Imagine that Collin, Reade and David had been black students, accused of raping a white girl and that they faced a witchhunt led by a prosecutor re-elected thanks to the overwhelming support of the white community. Then imagine this witchhunt was supported by hordes of student protesters, prominent white activists and a large portion of an elite campus faculty, many of them affiliated with the European Studies Department. Imagine also that the University president suspends the almost all-black sports team of which these students are members and fires their black coach. Further imagine that the accuser in the case has continually changed her story from the first night, that there is no evidence against the players, that they've cooperated with the police and passed polygraphs and that extensive evidence exists to prove their innocence.Miller's commentary, along with that of Kristin Butler, has given the Chronicle the best op-ed coverage of all aspects of the case of any newspaper in the country. It is something for which a college newspaper should be extraordinarily proud.
You think that scenario would have lasted for a year? Try a week.
To understand the lacrosse tragedy as simply the result of a rogue district attorney would be a grave revision with dangerous consequences. Ignoring the racial and political agendas that propelled the case from the beginning, and our politically correct culture that paralyzed the powers that be from stopping it, not only would invite further disaster in the future, but also would mean erasing culpability from those people and forces in our society dissolving the common bonds that hold us together.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Miller Signs Off
Today's Chronicle features a farewell column from Stephen Miller, one of the heroes of the case. He closes by posing a counterfactual:
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60 comments:
Give me a break. Miller a hero? That column is thinly veiled race-baiting.
The Chronicle editorial board deserves all the plaudits you've been giving, and I for one appreciate you taking the time to show that large segments of the Duke community have been fair throughout this case.
But Miller? He's just sucking up to a narrow point on the political spectrum. He knows he can make a good career out of it, unfortunately.
Come on, KC -- do you honestly think this case would've been over in a week? For once, you're in an argument that you would lose if you were up against the potbangers.
I will miss reading Mr. Miller's articles. Strange how someone so young was able to see through the hoax, yet Brodhead claims to have been fooled. I have a feeling we will be hearing about Mr. Miller in the the years to come. His future appears bright.
Thanks, Mr. Miller, for your outstanding articles this past year. Best of luck in your future endeavors.
No, 12:07 PM poster... you give us a break.
Miller is truly one of the heroes of the Duke lacrosse case.
Miller saw through the Hoax, and was willing to Speak Truth to Power, when many of the so-called civil libertarians among the Duke faculty and administration sat cravenly silent, exposing themselves as frauds.
Mr. Miller is authentic. He will be heard from in the future, when many of the silent members of the Duke faculty and adminstration have been long forgotten.
Stephen Miller is stellar!
Debrah
To 12:07,
Give us a break.
I believe that had the counter-factual been real, it would be less than a week and it would be kept quiet.
Think about any incidents in collegiate athletics. Have you ever seen a situation in which the school administration was part of the rush to judgement? In all incidents that I recall, the situation was kept quiet until a fact-finding had occured. Also, any punishment imposed allowed for the athlete to continue as a student.
Despite our instinct to ignore the counter-factual, it is an issue that must be brought out and addressed.
Race played a significant role in the injustice of the hoax. It must be dealt with for the future.
What happened to that black on white rape at a black fraternity at Duke a few weeks ago? Oh, a week passed? ANYBODY hear anything?
That was an excellent article. Bravo Mr. Miller!!
A little advice for you. There is no need to apply for a job at the NYT.
It is worth noting that these students did not earn a dime for their writing as well. Meanwhile Bob Ashley, Duff Wilson, Selena Roberts and others make a living off of spreading hatred and lies.
Also in Today's Chronicle:
LDOC rapper issues apology
Common, the rapper scheduled to perform at the Last Day of Classes concert Wednesday, has apologized for publicly denouncing the men's lacrosse team at a performance last spring.
"I want to say first of all that I apologize for accusing people wrong that didn't do it," Common told The Raleigh News and Observer Thursday.
During an April 19, 2006, concert at Emory University, the rapper said he believed allegations of rape made against members of the team.
Common said his statements regarding the allegations stemmed from personal reactions and did not reflect the facts of the case.
