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It's hard to fathom what Rupert Murdoch and his employees at News Corp. were thinking when they first decided to broadcast an interview with O.J. Simpson in which the accused murderer reportedly described how he would have killed his ex-wife, Nicole Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman 12 years ago.
Fortunately, Murdoch and Fox television came to their senses and at the last minute aborted the planned two-part interview and recalled the planned release of Simpson's book, "If I Did It," before it hit the shelves next week.
In a country where nearly three women a day are killed by their husbands or boyfriends and nearly a million more are beaten every year, to give Simpson a platform to describe how he "hypothetically" would have murdered his ex-wife is the height of insensitivity and bad judgment. The Simpson story and its hypothetical, which publisher Judith Regan characterized as a "confession," are not only an affront to women but also an insult to the intelligence and decency of all law-abiding citizens.
In the aftermath of Murdoch and News Corp.'s decision to cancel the Simpson interview, members of the Fox television news staff, who were among the most vociferous critics initially, have been heaping praise on their boss for "doing the right thing." It's too bad that Murdoch was unable to arrive at this decision using only his own moral compass. Sadly, he was unable to find his way without the threat of boycotts by customers and advertisers - in other words, only when his company's financial future was at stake. Wouldn't it be refreshing once in awhile to see the people running these companies make a move without parsing for the effect on the almighty dollar?
If there is a silver lining in all of this, perhaps it is collectively that the American people have voiced their extreme disgust over people who engage in, minimize or glorify domestic abuse, a sickness and a crime that tears at the fabric of every community. It should now be clear that the vast majority of Americans do not find domestic violence the slightest bit funny, acceptable or entertaining. And though many strides have been made toward raising awareness of this national epidemic, thanks to many dedicated volunteers and public servants, there is still much to be done, as News Corp.'s ill-fated affair with O.J. Simpson so dramatically illustrates.
Fortunately, Murdoch and Fox television came to their senses and at the last minute aborted the planned two-part interview and recalled the planned release of Simpson's book, "If I Did It," before it hit the shelves next week.
In a country where nearly three women a day are killed by their husbands or boyfriends and nearly a million more are beaten every year, to give Simpson a platform to describe how he "hypothetically" would have murdered his ex-wife is the height of insensitivity and bad judgment. The Simpson story and its hypothetical, which publisher Judith Regan characterized as a "confession," are not only an affront to women but also an insult to the intelligence and decency of all law-abiding citizens.
In the aftermath of Murdoch and News Corp.'s decision to cancel the Simpson interview, members of the Fox television news staff, who were among the most vociferous critics initially, have been heaping praise on their boss for "doing the right thing." It's too bad that Murdoch was unable to arrive at this decision using only his own moral compass. Sadly, he was unable to find his way without the threat of boycotts by customers and advertisers - in other words, only when his company's financial future was at stake. Wouldn't it be refreshing once in awhile to see the people running these companies make a move without parsing for the effect on the almighty dollar?
If there is a silver lining in all of this, perhaps it is collectively that the American people have voiced their extreme disgust over people who engage in, minimize or glorify domestic abuse, a sickness and a crime that tears at the fabric of every community. It should now be clear that the vast majority of Americans do not find domestic violence the slightest bit funny, acceptable or entertaining. And though many strides have been made toward raising awareness of this national epidemic, thanks to many dedicated volunteers and public servants, there is still much to be done, as News Corp.'s ill-fated affair with O.J. Simpson so dramatically illustrates.
