The Amanda Knox Media Wars

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I followed much of the Amanda Knox case from the United Kingdom--the home of the murdered Meredith Kircher--and would like to add my two cents to the discussion.
 
First, I have been quite astounded by those sections of the American media who seem to have run to Knox's defense with alacrity, conveying that this young girl from Seattle is taking the fall merely because of her country of origin. It has hardly been impartial--more the the usual American media circus creating judicial soap operas.
 
Now, I'm hardly claiming that the British media--notably the red top tabloids--were rushing to Knox's defense. At first, Britain's print media was obsessed with 'Foxy Knoxy' and her various sexual travails on commuter trains, as well as highlighting other various youthful indiscretions befitting of really any teenager in the Western world. However, having said that, most of the so-called 'quality' newspapers focused on the fact that Knox changed her story from not being at the site of the crime scene to having to "cover her ears" as the murder was committed.
 
Yes, a number of questions remain about how the police handled the case. When she was first taken into custody, Knox did not have a lawyer present. She claims she was assaulted and forced to sign a confession. For some strange reason the tapes of her interrogation either never existed or have gone missing. But all of this has been reported--and not omitted or overlooked--in the European media. It's the American press that has been extremely selective.
 
When "one of us" suffers abroad, the British media, too, has a penchant for either blaming a corrupt judicial system or throwing stones at their very own 'red top' counterparts. Perhaps it comes naturally. The disappearance of the British child, Madeline McCann, is a fitting example. Some corners of the British media initiated a crusade against the Portuguese judicial system, the domestic media, and the local police in Praia de Luz, souring relations between Portugal and the United Kingdom. Sure, the local police in that case were hardly a favorable example of Portuguese law enforcement, but all the press did was help obfuscate what may - or may not - have happened.
 
Most nationalities are subjected to stereotypes when abroad. Being Scottish I know a thing or two about this. In fact, I would argue that when it comes to stereotypes in Europe, the "ugly American" is not subjected to the same disdainful remarks as the "obnoxious" German armed with a towel to seize his sun lounger at first dawn, the "thuggish" Englishman, the "drunk" Finn, the "rude" Frenchman, the "dull" Belgian, or even the "dour" Scot. Was the Italian media and judiciary system that hell bent for an American scalp? Maybe if she had killed an Italian, but she didn't. And, remember, her co-defendant was found guilty, and he's Italian.
 
Italy's judicial system affords any guilty party an immediate appeal. Knox and her lawyers will now have that opportunity,  and perhaps claim there was a mistrial. As previously stated, there is most certainly some evidence of this.
 
But pinning the blame on foreign media for a suspect's guilt is really a slight on the judicial process in Italy and law enforcement in general. Is it perfect? I wouldn't think so. But the American media is now rife with legal scholars and DNA experts who appear content to lecture their Italian counterparts--who ironically invented the science--with the "If only they did things our way" mantra. The same thing happened with the Lockerbie case.
 
Let the appeal commence. And until then, let's reserve judgment for the courts.
 
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