"I just felt like, 'That's my sister,' so I felt emotional about it, and I guess I did what a lot of people do to other people, to convict them or consider them guilty before we even know the truth," the rapper said.
LDOC Chair Beth Higgins, a senior, said she was thrilled to hear of Common's apology and expects students to forgive the artist for his earlier comments against the team.
"He's human," Higgins said. "He made a mistake, and he acknowledged that, and I feel like students should accept that."
Some students said they agreed that Common's previous statements were out of line and said an apology was appreciated before his performance on campus.
"There were definitely irresponsible comments, but the fact that he apologized makes it seem like he will try and put on a good show and actually cares about what Duke students think," freshman Jordan Rice said.
Common told The N&O he hopes that his apology will be a part of the healing process in the aftermath of the lacrosse case. Some students also said the apology was necessary to help move on.
"It was something he needed to do before he came here," said Sarah Parker, a junior. "I think his apology will really help in overcoming this situation."
Other students, however, said they doubted Common's apology was genuine and said the rapper was only following the way media handled the case throughout its development.
"He just kind of jumped on the bandwagon in condemning these guys," sophomore Jon Martin said. "It's always appropriate to apologize, but I think it's pretty obvious this was a PR move."
Regardless of the authenticity of Common's apology, some students said that although his initial comments were off base, they were not likely to affect LDOC concert attendance.
"I felt his comments were inappropriate at the time, but it wouldn't have changed whether or not I attended the LDOC show," Parker said.
to anonymous 12:07 -- the St Johns University (NY) basketball team was accused of rape during an overnight trip to an away game. The charges were investigated and cell phone pictures the players had taken showed that the sex was definitely consensual. All criminal charges were then immediately dropped.
Team members who were involved were suspended and couldn't continue on the team, but that was the end of it. The case was similar to the Duke case (prostitute turning against a team who had hired her) but we can all see the differences in the handling.
Let me know the moment the rapper records a song about the Hoax and donates all proceeds to the defense fund for the three innocent men.
Carolyn says:
Mr. Miller, the NYTimes recruiting officer writing at 12:07 wishes to inform you that your chances of getting a job with the Gray Lady are zip.
Truth, justice and the American way? Oh, Stephen, that is SO last year for the Times! (Opps, Walter Duranty.) Pardon, that is so last CENTURY!
1:07
"Let me know the moment the rapper records a song about the Hoax and donates all proceeds to the defense fund for the three innocent men."
Give the guy a break. Actually admitting he was wrong and apologizing showed a good deal more grace and honesty than many people involved in this affair. It's pretty petty to then criticize him for not doing something that I suspect you're not doing either.
I have a two word rebuttal for Mr. Miller.
Kobe Bryant
Home run Miller;
deep to, ahem, Left.
Reminds me of the closing argument in A Time to Kill.
Nifong is the only politically acceptable scapegoat for the case where a black girl falsely accused three, four, three, wait, six, twenty, no...four, yeah, four, I'm sure it was four- I mean three white guys of raping her, and then the Leftist Faculy/Media/Community piles on in a rush to judgment.
Who is at fault for this?
One white guy in law enforcement, of course.
I don't even know who Common is, but his apology seemed sincere. Unlike Ruth, who blames her 13 month belated apology on the husband and Coach Pressler of course,
It's all about me Sheehan: I can only hope one of your sons one day gets falsely accused of something. Just for a week. Just for a week of hell for you.
Anon @1207: Who's race-baiting? I think Miller's point is spot on! Maybe you better take another look.
Anon 12:07
For a better example of race baiting and politics:
Crystal Mangum
Karla Holloway
Mark Anthony Neal
The rest of G88
Jesse Jackson
Al Sharpton
New Black Panthers
etc., etc., etc.
Malik Shabazz
I don't know anything about Rap, but apparently, Common does not use much of the worst language that others have turned into an art form of expression.
As an aside, the last Rap artist Duke sponsored came during the cold snap and did a really short set, creating some controversy.
