The pseudonym "Philo Vaihinger" has been abandoned. All posts have been and are written by me, Joseph Auclair.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Does racism explain it?

'Racism' put US man on death row

Given that, in actual fact, he has not been proved guilty more likely than not, let alone beyond a reasonable doubt, let's presume he is innocent.

His profound bitterness and apparent personal racism explain his certainty this was all done to him out of racism.

So we are asked to believe not simply that the system is junk, regularly both failing to even identify the guilty and punishing the innocent.

We are asked, it appears, to believe, the system is pervaded by the influence of people who so hate Negroes they readily put aside all concern to find and punish the true perpetrator for the glee of tormenting an innocent black man.

Or perhaps along with people so profoundly prejudiced by their belief in widespread criminality among blacks that they far too easily see guilt in any black man brought before them.

And that juries share that hostility and prejudice and, besides, knowing the system stopped looking for the guilty man when it identified the one before them and will not resume the hunt in case of acquittal, are more willing to take a "better safe than sorry" approach with a black defendant, convicting on scant evidence.

It would be absurd to deny these factors any influence.

But there is plenty of reason to believe the system is a clunker, even apart from any of that.

Out of their own racism, people exaggerate the racism of others.

Not to mention the important role of racial hate and fear in politics, along with guilt-tripping.

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