Opinion Outlook The
Our
Opinion
Thanks to those who do their duty as jurors
C
omedian Norm Crosby had a great line about jury duty. “When you go into court you are putting your fate into the hands of 12 people who weren’t smart enough to get out of jury duty,” Crosby joked as a part of his comedy act. Fortunately here in Tallapoosa County, that is not the case. This week the Alexander City Courthouse Annex was the setting for a four-day trial, filled with troubling testimony and countless different accounts of recollections and events where lives were at stake. It was a case involving the sexual abuse of a child, a situation that creates additional emotion and importance. But we were blessed to have a group of jurors who didn’t try to shirk their duty. They showed up every day, took their job seriously and sorted through all the back and fourth. For the legal system to work, the jury is one of the most important elements. Any person on trial would want a jury of people like them who could understand the merits of the case. Jury service is not burdensome drudge work imposed by an overbearing government on an unwilling residents. It’s not a favor that citizens do for their courts. It is instead a noble duty and those who serve have an awesome responsibility. Instead, it is a citizen’s chief means of oversight on the judicial branch, allowing him or her not merely to help rule on the facts of a particular case but to keep tabs on the judge, the prosecutors, the public defenders and the court system itself. It’s the place where citizens are called on to do their duty to make sure that everyone is treated fairly. In this case, after all they saw and heard, they took that knowledge and carefully deliberated for five full hours, weighing all that they had heard and seen and returned verdicts on two defendants. Regardless of what the verdict was, we pause to thank this jury and all those who serve when called. The justice system could not work without them.
Know Your
Officials
Charles Shaw is mayor of Alexander City. His phone number at city hall is 256329-6730 and his home number is 256-234-7395 His address at city hall is 4 Court Square; Alexander City, AL, 35010. His home address is 98 Heritage Drive Alexander City, AL, 35010. Bobby Tapley represents District 1. His phone number is 256-3299671. His address is 1821 LaVista Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of the Public Safety committee. Sherry Ellison-Simpson represents District 2. Her phone number is 256329-0516. Her address is 2879 Old Dark Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of the Parks and Recreation committee. Bob Howard represents District 3. His phone number is 256-2342225. His address is 241 8th Street West, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of the Buildings and Property committee. Billy Ray Wall represents District 4. His phone number is 256-329-8060. His address is 101 Scott Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of the Public Works committee.
editor@alexcityoutlook.com
Weekend Edition, April 9-10, 2016
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Today’s
Recounting a pair of sorry sports-based news stories
I
couldn’t watch more than the first two episodes of “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” a recent ten-episode presentation on the FX network. That sordid chronicle of legal and racial history seemed to be well-crafted and well-acted. The story has been proclaimed to be still relevant over 20 years after Simpson was acquitted of the murders of two people. Many people remember the way the “Trial of the Century” was covered in a show biz-style and many people remember where they were when Simpson was found not guilty. The first issue of U.S. News & World Report printed after the verdict showed a smirking Simpson on the cover and the headline: “WHAT NOW? The Great Racial Divide.” But after all this time, the point needs to be made that if the real-life characters were accurately portrayed in the FX series, it validates why I couldn’t stomach watching—there wasn’t the first frontline individual in the story that was likeable or sympathetic. Moreover, the token references of the Kardashian children in the first two episodes were ludicrous, and if Kimmie and her siblings also appeared in subsequent episodes, I don’t want to know about it. There have been other specials on other channels in recent times that apparently tried to play off of the FX presentation. Such shows included a biography of Simpson (right up to present day) and a gruesome autopsy analysis of the two murder victims, including a detailed re-enactment of how the violence probably occurred. However, an ESPN presentation that debuted on March 13
WILLIE MOSLEY Columnist
chronicled another event that interpolated sports figures and race over a decade after the Simpson debacle—that channel’s notable “30 for 30” documentary series broadcast a two-hour show titled “Fantastic Lies,” a detailed look at the Duke lacrosse team and accusations of rape by a stripper that was hired to perform at a team party. That incident involved false charges, a corrupt district attorney and ultimate exoneration for the players…although some observers opined that it was dubious for rich college boys to hire strippers. The ESPN documentary was first broadcast on the 10th anniversary of the event. It took its title from a statement read in public by one of the three players who was charged. While the O.J. and Duke events happened a dozen years apart, the juxtaposition of those two recent television programs was intriguing: Both incidents included race connotations, including playing the race card. Affluence figures into the mix, as both incidents saw the accused individuals being acquitted or having the charges dropped (respectively) due to the intervention of highpriced legal experts (O.J.’s “Dream Team,” the Duke players’ attorneys). Elitism, a cousin of affluence, figured into the mix as well. Most folks are already familiar with Hollywood snobbery, and the ESPN special rightly pointed out the “townand-gown” differences in Durham, North Carolina.