Don't miss Susan Pressler's recent conversation with Joan Collins. Here is the link:A Conversation with Susan Pressler
this collum is incredubly brave. to write such a thing and be someone as public as a major author for the campus paper..
to say such a thing..knowing that everyone is going to call you racist...just because thats what he believes.
he knows an employer (i guess hes graduating soon) could read this and decide hes a racist and not hire him...but he wrote it anyway
i dont even have enough balls to post without a pseudonym on this blog.
miller has a good point. jesse jackson and al sharpton would not have let this go on for a year had the roles been reversed. suddenly, the credibility of the accuser would have been high on their list of priorities. i don't see this as race-baiting...the race card was shown over a year ago. to ignore race now would be ignoring a major issue in this case.
2:26~I too was thinking of the closing argument from "A Time to Kill" as I was reading Miller's column!!
It is so true that being politically correct trumped justice from Day 1 in this case. Thank God the legions leading the exposure of the Hoax prevailed! Nifong's deserved downfall may serve as a warning to others who would like to attempt such a prosecution in the future. I certainly hope so!
duke2009mom
Race-baiting will never end because black America doesn't want this issue to end.
It's easy to see how much they enjoy living this way. If they didn't have race to use as an excuse, they'd have to face the reality of their under-achievement and self-induced problems.
You can bet that if the races were reversed in this case, Sharpton, Jackson, and the pot-bangers would be slamming the accuser and holding up the accused as saints.
The good news is that this lacrosse case has waked up a lot of people. Many who were formerly always on the side of people like the black race-baiters see their tactics and are repulsed by what went on for so long. Funny how some things can backfire.
I though the apology was sincere, heartfelt and truthful. He blames no one but himself for finding common cause with a "sister." Would that others were as honest. Ruth's excuse was the husband's surgery and a suppossed rape. Thanks Mr Common for being man enought to admitt your error.
If Common keeps apologizing and taking personal responsibility for his words and deeds he will be severely chastised by "activists", dumped by his record label, boycotted by booking agents, and called an Uncle Tom by fellow rappers. Common may be singing Country and Western music soon.
dukemom2009
That's such a stupid statement. "A Time to Kill" was about a father who murdered someone who had raped and beat his daughter.
Please stop this exaggeration. Murder has nothing to do with this lacrosse case. You're as bad as some of the potbangers.
Miller was just reinterating in his column what many have said for a year.
If these Duke athletes had been black, none of this would have happened. None of it.
"Then imagine this witchhunt was supported by hordes of student protesters, prominent white activists and a large portion of an elite campus faculty, many of them affiliated with the European Studies Department. Imagine also that the University president suspends the almost all-black sports team of which these students are members and fires their black coach."
Sorry, but this is just too far-fetched of a scenario. I can't even begin to imagine. How long would it last? I can't even get to that question because I cannot fathom it would ever happen to begin with.
It's the end of the day
And Nifong still is D A
Miller writes well and sticks to his conservative principles without being a flamethrower. I think he's wrong on the counterfactual, though. It would have been a big deal, IMO.
I was watching "Like it Is" yesterday. They had an expert in (if you can believe this) Post Traumatic Slavery Syndrome.
Puhleeze
4:59pm
You're right. A scenario like that would never even make it past the magistrate's office, especially in a place like Durham.
Hell, the bums and the panhandlers even know the score. One panhandler in downtown Durham once came up to me asking for money. He appeared to be inebriated or on drugs.
I didn't have anything with me but credit cards and I told him that I didn't have any cash.
His reponse?
"Are you prejudiced against me because I'm black? Is that why you won't give me some money?"
That about sums up the attitude of blacks in Durham on all levels. Race is the card they cling to. You can't get rid of anyone black if they aren't performing their job adequately or they'll cry "racism!".
It's a shame that these young men from Duke had to pay the price for such an attitude. And make no mistake, those people fully expected to railroad these "white boys" no matter what.
Moms and Dads,
It is only a matter of time before there is a racial explosion in Durham and some white kids are killed. Please do not send your children to Duke. My dad went there, and I've got no other agenda except this is a powder keg waiting. Send your children somewhere else. PLEASE.
dukeparent09
Yes, it sure would have been a big deal for a few minutes. Right before the cops, the DA, and all the city leaders made the moves to have the charges dropped. If any charges would ever be brought.
NCCU idiots would be rioting and burning down the town if no evidence showed up and some black boys were charged of raping a white woman.
