Topic : 10/01 Jena 6 Continues

Quote From: jmethomas

My husband is a Profession health care worker who is a tall, dark Indian with afro type hair. I have lived in the west all my life and never had a real problem with racism. When my husband came to live with me people started treating him badly because they thought he was black. Police would pull his car over, store clerks were acting as if he was a thief. So to the teacher aid who said that she did not see any racial tension before, you were like me in your own bubble. It does not exist in your daily life so you don't understand. Until I was married I really did not understand the extent of the hate and negativity. Also hanging symbols such as swasikas and nooses are hate crimes. Innocent people died because of these signs and symbols. You have to be crazy to not think people are taking this seriously. The punishment should not have been a secret or a light slap. It was big time serious. It was a public school so the masses should have known what happened.

Quote From: donnaj082861

I agree with jesshouse!!! I am going to make this short with one comment about the lady who holds her purse tight to her.  My mom was walking from the mall to her car in an area where there are both black and white races.  Two black females were approaching her and she just thought they were walking to the mall past her. She smiled because she is a very kind and sweet person as she was smiling one tried to grab her purse and the other knocked her down. She held on to her purse for dear life and scream......at that time she was on the parking lot ground with them on top of her. Two security guards heard her and came to he rescue.  The two girls ran off and jumped in a getaway car....my mother is 76 and now has a great deal of anxiety due to this.  I have told her to never go to the mall by herself and to always be aware of her surroundings while walking to her car. Not because these girls were black, but because she was attacked by people who like to prey on older people......no race involved, they just happened to be black.....

Quote From: brookster

 You are so right on!  I totally agree with you.

Quote From: charleeb

I just don't get it.  Why is everything racially driven.  I think what happened in Jena  case was terrible for everyone involved, both black and white and I think the constant reference to racial motivation will continue to split that community.  It's the outsiders that are hurting the community and driving hate on both sides, white and black.

 

I find it interesting that the only time Al Sharpton and Rev Jesse Jackson get involved is when it's "racial issue".  I want to know why Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson weren't in West Palm Beach supporting the black mother and child who were raped and tortured by a gang of black teenagers and young adults last summer.  They raped the mother, made the 12 year old  little boy watch and participate in this violent act against his mother.  Why hasn't the black leadership come here to support this family and commend local law enforcement for taking care of this family and ensuring the safety of the people in that community.

 

I am also surprised that they haven't gotten involved in the story about the black teenage girl arrested for breaking curfew placed by Riveria Beach's black mayor.  The teen resisted arrest, bite the officer.  What is an police officer to do.  All they say is that the officer was abusive to the teen, she violated the curfew in a high crime area (primarily black on black crime), she resisted, arrest,  she assaulted the officer.  The local news station surveyed the community, 81% felt the officer handled the situation correctly and yet the family will probably file a lawsuit and the officer punished for doing his job.

 

Why can't we all just accept responsibility for our actions, without having to look for an excuse for acting irresponsibily and teaching our children hate and not acceptance.  I teach, when I look at my students, I see wonderfully bright and interesting people, I don't see black, white, hispanic students... I see students.  I have tried all my life to teach my child acceptance of others and to deal with people on who they not what race they are.  How do we move forward? 

 

 

Quote From: dstamant1

it's funny how people with education use words to try  turn the attention.......I don't need you to note my accomplishments or pretend to have  wisdom about teachers......teachers like myself have tried to teach students who come from parents that know it all and expect teachers to do what parents want......before you would want children to hear all points of view ...you would certainly want them to value others and what they stand for......

 

why did you not question my first two points?......the reason is that you figure you make some smart statement that draws the attention from the point I was trying to make......the fight was serious but not so much as being made... because teachers were suppose to be on duty so that kind of thing did not happen.....since it did occur teachers should be held partial responsible......Justin is responsible for provoking the fight.......the jena 6 should not been charge with second degree murder.........the school system is resonsible for the incident.........they knew about the tree problem and should have not made light of the situation.......what they did set the stage for the fight.....

 

 

Quote From: ii384831

I am from Louisiana, about 50 miles from Jena.

