Editorials/Taxing Times/Freak Shows
Tyrrell, R Emmett Jr.
EDITORIALS FREAK SHOWS America loves its freak shows. P. T. eral public. That they can degrade our Barnum recognized this and pro- judicial system with impunity does not vided them in abundance....
...ments by providing fat people who Al Sharpton...
...Louis Farrakhan and the Rev...
...These trials up regularly...
...There is even more outlandish behavior...
...would tear the heads off chickens and In Washington the freaks have been skinny people swallowing vast numbers attracted to the drug trial of Mayor of kitchen appliances—that sort of Marion Barry, and in Manhattan they thing...
...They belongs in those settings where the taste freaks at the courthouse...
...One cannot blame reporters for re- months ago the same group assaulted it...
...Circuit Court she came within an inch of death...
...In New York a contempt would never be impotently endured...
...The county fairs' freak shows are have flocked to the trial of a rape vicnot so popular nowadays, for Ameri- tim known to the press as "the Central cans can experience the same wild Park jogger...
...will be suffering from her ordeal probIn those august places where the ably for the remainder of her life...
...But the side over these cases...
...and because the polite sensibility that harass prosecutors en route to and of the most Liberal in the country, This last detail suggests just how pervades editorial offices will not speak from the court...
...Who would want to make taro—though in a democratic society a mockery of either, and how could courts are not supposed to be entertain- they get away with it...
...In the South assault defense lawyers and now chase for the macabre is served not where And what about the judges who pre- where racism was actually practiced the the government prosecutor in the Cen- criminal justice is dispensed...
...But have those Americans who a high public official is corrupt, the lust for the lurid considered the even culpability of animals who fell on an wilder thrills now available to them at innocent young woman, raped her re-New York State Supreme Court in peatedly, and beat her so savagely that Manhattan and at D.C...
...She in our nation's capital...
...Surely they can sort of hooliganism now seen at courttral Park jogger's case out of the court- freaks are where they are because they bar press conferences on the court- houses in New York and Washington room, issuing threats, slandering the recognize that the judiciary is filled house steps...
...How does one explain deranged these people are...
...As I write only the assed civil rights lawyers and generally Rev...
...ario of every gimcrack county fair also The freaks are also at work to promote recognized the American lust for the the careers of such snake oil salesmen lurid and pocketed handsome emolu- as Mr...
...This business of justice is supposed to be is supposed to be a society sworn carried out, freak shows are being set against drugs and violence...
...In a criminal case some racism thrives...
...It New York Post has denounced the disrupted the judicial system...
...The impres- augur well for the health of our society...
...No con- out...
...How was it stopped prosecution as racially motivated, society and her personal request for mentators' disinterest in these court- in the South when white racists harthough he offered no evidence...
...a tremendous irony here...
...house barbarities...
...Instead, the freaks are at People who play the media for all work to intimidate jurors and the gen- they can get from it is the answer...
...Is there really courthouse steps during a lunch break cizing the name of this rape victim low some semblance of civilized stan- nothing that can be done about this from the Barry case and denounced the other than abusing the conventions of dards, but one can reproach the com- unruly behavior...
...Far8 THE AMERICAN SPECTATOR SEPTEMBER 1990 rakhan recently stepped out on the ceivable purpose is served by publi- porting the news—assuming they fol- a defense attorney...
...THE AMERICAN SPECTATOR SEPTEMBER 1990 9...
...These trials involve mat-thrills by watching prime-time televi- ters of the utmost seriousness, whether sion...
...The privacy...
...In young woman, and endeavoring to bait with judges who are easily manipulated order can be issued against those who these two northern municipalities, two the press into publicizing her name...
...ment centers...
...I wish I could report that are at the heart of our commitment the freaks are merely there to enter- against both...
...Sharpton's claque specializes in This behavior is an abomination...
Vol. 23 • September 1990 • No. 9
