O.J.SIMPSON has the power to become the most influential figure in the history of race relations in United States. O.J. case not a matter
of black, whiteNow, some would argue that Abraham Lincoln did more for race relations because he freed the slaves. But those are mainly the people who view history through politically correct goggles. Other students of history know that Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation only freed the slaves in the rebelling southern states, not the north. And, in fact, Lincoln said publicly that he only freed the southern slaves because it was politically necessary to rally public opinion against the South. This set up the absurd, if ironic, historical situation that when Gen. Grant took Richmond, the only true slave in the entire city belonged to Grant's wife, who had come down to personally view the former confederate capital.
If you were to take a national poll asking who owned more slaves, Grant or Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, what do you think the outcome would be? Of course, it would be that the mean, racist Lee owned slaves while the kind, honorable Grant owned none. That the truth is completely opposite wouldn't matter. Because truth has nothing do with the way people form opinions these days.
This is obvious when you see the huge divide between how whites and blacks feel about the Simpson case. A large majority of whites believe O.J. killed Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman and a large majority of blacks think he didn't.
And this is why O.J. could become the most influential figure in race relations in the history of the country.
Because the truth is, he did it.
And you have to wonder how he must feel, when he's on the back nine of that golf course he plays every day, knowing that he is responsible for causing one of the largest chasms between black and white Americans ever. Because, even in Lincoln's day, there only were about 4 million blacks. Today there are something like 35 million. And if 65 percent of them believe O.J. is not a murderer, that means 18 million black Americans believe he was framed. That is 18 million black Americans who feel that our country's law enforcement and judicial system is so racist and corrupt that it went out of its way to entrap an innocent sports hero.
It's obviously not good for the country when so many people feel that way. And I would change it if I could. But I can't. And you can't. And the president can't. And the Rev. Jesse Jackson can't. And Nelson Mandela can't.
Only O.J. Simpson can. Sure, there are many problems between whites and blacks in this country. But arguing about whether O.J. killed his wife and a waiter shouldn't be one of them.
O.J. has the power. He could step forward and say to those 18 million black Americans, "Look, I appreciate your support. And I know you have a lot of legitimate gripes with the way you are treated in this country. But the thing is, you are Americans. This is your country. And I think it is better for the country if we work to try to solve problems, not create them. I killed two people. And that's bad enough. I'll have to live with that the rest of my golf-playing life. But what I don't have to live with is the knowledge that I caused a race war simply because I lied about my crime. Get mad about large numbers of blacks in prison. Get mad about how prison terms are harsher for inner city crack users than suburban cocaine users. Get mad about the lack of employment opportunities for blacks. But don't get mad about the way I was treated. Because, I did it. And if by admitting this, I can help begin to heal what apparently is a growing rift between white and black Americans, then at least I'll be remembered for doing one thing right."
Lincoln didn't have that much power.
