Strauss-Kahn's case

In my opinion, Mr Dominique Strauss Kahn should not be judged by the media before the trial. Yet, I am not saying that the maid who was said to be the victim, should be judged prior to the trial either. In my opinion, the public or media should not make assumptions until the case has been brought to the court and the trial has finished.

Have you ever been caught in a situation where all fingers seemed to be pointing at you? When you were on your way to tell the teacher-in-charge that an eye witness recorded the scene down and that the person who accused you was lying all along? That is exactly what Strauss Kahn or the maid of the hotel would feel like. People accused Dominique Strauss Kahn of rape, that he was just putting up a front, that he did not deserve to be called as the nation's future president. People accused the maid of being shameless, to try to gain financial benefits out of the case. But then, think again? Were you at the scene? When it happened, were you there? Do you know what happened? If you say no, then don't spread false rumours. It is just like a photo. Once it has been torn, it will never quite look the same any more. Reputation. When the media posts the unconfirmed rumours on the newspapers, everyone will know, everyone will take things for what they seem. And even if the victim of the media is proved innocent, people will still have the wrong impression of that person. It has never been fair to treat someone as such. During the trial, the guilty would be brought to justice, and the truth would be out. There is a difference between opinion and fact. Opinion is what one thinks, which might or might not be true. However, fact is something which is definitely true. Thus, when the facts are revealed, then only should the media include the details in the news articles.

In conclusion, the media should not accuse Strauss Kahn before the trial. Every suspect should deserve the benefit of the doubt before the case, until the facts have been confirmed. There was this once, when my classmate reported to the teacher that I pushed open the faulty door of the toilet while a schoolmate was emptying his bowels. Everyone in the class never believed that I would do such a thing, they called me a "pervert". After the teacher questioned us, an eye witness actually stepped forward to say that the classmate who reported the incident actually held my hand and forced me to push open the door. But everyone still had their suspicion. Some people suspected that I resorted to underhand means to push the blame away from myself. So what if justice has been done? Whatever people had thought of me, their impression is now ruined. And the good things one has done is not remembered too clearly. But the bad things one has done is remembered for a long time. Thus I completely understand how falsely accused victims of rumours might feel. And since, for the grown-ups, it is the media and not just the rumours, the feeling must be even worse. But, who would listen?