I’ve been following Bill Cosby’s trial in Norristown, Pennsylvania distressed for him, the woman that’s been testifying against him, and his family, especially his wife of 53 years.
The man is 79 years-old, half blind, drenched in humiliation.
It doesn’t get much uglier than this.
What bothers me the most is…all these women, saying, he drugged them in order to have sex without too much effort on his part, is why they were in his presence to begin with.
Let’s do the math here.
He was a handsome, brilliant, groundbreaking, black man, and they wanted to be with him…but all of him. They wanted foreplay, in words, wishing to hear what he had to say. His likes and dislikes, what made him smile…where that creative genius stemmed from. One has to remember how amazing he was, especially back then, owning the stage as the African American Elvis, of comedy.
But good old, entitled Bill didn’t want to be bothered with all that. He had a need, an itch to be scratched, if you will, and knocking them out like Kewpie Dolls seemed the quickest solution.
Andrea Constrand, having come forward so publicly, must feel it’s both a grace and a curse. To have to sit on a witness stand describing in sordid detail what happened, has to be very painful, yet finally, dropping the weight of it, incredibly liberating.
She liked Bill, trusted him and probably would have had consensual sex with him, but he just didn’t care enough about her, or any of her peers, to take the time to be the consummate gentleman they all assumed he was.
Oh Bill, what were you thinking?
SB
It’s very sad all the way around.
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Agreed. Sigh
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Good reading!
Hal Rubenstein from my phone
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An unfortunate set of circumstances. Appreciate that you read it in any event.
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I loved his sense of humor and would give anything to turn back the clock and have him live honorably.
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It’s mystifying to think he acted this way. I’ve always been such an admirer. Can’t imagine at his age going to jail. Stay tuned.
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I agree.
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This post would be sub judice and illegal in England (if it were before an English court). Trial by internet is definitely an ugly thing.
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You lost me there Mick. Did my post offend you?
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No. I am merely exploring the difference in the law between our two countries. In England the rights of the individual to a fair trial take precedence over the free speech rights of others to pass comment.
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Sadly, he even admits in a deposition he drugged her. Whether it’s online or live, that’s the issue. Pretty straight forward in any country I’d say.
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I didn’t know that he’d confessed and I do take your point. But even someone pleading guilty is entitled to a fair trial. The basis of the English system is that a fair trial is impossible, when the world has already made its mind up, as a result of the case being publicly discussed.
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Good post, Susannah. I definitely agree. It’s so sad that a comedy icon we grew up with be taken so low. I hope justice is done in the trial though.
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It’s so tawdry in every sense. They keep alluding to why his wife isn’t there. She’s 73 years old humiliated by all of this. It’s a shame. Through and through.
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Best review of the incident I have read so far.
Great job! You made both parties a bit guilty, which is true. It’s not like the ladies when to a party and were ruffied, but permission was not given…
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Whether she should have there or not and even his philandering isn’t the issue. What’s on the table is…he drugged her. He didn’t have to do that. Yet he did for reasons beyond my understanding. It’s a shameful situation on so many levels.
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I agree.
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Susannah, I grew up listening to Bill Cosby’s skits on a 33 1/3 record. My brother and I would roll on the floor laughing.
You hit the nail on the head. He didn’t have to drug them. I think he must have enjoyed the power and control. What a waste.
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He was the American Dream alright. Despite what he did, I hope he doesn’t go to jail. I think his public ruin is enough. It’s the compassion in me more for Camille and the rest of his family who to quote Jane Austen, will have to partake in that ruin. Sigh
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I feel like this trial has been going on for 100 years already. Your analysis is dead on!
I feel bad for Camille who has to go along for this horrid ride.
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Yeah, she’s the sacrificial lamb alright. What bothers me is his hubris, how he just couldn’t be bothered treating those women like human beings. Did his stock drop below sea level.
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