All charges being dropped

[Grits]

It was just announced by the NC Attorney General's Office that all charges are being dropped in the Duke LaCrosse case. Charges against all three young men.

There was no DNA to link these men to the alleged rape of this African American woman who was an exotic dancer. Of course that was known sometime ago, still the District Attorney in this case pushed forward even when this woman could not identify these men, nor could she keep from changing her story numerous times.

The District Attorney, as most know by now, wanted and needed the vote of the black community in order to keep his position. He got that. Though now, he faces quite a long list of ethic charges by the NC Bar Association.

This entire case has been a nightmare from the beginning, at which time this young woman was seen as a poor African American woman violated by three elitist white guys from Duke University, all the sons of wealthy parents.

She was lying from day one.

I wonder if Rev Al Sharpton and Rev.Jesse Jackson will have anything to say about the outcome of this particular case. I wonder if they will demand that this young African American woman apologize for her lying, along with the District Attorney Mike Nifong who withheld evidence in the case. (His disbarrment would be more suitable.)

I doubt this bit of news this morning will get anywhere near the press that Imus has gotten in the last three days. And that's a shame because it is every bit as newsworthy as the other debacle.

This case had a profound and detrimental affect on the lives of these young men and their families. And it has been the biggest embarrassment ever, to the state of North Carolina.

I doubt you'll see Al and Jesse commenting on this on tonights national news.

And that, I believe, is racism at its most obvious.

[Payson Dave]

Grits, surely by now you know that it is only racism when it is directed towards non-whites....it is "get a thicker skin" when it is directed at whites... this being the case your suggestion that Rev Al and Rev Jesse should comment is probably somehow racist.

[Grits]

Originally Posted by Payson Dave

Grits, surely by now you know that it is only racism when it is directed towards non-whites....it is "get a thicker skin" when it is directed at whites... this being the case your suggestion that Rev Al and Rev Jesse should comment is probably somehow racist.

Dave, hush! LOLOL

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Grits

And it has been the biggest embarrassment ever, to the state of North Carolina.

All this time I thought it was slavery and the loss to Georgetown.

In all seriousness though, it's about frigging time. I think this story highlighted the bad and ugly of everything, because it further stigmatizes legitimate rape victims.

Rape is one of the most brutal, dehumanizing, isolating, crushing assertions of dominance a man can inflict upon a woman (yes i know it goes both ways too!), and for a woman to get raped and then be compared to this would be tragic. It's been happening across the country forever though, because a couple of bad apples use the wolf cry of rape to attempt to legitimize their otherwise unsavory behavior. Then when real rapes occur, people will point to this and say "why should we believe you?" which is the very last thing a rape victim needs to hear. Having seen it firsthand (a "badge of honor" I wish I didn't have) with one of my very best friends in this world, it disgusts me that anyone would take such a serious crime that permanently scars victims and has them looking over their shoulder for the rest of their life and unable to trust the opposite sex and a litany of other simply awful repurcussions, and try to use it when no real rape has occurred is offensive to every real rape victim out there and those who love them and have watched their suffering from the front row. It is one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever experienced in my life, so I don't take it lightly.

Long story short. **** her. I hope those boys can put this behind them as best they can.

[IrishofNDMan]

I am familiar with this topic as well, because about 4 years ago when I was in 10th grade in high school, one of my buddies had a party. His parents were gone, and everyone was drinking. One of my friends who was a girl in my class, was getting with another one of my guy friends who was in 9th grade. Next thing we know, everyone was in a bunch of trouble as the girl told everyone at school she had been raped. It went to trial and a lot of messed up things were going on, and I still have no idea who to believe. Rape is a terrible thing, and something that should NEVER be lied about. I believe that my buddy did not rape her, but he has to live with it the rest of his life.

[somerfrost]

I have said from the beginning that this case smelled! My heart goes out to the young men who will have this over their heads forever as well as their families...the DA should be removed from office and disbarred at the very least. BUT...once again, blaming black leaders for this mess is ridiculous! Put the blame where it belongs...on the woman if she lied and it appears she did, the DA who shamelessly sacrificed truth for political gain (last I checked, he was a white guy I think). Again...how about some historical prespective here...young white guys from wealthy families allegedly raping a poor black woman...humm, that sounds familiar. Wasn't too long ago that it happened all the time, and the only outcome was that jokes were made about it! What would you expect black leaders to do?? They demanded justice and justice was done...in this case, the innocense of the young men has been determined and a corrupt and pathetic DA exposed. The fact that the guys had to go through the hell of being tried and convicted in the media is another issue. I wonder...were those who condemn Jesse and Al so outspoken during the OJ trial? Lots of white talking heads tried and convicted him in the media...whether you believe he was guilty or not, was that any more fair? Black leaders have learned to use the media to get across issues...in the 60's, it was often the presence of the media that kept us alive. Again, an unfortunate situation is used to attack black leaders instead of the real guilty parties...

[Grits]

PASS

Somer, you diatribe is the same here as in the thread about Imus. I clearly stated Nifong should be disbarred. I also stated the woman was lying from day one.

Now, if that's throwing it all on your Black leaders--well hush my mouth and call me stupid.

I think not.

Done.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Grits

PASS

Somer, you diatribe is the same here as in the thread about Imus. I clearly stated Nifong should be disbarred. I also stated the woman was lying from day one.

Now, if that's throwing it all on your Black leaders--well hush my mouth and call me stupid.

I think not.

Done.

I think otherwise!
First off...I don't know if the girl was lying "from day one"...I don't know what she said and when she said it, I don't know if she was prompted by the DA or not. All I do know is that the evidence isn't there to support a rape charge and never was...I'm always cautious condemning someone like her cause I know how things like that can evolve...IF she made up a story then she can be charged...I don't think that has happened yet so I'll withhold remarks about what she did or didn't do! As I said...blame falls on her if she did lie and wasn't coerced. Your remarks would have been fine if you stopped with a comdemnation of the DA but you had to take a shot at Jackson and Sharpton...therein lies my problem!