You are such milquetoast that it gives me the creeps. Obviously you don't know Durham.
Durham is like Haiti. No matter how much money you put into that place, it's a sinkhole.
It's run by clowns who know or care nothing about producing. Consuming is all they know or want to know.
5:37 and 5:31,
Polanski, is that you?
5:27
My blood begins to boil when I think of what the Presslers have gone through. Remember what Alleva said to Mike Pressler when he was in his office?
The Duke administration couldn't be concerned with the truth. Alleva said it was about the NAACP, the Duke faculty who were against the lacrosse players, and the demonstrators. Mike Pressler was told that it didn't matter what the evidence would show or what the truth was. They had to be concerned with the loud race-baiters over anything else.
Now just look at how the lives of the Pressler family were damaged. For what?
When I see that big fat moron called Reverend Barber and others at the NAACP and all the other pigs who felt good about harming innocent productive people, my blood does just boil.
These people are nothing less than criminals.
DP09
No, haven't written anything. Haven't read anything yet
Polanski
4:54~Whoa! All I said was that it reminded me of the closing argument--it is a "picture it the other way around" scenario. Did I say the cases were the same?? No. I said that it made me think of how Jake phrased his closing argument in that story. My point was that many jumped on this because it fit their agenda, and they were being politically correct to support this Hoax.
Why the anger and rush to berate? I certainly have respected other people's opinions and not called anyone's "stupid". Sorry if you cannot respect mine.
duke2009mom
Too many are ready to attack other bloggers - can't compete with decent arguments, so go get them. This only conferms what MSM says about blogs and makes us exactly like them.
12:07 guy here again --
As a one-time logic student at Duke (the professor is long since gone, so don't look for him on any side of this debate), I'd like to point out a fallacy.
1. The lacrosse guys were innocent.
2. Therefore, everyone who defended the lacrosse guys is pure of heart and brilliant.
Maybe Miller will be a great public servant one day. But you guys aren't helping by anointing everything he says as the work of genius.
This farewell column is particularly problematic. He makes it clear from the outset that he sees the world in black and white and doesn't have much of a problem with it.
One thing I'll share about Duke -- some Dukies (of all political persuasions) go out into the world and try to make it better, and some (again, of all persuasions) are content exploiting it the way it is.
Miller's the latter. At least, he's being encouraged to be so.
Tacking on (12:07 p.m. again) -- I should point out that I'm in no way defending Nifong, Lubiano, the "thug" guy (I forget his name) or even Brodhead. Just saying Miller oversimplified things, knowing he could win over a bunch of people who so desperately want to see evil here and aren't satisfied with just one trophy (Nifong).
Stirring up hate is no way to go through life, to modernize Animal House.
12:07:
You make what my law professors called "conclusionary remarks" about Miller's writing; i.e. "Miller oversimplifies" and "Miller race-baits" and "Miller sucks up" and "Miller sees the world in black and white" and "Miller stirs up hate". How about you prove the worth of that expensive Duke education and show us some analysis before sharing your conclusions?
See similarities between the Duke Hoax and border agent case..
As usual, MSM fabricated stories, investigators lied to congress and a lot of backroom deals with mexican drug lords and rogue prosecutor took place. Maybe there is a special "Code of Ethics, prosecutor edition".
INVASION USA Citing the case of imprisoned former agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean among other complaints, all 100 top leaders of the National Border Patrol Council have endorsed a no-confidence resolution against Chief David V. Aguilar. The union, which represents 11,000 of the U.S. Border Patrol's nonsupervisory field agents, pointed to Aguilar's willingness to believe the "perjured allegations" of criminal aliens over his own agents, in a statement issued today, first reported by the Washington Times
The agents were convicted as the prosecutor and jury believed the word of a drug trafficker (who continues to import drugs to the US) against the word of the border agents.
This farewell column is particularly problematic. He makes it clear from the outset that he sees the world in black and white and doesn't have much of a problem with it.
I completely disagree, and in fact, the reluctance of most writers to speak as candidly as Miller is due to their fear of being disingenuously accused of "seeing the world in black and white" or "thinly veiled race-baiting".
Miller does NOT see the world in black and white...
Miller sees and exposes THOSE who see the world in black and white.