 

First, the 6 boys were charged with attempted murder because three or more persons attaked one person with intent of bodily harm. This law is in effect so that when someone is jumped and beaten within an inch of their life, there is a charge on the books to hold them more accountable than just a simple assault charge regardless of race, because six people can do a cause a lot more injury than one. I agree that the boy harmed was not severely injured but the law is there for anyone that has been jumped, and to possibly prevent it from happening all together. Concerning this case, I could only hope that the DA would not have convicted these boys on the attempted murder charge because of the minimal harm to the one, but the DA does have to charge them with something and I do not personally know if the DA knew the extent of the harm done when the charges were filed.

 

Now for the race card, I personally went thru the LA public school system and can tell you that there is definitely a line separating the whites, blacks,  and also a line for social status. My concern is the line all together. I grew up in a predominantly white neighbor hood and so those around me became my friends regardless of race. We all were of course in essentially the same economical class. These friendships that were established were the ones that I carried throughout school. In the same situation there are predominantly black communities in which those same friendships were established. When you put these two groups in the same room with each other they will naturally cling to those that they can relate to and have the most in common with. There are a few white kids hanging out with the black kids and the same a few black kids that hang out with the white students depending on where they fit in. This "white tree" that everyone talks about is nothing more than the place on campus that one group congregated just as the other group gathered at the football field. These places are not set forth by the institution but merely where they happened to meet. I would like to pose a question to all who automatically assume that this is racially driven. When a gang member is arrested and placed in a jail cell would he or she be placed in a cell with someone from another gang or would they be separated? They would , of course, be separated because they have different beliefs and the situation has the potential to become confrontational regardless of race. This is in effect the same way that the school system is run but the different groups are mixed together and forced to get along. When you force people into close proxcimity with people that are different for whatever reason, you have the potential for the same reaction. If this was an issue of poor kids vs. rich kids you will get the same reaction. Race is the only obvious difference so that is the one that everyone assumes causes the confrontation, but I propose that the issue is deeper and harder to define than that. Race is at the center of this debate because of the ropes that were hung from this "white tree" and also because the six were black and the one jumped is white. If these groups were divided by status and the "nerds" hung up a set of football pads would that be a hate crime or merely kids being kids, and if four rich kids beat up one nerd would that be a hate crime, I think not. Kids will pick at the most obvious sore spot because it is the one that will get the biggest reaction from those they wish to pester.

 

I personally believe that the six boys that beat the one should definitely be held accountable for their actions but they obviously are not within the class of attempted murderers. The boys that hung ropes from the tree should be equally responsible for disturbing what little peace was there. This whole issue was started by one kid crossing that invisible barrier and in essence picking this scab. If he had no malice in his heart, and only wanted to hang out with those kids, why did he feel it necessary to get the principals permition to sit under this tree instead of befriending the kids who already hung out under the tree? If he genuinely wanted to interact with the other group the entire situation would have been avoided. These lines that divide us all are there and are not going to be erased by simply telling everyone that they have to get along. I didnt put these lines there and do not agree with them but they are a fact of life. I have no idea of how to get rid of them but I do know that it would take an equal effort on the sides of all that are involved, but how do you redefine bonds with lifelong friends and also become as close as your friends with those that are completely different than you are? I dare anyone to think about all of your friends and honestly admit that your friends are diversified by social class, hobbies, and interests. The fact is that people hang out with those that they relate the most with regardless of race or social class. If your interest is in art you hang out with those people, if you hunt then you hang out with those people, if you are rich, you hang out with those people, and none of these groups are defined by race it is simply a group of people that you are the most comfortable with.

 

Quote From: saxxyman

 Isn't is odd no one has commented on your post? Actually it is not surprising. Most post that have truth in them can not be rebutted. Though there are a few individuals who will argue anything with out facts just prejudices. Can you figure which race I am refering? I think it's a no brainer when you read the post? All I see are excuses and the race card. How can anyone be fair to those terms? Moving forward will remain at a standstill untill fairness is practiced by both sides. I admit white predjudices still remain, but most want to get past that and move forward. The problem being the black community won't allow it.

Quote From: saxxyman

I have in my posession a 12 page report  giving the time line and  the incidents. Why the media has refused to acknoledge some of these events only they know. The White students that hung the nooses were recommended for expulsion, but after investigation suspension was recomended. The daily news paper and radio got hold of the story. After adults and the media got involved is when tensions grew out of control. Children learn hatred, that goes for African Americans too. This only gave African American deliquents an excuse to bully an innocent white boy. Only after the charges were levied did the excuse of racil slurs come in to play as a justification. If there was some way to copy this 12 page report , I would gladly post it. It is a huge eye opener. It also amazes me the censorship of our media of all the facts.

