It’s almost a laughing matter how people waste time complaining about the complexity of the english language. I truly fell sorry for the individual’s whom fells offended by the use of the word “black”. I guess when a person is brain washed to believe a word represents their identity, they have to fight to protect what appears to be the misuse of it. My friend our true identity are African or African-descendants, the word black was derive from the attempt to be socially accepted in the American society and the struggle to gain a piece of the American pie. The answer to you question is “I’m a African man whom is black”. The word black is a label it’s not your identity. I know I have a country that identifies me and it’s senseless to be offended from a label used in the english dictionary.

Some folks find the words “black sheep” offensive, racist, and stereotypical. Blackness is associated with something negative, bad, or even evil. I take it that you are black. Could you use another word to express your opinion? Many thanks.

Peace

Most men don’t like repeating themselves, over and over again. This topic came up before and Aphla explained himself. Basically, he said alot of information comes up during the day and he try’s to summarize without bias using the english language but sometime english words can be misleading. I have to agree with Aphla on how he used the word “contrictdicts” because Mr. Taylor and Mr. Smythe’s statement were not consistent with each other. In my opinion since the prosecution closed their case, at least 75% of Alpha’s postings were in favor of the defense team. This is consistent with what the defense team has attempted to clarify thus far. To my understanding you believe that the investigation into Mr. Taylor involvement in the SL conflict was conducted poorly. Therefore you should understand the importance of doing a thorough investigation before make accusation about a person. Please my friend do your home work before you make accusations/assumptions about Aphla’s “personal biases”.

While Mr. Taylor might be guilty, and while you might think it is a contradiction to say he might be guilty but the prosecution has yet to prove that, it is on this very supposition that the foundation of any criminal trial lies. In this case as in most legal criminal cases, that the prosecution prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

So what you call contradiction is itself a bedrock of criminal law as we know it. If the prosecution fails to do that, even if the defense is guilty, he or she goes free. And i will say it over and over, the prosecution rushed this case and the evidence thus far is weak for a case of this magnitude. If you think this makes we a friend or supporter of Taylor, then is only shows you really do not grasp what the law is all about. I think you need a good review of criminal law 101. Have a nice day and bask in your ignorance.

So, I narrowly escape another trap? You are hilarious! Since I escape yours, you seem to be stuck in mine oh….remember the references that I’ve asked for, like since Genesis?

OK, I won’t be surprise if I learn you are in Ellen camp! LOL

If I may take this opportunity as someone who has known Alpha for a number of years, and has worked with him daily for the past two years: I have nothing but a deep and consistently growing respect for his talent, intelligence, abilities and professionalism. We are so incredibly lucky to have him working for us on this site. Not only does he bring knowledge of the places, events and people that are discussed in this trial precisely because he comes from Sierra Leone – but he is a truly talented lawyer and a delightful human being. He is someone about whom I feel incredibly fortunate to have the honor of working with daily as a colleague. I know he works so hard to provide balanced and fair reporting, and he has also not responded to any attacks on his reporting — and that speaks to the type of high level professional that he is.

I too please ask readers that while we welcome you raising any concerns about bias or about our headlines — and we will take those concerns on board and think about them for our future postings — I ask you please not to take your frustrations out on Alpha. He does not deserve personal attacks. Instead, can I ask you to please help us and do as $$ker suggested: add to what Alpha has written so we can all enhance our understanding of the day’s events, rather than focusing on what Alpha was not able to put in. He is constrained by the structure we have chosen to use, which is what allows his articles to be picked up by newspapers and online news agencies, like AllAfrica.com, and hence for more people to be able ot know about this trial each day beyond this website. He has to choose what is important each day, which is not an easy task, and which means he cannot include everything.

Thanks again $$ker — we appreciate your support and kind words enormously — and your defense of Alpha is, at least to me, spot on.

Best,
Tracey