If Only They Had Tased OJ Instead

I've spent all day following the saga of a college student with a most electrifying stage presence, and the many comments directed towards his performance.

There were many thumbs up for the most officious and great reality TV style way that he was dealt with.

There were many thumbs down for the torture of an American citizen in full view of the entire world.

I'm one of those poor saps that shed tears and laments this as yet another sign of how far we've fallen from what we once were(or at least what I thought we were), and how close we are to approaching tyranny.

Yes, I know that is a bit drastic, but I did say I was a poor sap. There I said it again, so I've saved you the trouble twice already. Of course, if you must, feel free below.

This isn't about me though. This is about something I think we could all agree on.

Tasing OJ.

Think about it.
I've spent all day railing against the use of these heart stoppers, but I think in OJ's case, if the arresting officers saw fit to juice the Juice, I wouldn't have spent one minute online defending him.

No, no, I'm sure of it.
In this particular case I would have applauded the actions of law enforcement, and I think you would have too.

I think that at the instant the points or little flying grapple thingy that pierces your breast began to flow the voltage, a great feeling of oneness would have spread out like ripples on a pond.

Everywhere people would join together in the most harmonious gathering of the masses since Yasgur's farm.

Those in a coma would awaken refreshed.

Birds would sing, and rivers would run clean.

Global warming would reverse itself, and extinct species would begin to reappear.

All from the most justified use of force, that ever ever was.

It could have been a beautiful thing, as virtually everyone on the planet felt an immediate sense of satisfaction and community.

This may seem to conflict with some of my earlier statements regarding the use of these electrical devices on human beings.

If you're the astute type, and I'm sure you are, you probably picked up on this obvious hypocrisy.
Please ignore it for the duration of this diary, or just view it as that whole duality of man thing.
You know, like how I write born to kill on my helmet and wear a peace symbol at the same time.

I don't want OJ tortured for cryin out loud, I'm merely suggesting that he strikes an imposing figure and it's probably in your best interest to tase first and ask questions later when dealing with him.
Just a quick jolt, nothing that's going to leave too much of a mark.

Zzzzt,badda bing, badda boom, everybody happy!

If you think about it, quite a bit of the blame for where we're at today as a nation can be layed squarely at the feet of #32.

While the media had been heading down the road of infotainment before OJ and his buddy started going down the actual road, this was certainly the tipping point if one could be pinpointed.

Ever since we've been lost without the oversight of the fourth estate, as they went for ratings instead of the truth.

Yeah, maybe that's a leap, but he definitely had something to do with it.

Oh well, maybe he'll try to escape.

•  Volts for Orenthal

  by 59stevenm on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 12:10:21 AM PDT

  •  Now there's an interesting thought.

    I hope he has violated something that will put him back behind bars. He has a long-term record of violence when he doesn't get what he wants, and that is simply not acceptable. And yet the media circus served him well. I was a student in an "Ethics in Media" journalism class in which another student (who had been too young at the time of the television event to see through that mess) made a comment, "Oh Yeah, and O.J.'s guilty, too-" that implied he thought O.J. didn't "do it" and the Professor not only didn't remind his Ethics-in-Media students that the civil trial found otherwise, (many didn't realize that) he allowed the comment to stand as if it were true. The next generation of up-and-coming "journalists" have just graduated and gone out there thinking there was some sort of reasonable doubt. Amazing.

    by peaceloveandkucinich on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:33:49 AM PDT

    •  Public figures, public failings.

      This story is very consistent with OJSimpson: egomaniac, self centered jerk.  He acts because he feels entitled and because he thinks he can get away with it.

      I suppose one of the great questions of our era is the nature/nuture of OJ Simpson's character.  Would he have been an amoral actor without his star athlete status?  Or did the whole high school/college/professional football environment of adulation and sweeping unsavory incidents under the rug bring out the worst tendencies in an opportunistic individual?

      In other words, would OJ have been a thug regardless?

      For comparison there is LeBron James and Maurice Claudette - both promising young athletes, one now a stable professional athlete and one is a convict.  

      by Fabian on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:50:59 AM PDT

      •  Sounds like...

        ...a certain pResident in the WH, don't it?

        by JeffW on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 06:27:24 AM PDT

•  If the LA Police hadn't tried to frame him,

  he'd probably be in prison already.  Or departed.

  by John Poet on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:55:21 AM PDT