For that matter, lacrosse is probably considered an elitist sport. Both occurrences had included on-camera comments (and even comedy sketches) by public figures and nonnews TV programs, while the legal workings were ongoing. Examples included Jay Leno’s tasteless “Dancing Itos” and Jesse ‘W.T.C.” Jackson. One wonders how they now feel about their actions back then, after the final legal results have become history (of the type that merits mini-series and documentaries). Most of ‘em probably aren’t embarrassed at all. In a later civil trial, O.J. was found to be liable for the deaths of his ex-wife and Ronald Goldman. He is now serving a prison sentence for a dozen unrelated convictions regarding a Las Vegas robbery. Facing life imprisonment, he was sentenced to a minimum of nine years and a maximum of 33 years. He’ll be eligible for parole late next year. Crystal Mangum, the accuser in the Duke lacrosse case, is presently serving 14-18 years in prison for a second-degree murder conviction. Mike Nifong, the district attorney that charged the players, was convicted of withholding evidence, was disbarred, and went to jail. Not surprisingly, lawsuits by Duke athletes followed. These incidents were sorry chapters of American history, and the bottom line judgment regarding how they are recounted on TV is what the actual truth was…if one can look past the show biz hype, then and now. P.S.: In 1995, O.J. announced that he was going to find “the real killers.” Mosley is a retired staff writer for Tallapoosa Publishers and a columnist.
Bobby Tapley
Sherry Ellison Simpson
Bob Howard
Billy Ray Wall
James Spann
Tony Goss
Reader’s thoughts on paying the preacher
Dear Editor, Recently, some scrutiny has been cast upon evangelists representing the mega churches of America raising legitimate questions about their compensation: is it fair, opulent, extravagant or even obscene? The Leadership Network and the Christian Post, both recognized credible sources of research data have published these findings. First of all, the focus of their work are the mega churches of Americathose who have an average of 2,000 or more for weekly worship services. TV evangelist Joel Osteen, who is very successful in his approach despite coming under much criticism for “selling” admission tickets to his crusades, states his net worth at $42 million with a 17,000 square foot home-draws no salary. Pastor T.D. Jakes depends on his TV ministry for his major revenue flow and has a net worth of $18 million. Billy Graham is the most recognized clergy in the world and does NOT rely on television for revenue and is worth $25
million with the lowest stated salary of just over $300,000. One of the younger mega evangelists, Creflo Dollar, net worth $27 million, is the most controversial with a $2.3 million Atlanta mansion, $17.5 million private jet and he just recently launched an unsuccessful TV campaign to raise $65 million for yet an even larger plane. Kenneth Copeland and wife Gloria team up to jointly preach the word and have a combined annual salary of $658,000 and list personal assets at more than $17.5 million. Another noted TV mega preacher, Ed Young of the Fellowship Church of Dallas is a past president of the South Baptist Convention and concedes he earns more than $1 million annually in salary. Perhaps the most commendable TV evangelist is Rick Warren, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California. Not only does Warren forego any salary, he has written several best-selling books and donates 100 percent of the proceeds to charity! A well known south-
ern mega church pastor, John Hagee, earns more than $1.3 million in salary from his ministry with a large percentage derived from just 16 hours per week in actual work. The most troubling TV mega preacher is Benny Hinn. His theatrics in allegedly healing afflicted participants has earned wide spread criticism from much of the rest of the Christian world with calls for a crack down on his style. Yet, millions of followers continue to flood his ministry with donations. Hinn acknowledges a net worth of $42 million and an annual salary exceeding $1 million. What is fair compensation? What is biblical? When do an evangelist’s tactics and approach cross the line in “harvesting” donations from TV audiences? Is it morally wrong to solicit funds under the guise of God’s work and foreign missions then use millions of these funds to live a life of luxury? James W. Anderson Talladega, Al
Legislature isn’t representing the people Dear Editor, People in Alabama have a lot to worry about wondering if they will lose their Medicaid and some food stamps. But people on Medicaid are especially going to suffer trying to find a doctor, trying to get dialysis treatment. We have a crisis now thanks to the Republican Party – all of them – especially Gov. Robert Bentley. He had all the time in the
world to expand Medicaid but he refused. Everyone protesting and begging him to expand Medicaid because people were dying because they didn’t have it. You would think being a doctor, he would care. But no, he looked the other way. Well now it has come down to the wire and you see where his party is with him now. He wants you to believe he wants what you want. Don’t believe
Quote
“One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
Today’s
Scripture “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” – James 4:7-8
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Letters to the Editor Charles Shaw
James Spann represents District 5. His phone number is 256-329-9758. His address is 314 Auburn Drive, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of Finance committee. Tony Goss represents District 6. His phone number is 256-749-3355. His address is 647 Shady Point, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of Utilities committee.
MITCH SNEED EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X213
this party cause they are “a do nothing party.” The FBI is already in Alabama. They should look into the Legislature and see where their money is and who they are working for and protecting because it is not the “people.” It’s our house but they’re representing someone else. Arlean Wyckoff Alexander City
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