Hoax Day - Never Forget

Today is Hoax Day, a time to remember what we've learned. Sadly, we've learned how pathetically biased and inaccurate all of our news media can be. We've learned that the media often does not correct or amend its mistakes, research its articles or prepare for talk-show "commentary." Instead they brazenly, carelessly or unconcernedly repeat the same misstatements over and over again. We understand now that this shoddy, biased reporting has NOT just occurred THIS ONE TIME ...in THIS ONE CASE. We've learned our media is unreliable a great deal of the time. They are biased and agenda driven. We will no longer forgive it or indulge it when the bias matches our own. That's a deadly path for our intellect, our honesty and our freedom. Never forget the outrageous Hoax reporting. Never forget.

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We've learned that District Attorneys, faced with losing elections, may sell out the duties of their office and the very lives of their constituents..to win. We've learned the State often assists them with unrecorded Grand Jury testimony, old pal judges, line-ups one can rig, witnesses one can bully, non-existent note keeping, a Go Fish Game of open discovery (unless you have lots of money, the House ..oops State...always wins.) We've learned how those who work in our justice system find easy, comfortable ways to exploit it. Apparently, it's not just tolerated - it's taught. Need ways to get around the rules? The old timers will show you the ropes. Never forget what Nifong taught us about our justice system. Never forget.

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We've learned that there is no ill wind that doesn't blow good fortune someone's way. Remember the Crisis-cretins we've met and our infamous Hags-of-the-Hoax. . Out of the shadows of the Hoax they crept..licking their lips...hissing, "What's in this for me?" "Let's exploit this to strengthen our agenda, improve our ratings, get funding for our programs, kill collegiate athletics, increase our power, sell newspapers, get a gig on Greta, get sixty seconds of fame! They preened through their puffy "interviews," played the serious, solemn commentator or "expert." Unburdened by a sixty second sound bite to prove their "points" , they thought their pomposity covered their obvious bias and ignorance. Never forget what these self promoters taught us about the sorry side of human nature. Never forget.

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We learned we now live in a society now where certain "intellectuals"...if they don their mantles of political correctness and their breastplates of victim-hood ...need only gibberish and rambling verbal recklessness to suppress any reasoned opposition. They can write at the level of a remedial 9th grader and reason at the level of a playground bully...but securely hold positions of power and authority at a prestigious American university. They come in all sizes, colors, genders and creeds. They may actually publicly condemn the children of the families who pay their large salaries..yet sail on, undisturbed by any in so-called authority. Never forget what we've observed at Duke University. It's a microcosm of a many-faceted national farce. Never forget!

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And never forget why we are all here...writing, researching, posting! We Blog Hooligans, mostly anonymous strangers also representing all colors, genders, and creeds, have been drawn together and united by the cause of righting a great wrong. We are here for Collin, Reade and Dave. For their families. For the team. For the travesty of lives interrupted, losses undeserved. For three young men subjected to this sham of a prosecution ,the horror of this Hoax, this shame of a FRAME. Going forward, we must never forget to be watchful in our own communities, in other cases...where others are no doubt nifonged with no resources,and no recourse. We must be as vocal and strong in their support as well. Never forget we must always afford the presumption of innocence to those who are the least like ourselves,and sometimes , in our personal perspective, the least sympathetic. I for one will never again be a casual "Well, something happened" commentator...just because it FEELS good to me.

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It's been one long, long year. Yet the persecution continues. Justice is still denied in North Carolina. Never forget what these boys, these families have endured. Always remember who was responsible. Never forget the lessons or the painful legacy of the hoax. Let's find something in this tragedy to make our own communities better, our press more accountable, our justice system less susceptible to abuse. Remember the blind ignorance of of bias directed at Collin , Reade, and Dave. Let's reject it in any form in ourselves...in honor of what they've suffered...

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Kill the Hoax.

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Remember the Hypocrisy.

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Never, never forget!

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Joan Foster