{"id":39999,"date":"2017-11-12T18:24:21","date_gmt":"2017-11-12T23:24:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=39999"},"modified":"2017-11-12T18:25:58","modified_gmt":"2017-11-12T23:25:58","slug":"trial-by-media-opinion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/trial-by-media-opinion\/","title":{"rendered":"Listen Up! Is trial by media acceptable and even legitimate?~ Opinion"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Hugh Mackenzie
Huntsville Doppler<\/p><\/div>\n

Do we condone trial by media?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have we reached a stage in our evolution as a society where trial by media is acceptable and even legitimate? What is somewhat shocking to me is that while a decade or so ago I would find such a concept abhorrent, I am not so sure that I do today.<\/p>\n

In recent months we have been exposed to a plethora of accusations related to sexual abuse. Hollywood moguls have toppled because of them. Movies have been recast or cancelled and theatre stars and politicians alike have suffered irreparable damage to their reputations. They have effectively been convicted by the media, without trial. And yet somehow, we knew or believed it was mostly true.<\/p>\n

Most recently, we have this retired Judge who is seeking to become a United States Senator from Alabama. His name is Roy Moore. He was the Chief Justice of Alabama and was twice removed from office for taking positions that were contrary to Federal law. He is a gun-toting, homophobic, fire and brimstone, extreme conservative politician, complete with a dash of racism. He has been described as a \u201cpugilistic, aggrandizing grandstander\u201d. Not my kind of guy at all, but nevertheless, highly regarded by many Alabamians.<\/p>\n

<\/broadstreet-zone><\/strong><\/div>\n

Then, this week, just a month before the special Senate election in which Roy Moore is a candidate, comes an allegation that he had romantic relationships with teenage girls including a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl when he was 32. The allegations were made by an investigative reporter from a Washington newspaper. They have not been proven in Court and likely never will be because decades have passed. All the same, the backlash has been interesting.<\/p>\n

Some people used Jesus to defend Moore. One political wonder said, \u201cMary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter\u201d. Another woman said, \u201cif that happened, I believe the good Lord has forgiven him and he has the right to continue to prove himself.\u201d Yet another said, “I will vote for him even if he did do it\u201d. All I can say is that for me, this takes rationalization to a whole new level! Indeed, it makes me rather sad.<\/p>\n

To be fair, many other Republicans have said that Roy Moore should withdraw from the election, even if the allegations are not proven. One of these said, \u201cNo senate seat is more important than the notion of pedophilia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here then is my quandary. From what I have read, I believe Roy Moore is a despicable individual, perfectly capable of the allegations against him and unworthy of any public office. His lead in the Senate race was in the double digits and now, by one report, it has narrowed to just a few points. I don\u2019t have a problem with that. Frankly, it would be more problematic to me if, with these allegations out there, he won by a landslide. What would that say about the voters in Alabama?<\/p>\n

And yet it must be said that the sexual allegations against Roy Moore are almost 40 years old. It is a fair question to ask why they are only coming to light now. As well, one cannot help but wonder, as allegations are made and then more people come out of the woodwork, if financial reward is not part of the equation. The same can be said of Kevin Spacey, accused of abusing young boys or Harvey Weinstein accused of systemic sexual assault. They have all been convicted by the Court of Public Opinion and they are all paying a price for it.<\/p>\n

There is a part of me that says this is not right, that the rule of law is important to who we are as a democratic society and that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But if others are at fault here, so am I. It is hard to turn your back on accusations of sexual abuse, especially when they are the result of investigative reporting. In relation to these issues, I tend to believe what I have read and to judge the people involved accordingly.<\/p>\n

So, I ask again, have we reached a stage where we accept and legitimize trial by media? And if we have, what does that say about who we are? I wonder.<\/p>\n

Hugh Mackenzie<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t miss out on Doppler! Sign up for our free newsletter here<\/a><\/u>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/broadstreet-zone><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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