Casey Anthony Trial

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Kevin

They cynical/truthful answer? Cable networks made lots and lots of money publicizing the death of a child and dramatizing it.

I think that's truthful and not cynical.

Trials like this and the O.J. Simpson trial (since that was brought up in this thread) are good for television. They interest people and are like watching a movie. They have the effect of unifying those who agree with aspects of the case and dividing against those who disagree with aspects of the case. I will never forget how much this society was hilariously divided after the O.J. Simpson trial. It truly was hilarious and people who were otherwise "not racist" were saying a whole damn lot of racist things after that not guilty verdict. It went way beyond anger over accused domestic violence and accused murder. It showed what happens when people feel threatened/afraid and challenged by some outcome, specifically a not guilty verdict. And that impact would not have been felt so heavily if we weren't able to watch it on TV--"if it doesn't fit, you must acquit...." After the Simpson not guilty verdict, people were so mad and suddenly my friends and I were not only the representatives for Black folks at this PWI like we normally were (LOL), we were now the representatives for those who thought OJ was not guilty. Afterall, you apparently couldn't be Black and think he's guilty...or not give a shit beyond the celebration of the legal system acquitting a Black man for a change. Yeah, the media knew what it was doing when they covered that trial. It began with the media coverage of Simpson running from the law in that SUV. That's nothing but a good movie on live TV.

I am seeing a similar dynamic with this Caylee Anthony verdict. If you understand the jury's verdict, you clearly have no compassion and understanding for a CHILD victim. God forbid if you're a WOMAN who feels this way. Maybe you're even as loose and careless as Casey Anthony was depicted as being. Heaven forbid you can grasp the legality regardless of whether you agree with everything on a personal level.

/longass rant