European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 21, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The . Case is a trial not a race thing sets Mon Seel son one of the most perplexing and disturb ing aspects of the Overly . Simpson trial is that we As a mod Ern society have sown the seed of bigotry so deep we cannot distinguish the difference Between right and wrong without it being based on someone s skin pigment. So you might ask what else is new nothing actually. It is just a continuance of the same old Story with a different face in a different place. I have based my conclusion and analysis of the above statement by referencing the various Public opinion polls that have been aired recently. The polls were used to determine How Black and White americans Felt about the possibility of or. Simpson s innocence guilt or whether he could receive a fair trial. Although their accuracy can be debated these scientifically administered surveys do verify an ugly trend that has prevailed in american society for Many years that there is a definite difference of opinion that divides the two aforementioned groups. The Blacks who were questioned were More Likely than Whites to say Simpson was not guilty. Not surprisingly the opinions lie at the extreme opposites to simple yes and no questions. No Middle ground exists. Shockingly i almost have to act surprised the surveys conclusions Are not based on the evidence that Many of us so willingly Analysed during the Tele Vised preliminary hearings to achieve or not to have achieved such a High status does t alter what Simpson accomplished on the football Field. But this discussion in t about foot Ball. This discussion is about the hard Core evidence. Not the itemized or circumstantial evidence illustrated in the los Angeles courtroom but the Evi Dence that has once again brought us Back to the Dis jointing reality that the Beautiful portrait we opening laugh Butenko Warsaw Poland itch to pc Simpsons defense team Simpsons and color sometimes paint May just be a cheap copy. It is a deplorable fact not my opinion that these poll results have exposed a sickness that has attacked the logical consciousness of Black and White Ameri cans alike. How can you possibly base someone s guilt or innocence on race one Way or the other for or against. He either did it or he did t. A defendant is a defendant regardless of the color of his skin. I thought we All knew these things i guess we did t. With attitudes like this we must realize that we Are tearing at the sometimes fragile fabric that holds our country together. My purpose for writing this column really had Little to do with the . Simpson trial itself but it gave me an Opportunity to look at a ruinous situation from an abstract Point of View. It in t about whether he will be Able to get a fair trial or my predicted outcome. That will be left up to the courts to decide. It should be a Wake up Call to those who Are constantly pointing out How attitudes on issues of racism have improved so dramatically. Occasionally an event happens that contradicts this popular belief. Another thought that comes to mind is that we have probably the most diverse assemblage of individuals from different backgrounds of any Organiza Tion in the country. Yes i am referring to the . Military. If these polls Are accurate it really makes you think about How these suppressed in the close attitudes might affect you. Like it or not we still have a tremendous Moun Tain to climb with Many people refusing to take on the responsibility to bring the rope. One Day someone who walks in our footprints after us will be Able to Analyse events of this nature for what they really Are. It s not a Black thing or a White things. In this Case it s a murder thing. We still Don t understand. Staff sgt. Sets Mon Seel son is stationed la Schweinfurt Germany. Catherine Pellikka Dandreau nother column about racism in the . Saga and a heavy heart compel me to write. If this is a Story of the big Black Guy after the Sweet Little White woman Why do we not see and hear More about the life of Nicole Simpson than we do maybe her anonymity makes it easier to imagine other Cauca Sian females in the same scenario and the vision is More potent for those racists it haunts. Yet if she were Black the Lack of Media attention to her would undoubtedly be attributed to her race. But maybe racism and sexism just Don t matter As much As the fact that . Simpson was a National hero for so Many american sports fans. The reality of his life murderer or not Falls far Short of what we had imagined for him and so we Are fascinated. Racism along with Many other prejudices exists and though i have been shocked by it in the past i was also naive. It is a fact of life. Yet an opinion poll appearing to reflect racism upon closer inspection May Alco show that Faith in or scepticism about news reports and police investigations vary somewhat according to race. As an instrument for measuring racism the poll is therefore inadequate. If it s any Comfort to those of us troubled by prejudice we should remember that the desire for Materi Al gain and Power is Colo Blind. Let Black people who Are hateful of White people recall that it was often Strong african tribes that sold weaker tribes into slavery. Let resentful White people recall that the great physical and psychological pain inflicted upon Black people under slavery did not occur so Many generations ago and while we personally May not have been responsible we Are the generations upon which the sins of our fathers now visit. We All carry a Burden from those who came before us. Our attempt to eradicate racism should begin with trying to determine How our own prejudices originated then forgiving ourselves and others for failing the impossible task of seeing All individuals As equal. At the same time we must be vigilant in our efforts to Monitor our own conduct do our part to see that Justice is carried out whenever possible treat every one with civility and respect and if we can manage that then show some kindness and compassion. Catherine Pellikka d Andrea lives in Darmstadt Germany. Contents from the cover 4-8 thirsting for a better Way in Africa. Sidelights 9 Andy Rooney s lost vacation. Odds & ends 10 Erma Bombeck on the fruits of family. In tune 11 the High ride of Harrison Ford. This week s films 12-13 military circuit listings. Emch blast Over Clear and present  television listings 14-17 local Cable and satellite schedules. Voices a Black journalist hears it. Linda Everbee on Woodstock. Words & wit Tony Konheiser spikes out. Books Black authors. Recalling Vietnam. On Parade Joe Lando from Cook to hot actor. Last laugh Dave Barry English expert. 20-21 23 24-25 27 28 Home entertainment celebrating Woodstock. 18 sunday is a weekly supplement of the stars and stripes editor Bucky Fox cover Story design Susan Harris production Bernard Jensen editorial assistance Louis d. Pierce Gidget Smith Page 2 sunday August 21,1994