:: New Progressive Politics ::

:: Wednesday, July 30, 2003 ::

WHY KOBE DID IT

If that title strikes you as over the top, out of line or a rush to accuse a man wrongly for a crime he is only suspected of committing than consider the conviction that society has already been bestowed on his accuser. Our system of justice relies on the principle of innocent until proven guilty. That principle should apply equally to the accused as it does to the accuser.

There has been a rush from all corners of the misogynist world to label Kobe Bryant's accuser a psycho, a slut, psychiatrically unstable, a groupie etc. Why? Because she either had consensual or non consensual sexual relations with a married man who if nothing else has illustrated a wanton disregard for common sense ( I am told that happens when you have a hard on) and perhaps even more behavior of a sexual predator. Yes a sexual predator preying on the naiveté of a teenager who may have at worst been wide eyed and impressed by his celebrity. Kudos to the folks at SaveMartha.com for exposing the real outrage...a second social rape of the victims soul by society. Even so there are some who believe that Kobe Did It and see beyond Team Kobe's attempt to frame the accuser as a wanton slut who consented to rape.

How surprising that some meat head web sites have popped up proclaiming Kobe’s innocence and that we should “Free Kobe.” Kobe is free….but this victim will never be as a result of this prosecution. The stench of this occurrence will likely last a life time. As if having a 3 plus foot vertical leap, the ability to do a 360 degree reverse slam dunk while also being able to hit the three from behind the arc somehow shields you from the ability to commit a heinous crime.

Actually, quite the opposite; the lesson of OJ Simpson is if you’re a famous black athlete you can walk away with blood on your shoes and the blood and skin of your victims under your finger nails and even further if your crime is committed against a white woman, you can automatically invoke the “society is racist” mantra in order to evoke sympathy and get your community behind you. The irony is that you do not even represent your community because many black men who are not famous accused of such crimes wrongfully or rightfully often rot in jail for a lifetime. They do not share your angst or I should say you do not share theirs.

Kobe’s privileged background, skills and lifestyle have perhaps provided him with a similar arrogance of OJ Simpson. All he need do is invoke his celebrity, good guy image, buy off his wife with a $4 million dollar diamond ring and beg forgiveness, stir up racial undertones and get a more powerful coalition behind him including a vast cross section of the black population that buys into his victim-hood and the meat head frat boy jock set who see Kobe as one of their own.

Hey, they should know…right, sometimes girls get drunk at frat parties and when they do…silence or slight resistance means yes. Yes, they can relate, all women want to get fucked and all women want to get fucked by famous athletes and stars. Yeah, maybe that’s true and maybe she even flirted with him and dreamed she might garner his attention….but if she said no, regardless or how starry eyed she was then Kobe had no right whatsoever to assault her and place his penis anywhere near her.

Make no mistake the Kobe enterprise impacts the economy and livelihood of many Americans who cannot afford to experience his demise from agents, to corporations and marketing and PR people. The Public Relations war has begun in earnest…how could Good Citizen Kobe have ever committed such a crime. We shall hear how the wheels of the prosecution are on his tail but lest there be no doubt whatever prosecution they can mount with limited societal resources will not compare with the multi-million dollar campaign that Kobe and company will assault the air waves with in the coming weeks and months, from lawyers, consultants galore. As one prudent commentator has noted, "American culture, with its idolization of the rich and famous, will afford Kobe Bryant extra protection against charges of sexual assault."


As the weeks and months go by it will be interesting to see how long the Kobe enterprise coalition holds together. Will it hold together should the evidence of guilt become over powering or will his wife get on television several more times proclaiming his innocence and her love for him. Until now Vanessa has stood by her man, but should it become necessary to do more, will she and others step up and join the Kobe brigade in denouncing the little whore who dared challenge Kobe. Perhaps we should just brand her with a Scarlet Letter? Oh I forgot, Kobe was the adulterous one….but instead of a Scarlet A we can brand her with A Scarlet “P” for psycho or “S” for slut or “W” for whore. Lest their be no doubt there is in earnest an orchestrated campaign to discredit and indict Kobe's accuser as being a low class, psychotic slutty party girl who somehow......yes...deserved what she got. You may want to think twice before you go waiving the "Free Kobe" banner. In my estimation that makes us all complictors in a second rape of this young woman.

:: Christopher London 8:35 AM [+] ::
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