Quote From: harleyrider

hello i read about the crime that happened in tenn.. the only reason i found it is because i went on the kkk website.. and i was wondering why they didn't broadcast that but jenn6 they made a big deal out of it.. i am not racist.. i do believe we can all live together. but the african american seems to living in the past.. always bringing up slavery.. that is all you hear about  slaves ended in 1865..if abe lincoln would of lived he was gong to send you all back to africa i don't think it is such a great place to live there do you? or did they forget that and i don't think any of us were alive to be involed in slavery.. they live in the past move on live Bill Cosby saids stop blaming the whites for everything.. we don't have black history month Feb.. we don't have just black colleges you have at least 60 proclaimed black colleges in the u.s. you call us crackers on national tv and that is o.k. we call you a name we are racist.. you have a black bike we we don't we have bike rallys and everyone is welcome. if we have an all white tv show we are racist. but how many black tv shows are there with no whites on.. come on stop living in the past,, and yes i do believe that there should of not been a just white tree. and the student are not responsible for that i blame the teachers and principle and maybe the mayor..  learn to live with each other.. just go read about the hate crime that happened in tenn... 6 black and 2 whites... jan 2007

Quote From: nanasgal

Don't know if this will stay.... I don't curse and I don't blame, but man my posts disappear!!

Anyhow, read on if you dare!

 

Yes, six on one is wrong, whoever is involved.

Is what happened prior important? Hello.....

In general is race card over played? sometimes, But, just like anything else, particularly in the media.

For those who shout, "I'm not my ancestors, I am tired of hearing about it....." Well dearhearts, you may not be your ancestors, but face this, you walk with the privilege of those times, and whether you like it or not, from being born white.

For those of you who compare being treated unfairly because of age, sex, height, hair color, class, etc. to racisim, think that through a bit. May help. Probably not, but it might. Sorry, it can't compare.

I have witnessed: People being followed and obviously watched in stores until they buy or leave (regardless of dress. I have seen very well dressed black patrons treated unbelievably or ignored when they have been waiting to be assisted, only to see a white person who just walked up helped immediately.) All sales people? no. But enough that it is disturbing.

Black bus patrons harassed at bus stops, treated rudely by drivers, driven by because they are on wrong corner, whereas white patrons picked up in middle of block, not a bus stop or even near one. All bus drivers, no. But nothing is done about the ones that are acting out of line. (yes, some patrons who witness these things have addressed it with bus company, yet the same drivers are doing the same things.)  All bus drivers, no. But again, enough and often enough to be disturbing. 

Do some black people go overboard? Sure, but why? When one lives within an unequal playing field  (and yes, it still is) it is hard to play by the rules.

Does that justify violence? no. But it does mean there are things we have to address and own up to.

There are things that need to be overcome, but we can't do that until honesty and listening occur. I get the attitudes that are out there in the black population. I don't condone actions that stem from them, but I get why they are in place.  And remember, kids, ALL kids, watch these things and don't miss a beat. They may not talk about it, but they soak it all in.

White people do not know, in the deepest sense, what it is to be hated and treated differently FOR NO REASON for the color of their skin for generations and generations. You will never know what it is like to come home and find a burning cross, a cross burned into your grass, a noose hanging in your tree as some of my friends have.  Do some blacks hate all whites no matter what and unfairly? yes. Is it right, no, but to some degree understandable. And while slavery was done a long time ago, it was not that long ago that real segregation was in place.......and sorry, real racism/discrimination is alive and well, no matter where you live.

For all the spewers out there, go watch a Time To Kill. If you don't want to watch the whole thing, watch the final courtroom scene. When the lawyer says "I want you to close your eyes and listen to a story," close your eyes and listen. I dare you. :-)

There is wrong on everyone's side, lets go at it, intelligently.

And people, read your posts before you hit send..........You can be passionate without spewing. And you may look a little less psycho and have more readers.

p.s. I am a semi-poor white woman in her mid forties in a large metropolitan area in MN.