-column, your gift to reach others with your words... tell the voters this time to "get rid" of Nifong. Tell them to vote Cheek. Bring this all full circle. When the Hoax story is written, you can be one of the true heroines of the piece! You still can! As a writer, a Mother, a citizen, a woman, as someone who believes, as Dr. King says, "you cannot allow a lie to live," I am begging you to do this. Have courage. Have heart. Shut down this prosecutor.
As usual, absolutely terrific work Joan. Thanks.
Joan, why do I suddenly have this vision of casting pearls.....?
Very good work. those pearls again.
A powerful message, Joan. If Ruth cares about the world her children will live in, she'll write the truth.
Texas Mom
Very nice! I like it. swiss chocolatier
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