I N T E R N A T I O N A L
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
16 Pages Number 114 6th year
Price: Rp 3.000,-
Entertainment
Monday, June 9, 2014
Simpson case at 20: Views in black and white Associated Press Writer
The O.J. Simpson murder trial exposed many painful truths. None hit harder than the idea that white and black people often look at the same facts and see different realities. Today, 20 years after the case divided the United States, few opinions have changed. Despite two decades of increasing racial acceptance, highlighted by the election of the country’s first black president, the saga still reflects deep-rooted obstacles to a truly united America. Most people still believe that Simpson, the black football legend, killed his white exwife and her friend, polls show. But for many African-Americans, his likely guilt remains overwhelmed by a potent mix: the racism of
the lead detective and the history of black mistreatment by the justice system. For these people, Simpson’s acquittal is a powerful rebuke to what they see as America’s racial crimes. Others simply see
AP Photo/Keith Srakocic
In this June 2, 2014, photo, Shannon Spicker sits on her porch beside her daughter Maryana, 2, in Coraopolis, Pa., and talks about the feelings she had at the time of the O.J. Simpson arrest, trial and decision 20 years ago. Spicker said, “Most of us didn’t understand why it was racially charged.”
a murderer who played the race card to get away with it. Across the board, emotions remain vivid. “We were consumed with it,” recalls Carlos Carter, who at the time was one of the few black people working in the trust department of a Pittsburgh bank. “It represented something bigger than the case, the battle between good and evil, the battle between the white man and the black man. It was at that level.” It was at a different level for Shannon Spicker, a white woman working her way through college in Ohio at the time. “Most of us didn’t understand why it was racially charged,” she says. “We didn’t understand how people could defend him ... We knew he was guilty, but they defended him because he was black. It was weird.” On June 12, 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman were found knifed to death outside her Los Angeles condo. Suspicion quickly focused on Simpson, who had beaten Nicole in the past and had no alibi. Several factors heightened and complicated the drama: Simpson had a mixed-race marriage in a nation that had historically punished black men who dared to explore interracial sex. He was the target of a Los Angeles Police Department that had a reputation for racism and corruption. But Simpson also was a wealthy Hollywood actor and ad pitchman with little connection to the black community, a
man who divorced his black wife for a young blonde and traveled in Los Angeles’ most privileged white circles. His money and fame placed him far from the poor, black men languishing in the criminal justice system. “O.J. was in a weird place,” says Ronnie Duncan, a black man who was then working as a TV sportscaster. “He lived a lavish life in L.A., sunny skies, beautiful women, everyone takes you out to lunch. But one thing we recognize, you can deny it all you want, but I can be driving right now and —” Duncan makes the sound of a police siren. Simpson was charged with double mur-
WEATHER FORECAST 23 - 32 Dps
e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.
Monday, June 9, 2014 Vietnam, Philippines turn to sports in Spratlys
Page 6
Villa double gives Spain warmup win over El Salvador
Death toll from Afghan flood climbs to 81
Page 8
Page 13
Buffer zone should maintain seriously Bali Post
DENPASAR - To preserve the buffer zone of Bali, such as Petang, Bedugul, Batukaru and Kintamani, local governments are expected to seriously guard and synergize with local people. If this is not undertaken, the investors are feared to make efforts to dominate the region. “If the investors take control over the buffer zones, land conversion will certainly happen. Once the land is occupied, they will utilize it as they like. I am pessimistic the investors will be concerned with the function of buffer zone,” said an academician, I Putu Sarjana. On that account, Sarjana hoped the officials in the county / municipality throughout Bali should have commitment to maintain the area
as a source of Balinese life because water resources, agriculture, plantations, etc., were predominantly derived from the region. If there was a change in the ecosystem due to investors, then Bali would increasingly depend on commodities from outside. Meanwhile, people in the region would become modern farmers that liked hanging out in coffee shops or cafés until the money of their land sale ran out. “Do not let any officials even
become the land broker. If that happens, the intention of investors will be fulfilled. This is what I fear,” he said. In addition, local governments should involve local customary village in order they could keep and preserve the buffer zone. Besides, the government should provide training and debriefing for pekaseh or subak chief so they knew about wetland, dry land and the phenomenon at issue. In addition, it was also intended in order they would not duped by investors. “In relation to the preservation, the role of universities in charge of the matter should be given space to communicate with the public so that it results in maximum training effort,” he affirmed.
If the region had been owned by investors, it would be developed in appropriate with the design planed by investors. On that account, Sarjana hoped the government to seriously address such conditions so that investors would not change the zonation in accordance with their intention. “Ecosystem of the region will obviously change and investors are not thinking about it. They have the authority to have the land. Once again I’d like to re-affirm, the county/municipal government must still recommend the green open space and the agriculture cannot be used outside its function. The government must take firm action if there is a violation,” said Sarjana. An environmentalist, Ketut
Adnyana, revealed that investors actually very much supported the sustainable development in Bali. However, the investors should be able to respect and carry out the cultural values upheld by Balinese people, including upholding the values of Balinese culture as well as the matter of house or hotel development. He hoped that local government should oversee all the projects in the region. If the projects were not equipped with permit, local authorities should move quickly and stop the projects. “If they are stubborn, please take action and report them to police. The environmental impact must be taken into account and it is the role of regional government to oversee,” said Adnyana. (kmb36)
Alec Baldwin accepts key to US city for donation
Associated Press Writer
CENTRAL FALLS, Rhode Island — Actor Alec Baldwin has received the key to Rhode Island’s smallest city for his donations to help reopen the financially struggling city’s library. Baldwin donated $10,000 to the Adams Memorial Library in Central Falls in 2011 after he read a New York Times story about how it was forced to close because of financial problems. He gave another $5,000 in 2012. The 1-square-mile (2.6-square-kilometer) city emerged from bankruptcy that year. Baldwin’s visit Saturday was his
first to the library. Library director Joel Pettit says Baldwin accepted the key from the mayor on the library steps. He was headlining a fundraiser Saturday night in nearby Providence for the library. Pettit said Baldwin is a great guy, and he’s hopeful the event will bring attention to the importance of libraries.
FILE - This April 10, 2014 file photo shows actor Alec Baldwin at the 2014 TCM Classic Film Festival’s Opening Night Gala in Los Angeles.
Photo by Annie I. Bang /Invision/AP, File
The photo showed a view of Panelokan, Kintamani that located at Bangli Regency. To preserve the buffer zone of Bali, such as Petang, Bedugul, Batukaru and Kintamani, local governments are expected to seriously guard and synergize with local people. IBP/File Photo