Post by Andrew on Feb 4, 2008 9:52:45 GMT -5
Here's my blog entry for today (I just use the myspace blog function)...
I'd love a blog category that encompasses academic issues. I'm a student, and sometimes like to write about what I learn, because, well, it's part of my career and one of the things about which I'm passionate!
Because of this, I really don't have time to write this blog. I spent the bulk of yesterday reading the journal of one Daniel Horsmanden, who was part of a court which sent many people, white and black both, to their death due to what is obviously (to me) a hysterical willingness to believe in a conspiracy between local slaves, white locals who wished to be wealthy, and Catholic Spain, which was at war with Britain.
On the flimsiest of evidence.
I suppose at least they had a trial (with no defense lawyers, mind you...this innovation came to the colonists at a later time). These days, they might be deemed terrorists and not given such a nicety. From what I hear, the evidence today is just as weak.
Most of the evidence in the 1741 trial came about due to promises of reward money or amnesty should they confess before being tried in court.
The Catholic aspect of the conspiracy supposedly consisted of six Spanish slaves and one priest (who was not Catholic, but rather an Anglican priest who was not hateful of the Catholics, which I suppose was as great a crime in the minds of the everyday nonthinking citizen of British New York).
The story of the prime (unreliable) witness changed when newly accused people were brought into the trial.
The prosecuting attorney was quite eloquent in his speeches againt the accused, and used all sorts of religious rhetoric to fire up his case against them. The accused, however, had to defend themselves, and were definitely nowhere near as eloquent.
Draw your own parallels, I suppose. I don't think we have changed much in Euro-America as a culture.
And it wasn't a waste of time to write this. We are discussing these very issues in class today, and I still have a write-up of my thoughts to compose. This is the first draft.
Peace and all good.
I'd love a blog category that encompasses academic issues. I'm a student, and sometimes like to write about what I learn, because, well, it's part of my career and one of the things about which I'm passionate!
Because of this, I really don't have time to write this blog. I spent the bulk of yesterday reading the journal of one Daniel Horsmanden, who was part of a court which sent many people, white and black both, to their death due to what is obviously (to me) a hysterical willingness to believe in a conspiracy between local slaves, white locals who wished to be wealthy, and Catholic Spain, which was at war with Britain.
On the flimsiest of evidence.
I suppose at least they had a trial (with no defense lawyers, mind you...this innovation came to the colonists at a later time). These days, they might be deemed terrorists and not given such a nicety. From what I hear, the evidence today is just as weak.
Most of the evidence in the 1741 trial came about due to promises of reward money or amnesty should they confess before being tried in court.
The Catholic aspect of the conspiracy supposedly consisted of six Spanish slaves and one priest (who was not Catholic, but rather an Anglican priest who was not hateful of the Catholics, which I suppose was as great a crime in the minds of the everyday nonthinking citizen of British New York).
The story of the prime (unreliable) witness changed when newly accused people were brought into the trial.
The prosecuting attorney was quite eloquent in his speeches againt the accused, and used all sorts of religious rhetoric to fire up his case against them. The accused, however, had to defend themselves, and were definitely nowhere near as eloquent.
Draw your own parallels, I suppose. I don't think we have changed much in Euro-America as a culture.
And it wasn't a waste of time to write this. We are discussing these very issues in class today, and I still have a write-up of my thoughts to compose. This is the first draft.
Peace and all good.