by Nick DiSpoldo
Free Press Contributor
© 1998 Nick DiSpoldo
The O.J. Simpson trials, among other things, have given rise to an orgy of opportunists, people enchanted with their new-found "celebrity" status and dedicated to pursuing the dollar.
I am disgusted with the growing number of shallow and mediocre individuals who have skyrocketed to some sort of superficial stardom owing to the tragic deaths of two young people.
Nancy Grace, who was an obscure prosecutor in Atlanta, Georgia, at the time of the murders, seized the opportunity to appear almost daily during the trial on CNN's CNN & Co. She has since quit her chosen profession to team with Simpson attorney Johnnie Cochran on a show for Court TV. that is interesting in light of the fact that Ms. Grace daily castigated the Simpson defense attorneys as being "unethical."
Faye Resnick was able to get a book published simply because she knew Nicole Brown Simpson. Ms. Resnick was given a lucrative advance. The next step was the talk show circuit, so fondly coveted by Simpsonites, where Ms. Resnick continues to pout prettily as she pontificates upon American jurisprudence. She told host Charles Grodin she is dedicating herself to spousal abuse.
And she brought along a copy of her nude layout in the March issue of Playboy to prove it.
Flo Anthony was just another obscure writer of glitter gossip for one of the national sleaze sheets, but now is introduced as a "celebrity journalist." She claims to be, "a very close friend of O.J.'s," and would have us believe that Simpson tells her things he would not dare tell another. Anthony appears each Friday on Geraldo and sits there week after week uttering the ultimate in silly Simpsonisms.
Chris Darden and Marcia Clark have both written lucrative self-serving books and Clark now has her own TV show: Lady Law. Perhaps it will be on one of these shows that Ms. Clark will tell us how she and Darden managed to lose the biggest case of their careers, with overwhelming evidence and unlimited state and federal resources.
Like most Americans, I was horrified and outraged by the brutal atrocities committed upon Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. I sympathize with the families of the victims. I shudder to think of such a thing happening to my own children. However, there must come a point when people should move on with their lives. As recently as 2/12/97, Ron's sister, Kim Goldman, was still crying on the 6 o'clock news: 32 months after the murders. And father Fred Goldman has written a book about " . . . how Ron really is."
Well, Fred, I know what he was. He was a waiter in the Mezzaluna Restaurant in Brentwood, California. He was not a reincarnation of St. Francis of Assisi and I doubt if he would have discovered a cure for cancer or AIDs.
He was a handsome, charming young man, which allowed him society with Brentwood's abused or bored women.
Maybe this book is another memorial that Fred feels he has to create for his son. I know many families who have had more than one child murdered and I doubt if the lives of all victims warrant publication in a book.
It is good and healthy to grieve. But the Goldman family members are now wearing large white buttons with Ron's picture on them. There is a difference between grief and unhealthy, obsessive behavior.
I have a friend who, as yet, is not a celebrated Simpsonite, but give her time. She is into astrology, numerology, and other strange stuff, and she "discovered proof" that Simpson committed the murders. In whispered tones she asked me if I recalled that the murders were committed on June 12, 1994. I said I did.
"Well, if we write that date, 6-12-94," she beamed, "and add it up, it comes to 32! That was O.J.'s number all through his college and pro career!"
I am always amazed by the number of morons nurtured by America's mothers.
To order, contact:
Saturday, March 14 at 4:30 pm Bill Witherup and Fred Markham discuss The Celling of America at Elliot Bay Books.
Described by the Seattle P-I as a "grande dame of socialism," Fraser is a 75-year-old Jewish rebel and founder of the socialist feminist wing of the U.S. women's movement. She writes in a clear and colloquial voice that resonates with hope, humor, and passionate humanity. Revolution, She Wrote will be of special interest to women and men seeking fresh, bold approaches to human rights organizing.
The book collects 40 years of essays, speeches, and columns. Topics include war, racism, electoral politics, labor, Marxist theory, appreciations of feminist leaders and writers, discussions of seminal free speech cases involving Fraser, and insights into her organizations, Radical Women and the Freedom Socialist Party.
With a pithy introduction by award-winning feminist science fiction writer Joanna Russ, a detailed biographical sketch, 16 pages of photos, and a bibliography of feminist and socialist resources, this book reveals the political underpinnings and personal strengths which have kept this remarkable woman on the front lines for half a century.
Guerry Hodderson will discuss Clara Fraser as part of her talk at the Free Press Speakeasy party, April 9.
The Celling of America:
An Inside Look at the U.S. Prison Industry
A collection of essays and articles edited by Daniel Burton-Rose, Dan Pens and Paul Wright, has just been published by Common Courage.
by Clara Fraser
Red Letter Press
paperback, 400 pages
The provocative insights of Clara Fraser, one of feminism's most daring thinkers and arresting personalities, will captivate readers of her new book.
Clara Fraser died on February 24 in Seattle of emphysema. Her memorial service will be held March 22, 2pm, Mt. Baker Community Club, 2811 Mt. Rainier Dr. S.
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Contents this page were published in the March/April, 1998 edition of the Washington Free Press.
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