EDITORIAL Saga of the Bobbitts should be forgotten “Not guilty, by mason of insanity." Thank God it's over. It was a story that made men all over the world squirm in their seats, a story that gave many advocates for bat tered women something to rally around. It was the most talked-about story in the news for months, and now it's nnaliy over: norena ooooiu was found not guilty of maiming her husband by u jury of her peers on Friday in Manassas. Va. — a jury persuaded that she was insane when she took out a kitchen knife and proceed ed to cut off her husband’s penis. Most of the people doing Lorena Bobbitt should not bo considered a symbolic heroine for battered women. the talking about tins case seemed to min*, it was an awfully big deal: a pret edent-setter, sure to have long standing effects on the way the American justice system reacts to cases of battered women fighting back. Maybe that's true, but there's more to the Bobbitt case than such concerns. The public's fascination with the Bobbitts is voyeuristic and prurient. While some intel lectuals have tried to justify tneir interest by talking about precedents being set and barriers being broken, legal experts have their doubts about whether the Bobbitt saga will have a significant effect on justice — if it has any effect at all. So what has this story really Ixren about? It has boon about a bizarre act of violence. If l.orena Bobbitt had shot and killed her husband, it might've made the national news the night it happened. Afterwards, it would've been forgotten. It would’ve been lost in the news shuffle, lack ing a magical word like "penis" to hold the public inter est. No one should bo all that surprised by the jury's deci sion, There are only three possible verdicts: guilty, not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. There is no question that Lorena Bobbitt did in fact maim her hus band. so she is “guilty." in a nonlegal sense, but the choice to cut off hor husband’s penis was not a choice which would be made bv a sano woman. In fact, all the arguments that indicate that Bobbitt was somehow justified in assaulting hor husband in this wav are counterproductive and dangorous. Our legal system does not recognize retaliation as a justification for this kind of violence. Self-defense, yes. Kotaliation. no. Lorena Bobbitt should not be considered a symbolic heroine for battered women. She had no legal or moral right to do what she did. We can understand her reasons, but that doesn't mean we should recognize them as valid. The best avenue for battered women is for them to leave. No one is saying that it's easy, but it’s often the only way out. The Bobbitt case does not change that. If this caso has made any woman feel entitled to attack hor abusive husband, then it has done a grave disservice to all battered women. They cannot escape responsibil ity for their actions. They should not be encouraged to try. Oregon Daily The Oegon DMy fmmak) .» pubfcsned da** Monday though f nday dot mg me ectioo. yee< end Tuesday end Thursday du"ng the summer by the Oegon Deity Emerald Pubtufuog Co . Inc at me Umversity of Oregon, f ugene. Oegon The f m«ya*> operates independently ch the University with offices at Suae 300 of me f rb Memorial Union and » a member of me Associated (‘teas the fmeraid u privale property The unlawful removal or use of papers .$ prosecutable by fee EditorIn-Chief J*« Berg PO no Managing Editor Editorial Editor Graphic* Editor GatiOy ^ndorson DitvKj thorn Jr« Paslay sports canor wmj Editorial Editor Je" P