Abandoned O.J. Project Shows Shame Still Packs a Punishing Punch

[madmusic]

By Shankar Vedantam
Monday, November 27, 2006; Page A02

The whole project was pure shamelessness. A controversial former football star, who many believe got off scot-free after killing two people, writes a book about how he might have committed the murders. It was an end zone dance in the worst possible taste. Everyone was outraged but had to concede that O.J. Simpson, once acquitted, was beyond the reach of the law.

But Simpson and his publisher, Judith Regan, were within reach of another powerful tool that is not much used in American society: shame. Facing growing outrage and scorn, News Corp. chief executive Rupert Murdoch canceled the book project last week.

For Stephanos Bibas, a law professor and former prosecutor, the saga was grounds for celebration, because it showed that shame remains a powerful tool in America.

For nearly two centuries, using shame as a weapon against wrongdoing has steadily fallen into disfavor in the United States, even as it continues to be an essential part of social discourse in more traditional societies. After the rise of penitentiaries around 1800, the idea of shaming wrongdoers was replaced by more impersonal forms of punishment such as incarceration.

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/26/AR2006112600720.html

[niyad]

1. shame? more like bottom line self interest and nothing more.

[warrens]

3. No Kidding

If Rupe was capable of shame, O'Reilly, Hannity and Hume would be history too.

[AndyA]

2. It should be pointed out that the victims of this crime weren't just murdered.

They were BRUTALLY murdered. Tortured. Neither died immediately, but likely remained conscious long enough to understand what was happening to them, and to feel their life flowing out of their bodies.

To try to monetize this horror in any fashion goes beyond bad taste. It's inhumane.

[warrens]

4. Tell that to Nancy Grace

She made her name with OJ. This whole thing makes me sick.

[AndyA]

6. Can't stand the woman. Annoying as hell.

She has no morals, no values. I hope the family of that poor woman who committed suicide after being interrogated on Grace's show takes her to the cleaners.

[Selatius]

5. Shanker Vedantam doesn't understand business at all

Murdoch dumped the book deal because he was afraid of the consequences of degrading his name brand product, FOX. It would translate into lost revenue due to advertisers not buying up ads for fear of attracting negative attention to themselves. The money says to dump it.

To ascribe shame to the situation is to assume Rupert Murdoch had principles. People with principles feel shame when they fail to live up to those principles.

Shanker gave Murdoch far too much credit.

[kalibex]

7. Hmm, I think the Shanker meant...

...that whether Murdoch 'personally feels the emotion of shame' at this time is irrelevant - if Murdoch changes his position....then he has for all intents & purpose, been 'shamed' by the 'public' judgement. To that extent, he has been humbled.

-B

[Tony Soprano]

8. I'd just like to read the

fucking BOOK!?!