Cultural contrasts

We have had a couple of interesting opportunities to observe our culture recently, and hopefully without too much editorializing, I'd like to look at them. By the way, I just got kicked off a jury, so while I believe that I am being fair and balanced, your mileage may vary.

Number One: Scott Peterson vs. Robert Blake
Two somewhat similar crimes, committed by two radically different individuals, with two radically different verdicts. Here's what I found notable.
Similarities include: brutal alleged homicides of the individual's wife. They were both high profile trials of significant length. Both prosecutors had largely circumstantial cases. Both featured hours of technical "expert testimony" that was, I believe, over the head of the average American. Both men were generally presumed to be guilty by the media.
Observed differences. While neither man was poor, Blake certainly had the larger war chest, by quite a bit. Blake was a celebrity, Peterson was not. Scott was in Modesto n(Central California), Blake was in LA. Laci Peterson was a strikingly attractive woman, while Bonnie Lee Bakley... well maybe I'll move on. "Everyone" loved Laci. Bonnie Lee has generally be painted as a person of questionable motives. Peterson, death penalty. Blake, acquitted.
So, hopefully I got the facts close enough that you'll really ponder the question "Does this seem fair?"

Case Two: The feeding tubes. Terri Schiavo vs Pope John Paul II
Similarities: The Tube
Differences: Status one was an allegedly persistently vegetative (this WAS disputed) wife and the other was the Pope.
One was a middle class 'burb wife, the other was the Pope. Easy enough to say he was the King of all Catholics and had the muscle of a small nation to back him up. Anyway...
One was sustained for years, and probably would have endured for years more with a feeding tube, the other tube added a few days of weakened struggle. John Paul died of health complications and old age. Terri Schiavo died of starvation.

Last but not least, Dying with Dignity. Johnnie Cochran vs Pope John Paul II
Well... Let's watch as this one unfolds.

------

And that's enough for now.

Brian Norwood

Platypi Design