guilty until found.... INNOCENT

"It's been 395 days since this nightmare began and finally the day has come for closure," said Evans when he took the podium, adding that the lacrosse team has "gone to hell and back."

"We are just as innocent today as we were back then ... we have never wavered in our story," Evans continued. "It's painful to remember what we went through in those first days and it's just a testament to all our characters that we never lashed out, we stayed strong."

I have intentionally NOT written anything about the Duke University case, though I wanted to.

I have sat and fumed for over a year. I have prayed for over a year.

But because I am sick and tired of trials being the focus of 24/7 coverage on nearly any and every talk show/news cast/news analysis program on nearly every cable channel, I did not want to contribute to it.

But I will tell you, the laws need to be changed. YES a woman needs to be protected and supported during the reporting of rape. YES, she needs to be counseled and helped for a long time after. YES, her life will never be the same, and YES PTSD is a very real effect.

But there are ALSO some vile women who have no scruples, and for one reason or another, cry RAPE when rape never happened. The instant charges are brought about, SHE is protected, but the person she charged raped her is not. And the life of that accused person is also destroyed forever.

Today, not only were all charges dropped against the three young men (they are NOT 'boys'... they are college MEN)... not only were they dropped..but they were totally exhonerated. The world was TOLD that they are INNOCENT.

Innocent. Which is exactly what they SHOULD HAVE BEEN, until found guilty in a court of law by a jury of their peers.

INNOCENT...as was the coach that Duke University fired. INNOCENT, as was the TEAM that Duke University forced to sit out and live their own 'trial'... their own punishment for being part of the team that had "rapists" (note.. NOT possible rapists.. Duke University tried and convicted those three men long before any trial took place...).

How many men over the years have been accused when they are NOT guilty? YES, there are evil men in the world who do not care for women, but love the power and control that they have when they force themselves sexually (date or no date) on a woman, against the wishes of that woman. And they SHOULD be found guilty.

But also, equally, there ARE women who cry 'Rape' for reasons that have NOTHING TO DO WITH FACTS.

I think of my daughters, and what would happen if they were raped. I would want the man/men punished after trial/guilty verdict. I may even want much more than that....I am no angel, no saint.

I think of my son... who would NOT be able to afford a long battle to prove his own innocence, as neither his father nor I ... nor anyone in our family... could afford lawyers who would work to keep him from being found guilty...and worse, being labeled as a SEX OFFENDER for the rest of his life.

Two of these three were suspended from school, one having already graduated.... .

Their coach was FIRED. Duke University owes this man not only his job back, with back pay, but a VERY PUBLIC apology. Duke University owes that TEAM a very public apology, and reinstatement in good standing. And they owe the THREE named men much more. They cannot give back what they have stolen, but they best attempt to make up for naming them guilty without trial.

The DA does not deserve to be an attorney. NOR DO THOSE HE WORKED WITH WHO DID NOT SPEAK OUT and HELP these young men. The DA is guilty, and should be held accountable for his actions, for the damage and the harm he did to three young men, their team, and their coach. I have no sympathy for him. I am repulsed by his actions.

The media also should be ashamed of themselves for covering trials and charges in the way that they do. FACTS, not speculation, are what make news NEWS, and not editorials. To have 'panels' sitting and discussing 'evidence' that may or may not make or break a case ... not only nightly, but HOURLY, is what was called 'yellow journalism' when I took journalistic classes. It is NOT news.

It IS gossip mongering, and it does damage to our legal system... usually.

IN THIS ONE CASE, the investigating work of many journalists may have helped this INNOCENT decision happen. But it also broadcast the NAMES OF THOSE INNOCENT world wide for nearly a year while protecting the accuser's identity in most cases. The coverage of this case was IMHO, the impetus for the actions of Duke University.

The accuser? She obviously needs help. She may also need legal charges brought against her for what she has done. She has no money, and she has no way to repair the damage she has done.

Slander, Liable... Gossip... ?

The other Duke University, and people of the area who immediately assumed guilt... the 'well known' others NOT from the area who immediately charge 'racism' for anything that ever happens when a white person is on the 'wrong side' of the accusations... need to begin to examine their own consciences.


UNTIL they are not only CHARGED, but TRIED and found GUILTY... if we are goin g to protect the identity of the woman crying Rape ... and we should.... the MAN should also be given the same consideration. There are people out there who will FOREVER keep that label alive for these three young men. Future news stories will bring this issue up over their life times REPEATEDLY.

My prayers have been answered. The three 'racists'... 'hooligans'... have been shown to be INNOCENT. They should NEVER have been charged. They should NEVER have been named. Their coach is also innocent.

Now... a word to college students. PLEASE stop the behavior that put this team in the situation that brought this about. Drinking, strippers, etc may sound like fun, but it is careless behavior with far reaching ramifications. Not always this public, but in your personal life... we just do not know what results our 'stupid' actions may have on our futures....

God bless