Miller's comment (quoted in KC posting today) is probably the most acute, telling and perceptive of ANY I've read in the last year. It points to a fundamental pathology in the entire public culture of the US: a glaring racial double standard that represents a mirror image of old, now-discredited racial double standards. And this cannot be put down to just a few pot-bangers. It marks the whole character of American public life. The American polity is sick.
Do they give Pulitzer prizes to student newspapers?
"Give me a break. Miller a hero? That column is thinly veiled race-baiting".
If stating a truth about blatant double standards is "race-baiting", what does that say about American public life?
Duke09parent--
"Polanski, is that you?"
Please don't encourage him.
Actually, the Kobe Bryant case was quite a contrast to the Durham case. Since it is unlikely that we can find a counter-case that wasn't publicized to compare and contrast, we can either look at this statistically or see how close any case that was publicized came to the Durham case. I don't think the Kobe Bryant case refutes Miller's point at all -- it was publicized to a lesser extent, admittedly for somewhat longer than a week, but the particulars are very different. The actions of many were also very different.
"No, haven't written anything. Haven't read anything yet
Polanski"
And we're grateful.
Kobe Bryant
DukeMom 8:00 said...
...Why the anger and rush to berate?
::
Remember when you were working on name calling on the part of your 13 year old?
Some parents don't get around to teaching that type of discipline.
Just ignore name calling.
What you have to say is appreciate by many ...including me.
::
GP
Chicago 12:47 said...
...It is worth noting that these students did not earn a dime for their writing as well. Meanwhile Bob Ashley, Duff Wilson, Selena Roberts and others make a living off of spreading hatred and lies.
::
Good point. I hope the students keep their notes and write the books, screen play, and helpful articles someday. They will have much to say.
::
GP
As a nice "bookend" to the "farewell column" of Stephen Miller is this "hello column" of his counterpart at NCCU:
http://www.nccu.edu/campus/echo/o-burnette.html
A sample of the love and tolerance:
"On March 13, 2006, some forty affluent white men solicited the presence of two black women on (former) plantation property for the explicit purposes of racially denigrating, disrespecting, and exploiting them....
"One of these women said that she was raped by three of these inebriated white men. People in power and those without disbelieved her. This is sickening....
"The ‘facts’ of the case should not matter to us because even if we are unsure of sexual assault, these supremacists have admitted to sexually, racially and politically denigrating these women. Strippers or not, this must be addressed....
"History has shown us that the (in)justice system cannot and will not address these issues because it is built upon them. So upon whose shoulders should the responsibility of retributive correction fall?
"White people still murder us with impunity. White people still beat us with impunity. White people still rape us and get away with it.
"The only deterrent to these legally, socially and economically validated supremacist actions is the fear of physical retribution.
"Black men, stand up. Black women, stand up. Black children, stand up. We have been at war here with these same white people for 500 years."
The Kobe Bryant case is not a good parallel for this case. In that case the current common understanding is: (1) there was sex, (2) there were injuries, and (3) the accuser was a far more credible person than Ms. Mangum with the latter's myriad stories, criminal record, and serious mental health problems.
Good luck to you, Stephen Miller. And thanks for helping out. You put yourself at considerable personal risk to point out the truth. Your efforts in this case have been very much appreciated!!
To those who disagree with the Stephen Miller, please find us a real parallel race-reversed case within the past twenty-five years, and we will have something to talk about.
Observer
There were quite a bit of similarity between the Kobe Bryant and Duke cases. Quite frankly, neither of the accusers were credible.
However, in regards to the media scrutiny of the cases, they are not comparable since Kobe Bryant was already a major media figure before the allegations. How many people were even aware of the Duke LAX team?
It's like a line from "A Time to Kill."
To DukeMom2009
The only reason anyone is comparing this to "A Time to Kill" is because Mr. Miller is using the same type of scenario used in one of the last pages of the book. It has nothing to do with potbanging. It has to do with reverse discrimination and the fact that this country is out of control with defending people of color who use the race card.
"many of them affiliated with the European Studies Department"
Not to put too fine a point on this but I don't think you will find a "European Studies Department" on any American University campus - Those days are long gone....
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