INNOCENT: Changing Nifonged

"... these three individuals [David Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann,] are innocent of these charges."

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, Apr. 11, 2007
__________________________________________

According to the Urban dictionary Nifonged describes the railroading or harming of a person with no justifiable cause, except for one's own gain. It is someone being taken advantage of unfairly by someone without scruples or morals.

The dictionary gives as examples of usage: Being Nifonged, Getting Nifonged, Nifonged

We’re hearing Nifonged used by defense attorneys who feel their clients are being railroaded. A popular columnist recently suggested “a new reality show championing the cause of folks who’ve been trampled by such soulless narcissists. The show could be called, ‘Help! I’m being Nifonged!’”

I want the meaning of Nifonged to change. It will say something very good about our society if Nifonged comes to mean the disgrace and punishment of those who use police and prosecutorial power to railroad or harm people with no justifiable cause, except their own gain.

At newsobserver.com we read some of what I have in mind to change the meaning of Nifonged:

Mike Nifong today submitted his resignation as Durham district attorney effective immediately, just as a judge was scheduled to consider removing him. . . .

Nifong still faces criminal contempt of court charges for his handling of charges against three former Duke University lacrosse players.

A disciplinary panel of the State Bar last month disbarred Nifong . . .

I’d love to turn on the TV some day in the not too distance future and hear:

“The already Nifonged Nifong is expected to be Nifonged again tomorrow when he faces a federal judge at his sentencing hearing.”

We need to get to a time when innocent people don’t have to worry about being Nifonged, and prosecutors and police are careful not to do anything that could get themselves Nifonged.