No steak for O.J.

Restaurateur should have fired back: "Why? Am I a bus boy or a blonde hottie and I don't know it?"

 

buh... buh... buh... isn't not guilty the same as innocent?

 

Not guilty only means he wasn't found guilty "beyond any reasonable doubt."

 

If the lawyer didn't make race an issue here, Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson probably would have. But obviously it's not a race issue, it's a murderer issue.

 

I remember there being a lot of discussion at the time about the distinction, but with it being 12 years ago and all, and with me not having written a headline since 1999, I'm having a hard time recalling what the distinction was. Was it the Globe and Mail (I almost typed "Glove and Mail" there...) that went with "O.J. Walks"?

 

As laudable as this action might seem from an emotional standpoint, legally, it's a very dubious move to make as an owner of a restaurant which serves the general public, IMO. I guess we'll find out.

I'm not a fan of OJ, but Ruby might have done more harm than good here, as he could serve to make OJ look like a victim of discrimination. I'm not talking about racial discrimination, but discrimination based on one's own interpretation of events above and beyond what a jury decided. As far as I know, no individual is allowed to serve as their own judge and jury in this country.

Besides, even if you agree with the assumption (as most do) that OJ killed those two people, does that mean he can't eat at this restaurant? Has the restaurant ever refused other murderers? Is there a standing policy on the books at the restaurant to not serve murderers and/or felons?

People are not legally permitted to dispense their own version of justice because they feel a jury got a verdict wrong.

The last thing we need is OJ as 'victim,' part II, IMO.

 

But -- correct me if I'm wrong -- the owner of a restaurant, or clothing shop or whatever, has the right to refuse service to anyone.

 

Call me T-Bone!

"That's not zero-zero. It's ooh, as in ooh-ooh, ahh-ahh."

 

No, they don't. There are restrictions on this ability. This is why OJ's lawyer was playing up the race card:

http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/restaurants-right-to-refuse-service.html

 

"Fine, if I eat the cat poop, will you bring me a steak?" [/ojburgundy]

 

Check out the AP Style book. That could help.

 

I think I'll call you Coco instead.