Since his sentencing in December, I’ve thought long and hard before chiming in on the latest O.J. saga. Given that everyone is now pretty much in agreement on the character of this psychopathic primate, I’m not interested in getting in a few “me too” jabs.
Nevertheless, as I watched O.J. near tears in court, the word karma came quickly to mind – as it probably did with you. Not only because of the way his life has turned out, but also considering the lives of so many of the other actors in the 14-year run of this modern-day Greek tragedy.
About a year-and-a-half ago, I wrote a two-part article titled “Karma and Compound Interest,” in which I pondered the possibility that the late Johnny Cochran, who died of a brain tumor in 2005, might have been a victim of his own karma.
I took a lot of heat for that, but I wasn’t passing judgment on him. I was merely thinking out loud. When I asked, “Was Cochran’s gruesome death compounded interest that came due on his karma debt?” I just wanted to give readers some food for thought.
As we can all vividly recall, Cochran brilliantly transformed the O.J. Simpson trial into the trial of Mark Fuhrman. And for years, Cochran insisted that he believed O.J. was innocent. I never bought it. Cochran was smart, and he had to know that he was responsible for setting a vicious double-murderer free.
As they led O.J. out of the courtroom this time around, I also thought about Robert Kardashian, Simpson’s former friend who is best known as the guy seen carrying a garment bag from Simpson’s home the day after the murders. He then signed on to the Simpson legal team, apparently just to be able to claim attorney-client privilege regarding the matter. Kardashian died in 2003 of cancer of the esophagus at age 59. Karma? Who knows?
And how about “good karma”? Think of the many people who became famous and built careers as a result of the O.J. case. Mark Fuhrman became a respected contributor to Fox News. Marcia Clark is the legal correspondent for Entertainment Tonight and The Insider, and she made big bucks on her book Without a Doubt. Most amazing of all, Greta Van Susteren became a superstar! (Hmm… after sticking up for O.J. on CNN every night throughout the trial? Go figure.)
Then there’s Kato Kaelin who is… well, he’s still just Kato Kaelin, still searching for his sixteenth minute of fame. And if he doesn’t find it, I guess he’ll have to be satisfied with going down in history as the world’s most famous houseguest. Some karma.
As I said in my previous two-part article on this subject, “Everything that goes around comes around” is a nice, tight, philosophical view of life that is very comforting – until we come up against two scenarios that don’t fit:
- When bad things happen to good people, and…
- When good things happen to bad people.
Since I’ve already written about the above two possibilities, I won’t go into them again here. But I will add another one that the most current O.J. trial brought to mind: What about people who get away with dishonest or criminal behavior and don’t get caught? I’m talking about a sort of lesser version of “When good things happen to bad people.”
Why do scoundrels like Joran Van Der Sloot, among others who have been in the news, seem to be able to escape the consequences of their actions? I think this question not only baffles most people, it frustrates them.
But I don’t let it bother me, and I’ll tell you why. When you believe someone has gotten away with something, you are assuming that you know how things will turn out for them in the long term. But you don’t. After years of seeming to get away with murder (some figuratively, some literally), universal law finally caught up with such moral giants as Drew Peterson, John Edwards, Eliot Spitzer, Rod Blagojevich, Charles Rangel – and let’s not forget O.J.
And even if O.J.’s conviction were to get overturned on appeal, you still don’t know what the future holds for him. Plus, no one knows what his life has really been like all these years behind those TV shots of him yukking it up on the golf course. The fact is that the life of the world’s most insatiable social animal has been reduced to that of a leper for the past 14 years.
One last thing that crossed my mind as I watched the latest act in the O.J. drama play out on TV: What do all of these people have in common? Answer: Arrogance. No, incredible arrogance.
John Edwards ran for president while his wife was terminally ill and he was fathering a child with another woman. Governor Blagojevich openly invited bribes for Obama’s Illinois senate seat, even though he knew he was under criminal investigation. Eliot Spitzer enjoyed numerous encounters with prostitutes after spending years criminally prosecuting others for the same activity. And Charles Rangel, the man who serves as chairman of the committee that writes the tax code, “forgot” to pay taxes on his Dominican Republic property for 20 years!
I know, I know… it’s tempting to say, “When’s the karma going to kick in for all of the other guys who seem to have been escaping the consequences of their actions?” To that I would answer… be patient and watch as their lives unfold in the coming years. Remember, it hasn’t been that long ago that we were asking the same question about O.J.
The best thing you can do is forget about everyone else’s karma and focus on your own. And the best way to do that is to live every moment as though the whole world were watching.
[Ed. Note: Karma or no karma, good deeds and honest living make you a better person from the inside out. Of course, as with any worthwhile pursuit, becoming a better person takes work. Sometimes you need a little push to get yourself going... and some simple techniques to help you become the person you've always wanted to be. Discover how to get everything you want out of life right here.
For a treasure chest of proven ideas, strategies, and techniques for increasing your income many times over, check out Robert Ringer's best-selling dealmaking audio series. And be sure to sign up for his Voice of Sanity e-letter.]
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I read, with particular interest, Robert Ringer’s article “The Karma Question”. I may not be as famous as, say, Presidents Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Theodore Roosevelt (nor as infamous as, say, Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Mahmoud Ahmedinadjad), but, in recent years, I have taken Mr. Ringer’s advice at the end of the article to heart. I do live every day as if many people were/be watching me.
Mr. Ringer: You haven’t reported the half of it. OJ had four lawyers: Johnnie Cochran, Bob Kardashian, Bobby Shapiro and Lee Bailey (F. Lee Bailey). You have related what has happened to Cochran and Kardashian. Shapiro, who was the original, lead, counsel and put the “dream team” together (a positively brilliant, original and creative idea); he was later pushed aside by Cochran, but swallowed his pride and stayed on board, always the consummate professional, in order to provide a unified front for the case. Shapiro also died of cancer before his time. But the really weird one is Bailey. He is the only one still alive; I wonder if he wishes he also died. He was jailed in Florida for converting seized/disputed drug money to his own personal use (in essence, stealing). He is well on in years (75), and been disbarred by every state he was ever licensed to practice in. It would be inappropriate for me to comment in any detail about his current life style. However, it is common knowledge in the Boston area that while he is not on welfare, he is unable to live in the style to which he is accustomed. And, let’s just say that he finds himself with a lot of time on his hands and regularly seems to celebrate the traditional Boston cocktail hour earlier and earlier each day. OJ is like typhoid Mary; he is radioactive. Everything and everybody he touches turns to……crap
I appreciate your article but my understanding
of “karma” is that it is much more complicated than believing that what I do today will be returned in kind in this particular lifetime, or that I may be aware of all of the underlying circumstances.
I think it is a mystery that none of us completely understands. Having said that, I do try to live the best life I can and to have compassion for those whose actions may indeed cause suffering.
One might question the karmic implications of hoarding wealth or any other physical/material possessions as well–particularly given the economic hi-jinks of these times.
I believe it’s very complicated and hopefully we will all continue to do our best……..
I think robert Ringer is a greta writer and I love reading his books because they usually make so much sense It is impossible for me to live as if the whole world is watching as my personal life is not an open book. I believe in doing good deeds and Karma but most moralists don’t really believe in freedom and seem to want to control everything I say, think, and do. I am talking about religious people. I believe in being a law abiding citizen but I want to be free….
I am not talking about Robert Ringer again I must say his books have really improved my life and i know what he is saying but considering all the weds in the garden keeping a low profile is the best advice. Happy New Year everyone and I hope all your dreams come true!!! Do what YOU feel is right and keep things a secret it helps lead to an uncomplicated life.
I am sorry I meant ROBERT RINGER IS A GREAT WRITER, AND wEEDS IN THE GARDEN.
THANKS ROBERT YOU REALLY HAVE HELPED SO MANY WITH YOUR WRITING!!!!
While I agree with most of what the article says, however, there is one thing I question, and that is the “judgement” he appears to be passing on everyone who’s name has hit the media with blots on their copybook. Specifically, while I was very disappointed to learn about John Edwards infidelity, which in the face of his wife’s terminal illness was especially shameful, I have not seen anything anywhere that substantiates the claim that he fathered the child of the female in question–in fact, she herself has denied that, claiming someone else is the father. I would, therefore, be careful about passing judgements (and printing same for public reading), on something that could lead to a libel suit…a little bit of karma coming home to Mr. Ringer?
I used to repost some of your articles on my page on myspace but stopped as I find it difficult to stomach some of your observation on O.J and the fate of these who tried to give him justice.
Whatever joy you derive from his fate, remember it don’t matter how learned or good you are in writing, you make mistakes too, have you investigated the real cause of the death of the men you mentioned apart from what you assume them to be or what the press and lying doctors claim? I dont know how good you are yourself as a human being who delights in the misfortune of other fellow beings. Hold on to your karma nonsense.