Messages By: steffiev

Quote From: amydee

I don't think Sharpton should pay the medical bills for the kid that was beat up. But I would like to see him pay at least part of the legal bills for the Duke lacrosse players. It was his bullying tactics that contributed to those men being railroaded. (Incidentally, do you see white people marching in the streets demanding "justice" for them by having the false accuser prosecuted? On the contrary, the Duke 4 have been remarkably forgiving of the woman because of her mental issues. ) I wouldn't hold my breath, though. If I am not mistaken, he was supposed to pay damages to the police officers in the Tawana Brawley hoax and never paid up.

Quote From: whitegirlfromjena

Bookworm: I am white and I am proud of it so what. It's my choice to disclose that I am white or do I not still have the freedom to do that? Everyone should be proud of their race, heritage, and clulture. It got your attention didn't it. Go to www.pursuingholiness.com and look at actual statements that state there was threats made. Not only that my step-son was on the list and was threatened as soon as tj6 finished beating Justin stating "you're next". There were protective orders placed against tj6. Go to the site and see for yourself. If you don't chose to believe that tj6 were causing trouble that's your right. Stephanie: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO there was not a white tree. Everybody had places that they converged to black and white apart and togeather. My child said everybody hung out everywhere. When my child would sit under the tree, there were black people that set right along with white people. The boy that asked if he could sit under the tree is a "class clown". He is a black student that my child says that he is a very funny, sweet person that likes to joke around. Infact when tj6 was beating Justin he helped protect Justin. He was trying to get them to stop beating him. Point being, if you are not from here and you hear only one side and not the other, I'm sure that you would come to the conclusion that Jena is racist. People just don't know and they are talking out of their ass when they make statements they know nothing about. Let me be clear, I think the nooses were horible and not funny at all. If they were my kids, I'd beat their ass till dooms day. But I am not their parent and neither are the outsiders looking in. I'm just asking that the people on the outside look at both sides before judging. 1. Justin Barker DID NOT HANG THE NOOSES!!!!!!!!!!!! Please quit beating that dead horse! 2. 6 people beating one is a crime! NOT BEING BOYS (as Bell's lawyer stupidly put it, I like the way she avoided that question) 3. I have black friends. (I am not racist, I'm standing up for what's right) 4. How rediculous does "A white tree" sound (come on, whouldn't you think the black parents whould have said something before now?) 5. TJ6 have made money off this and I can't belive that commit a crime and they are heros (go figure). (I'm sure people won't believe that either go to youtube and look at pics of robert bailey with 100 bills hanging out of his mouth and how does Melissa Bell all of the sudden drive a Jag on a CNA salary?) I could go on and on but most people won't believe anything I say because you know they are so close to the matter that they know all the facts (the tv and radio is so close to their eye and ears)

Quote From: meklove

A white boy is beaten senseless. the "REASON" is some action of RACISM. Dr. Phil and his "Pastor" are so interested in the "healing" of one of the black hooligans, that not once, NOT ONCE, did we address THE POOR BOY who was beaten within an inch of his life. I AM NOT INTERESTED IN THE HEALING of the hooligan. As far as I am concerned, let the jerk rot in jail. Hey, Dr. Phil, why dont' you care about the VICTIM - the white boy was THE VICTIM of a TERRIBLE CRIME BY BLACK KIDS. Then, as if there is TOTAL RACIAL INEQUALITY, Dr. Phil has the NERVE to ask the BEATER'S mother if she would be willing to talk to the WHITE VICTIM'S mother. ARE YOU KIDDING DR. PHIL. You should have asked the poor mother of the beating victim IF SHE WOULD WANT TO STEP IN THE ROOM WITH THE MOTHER OF THAT THUG! this is so distressing to watch how white people deal with racial issues. This is like the 50's in reverse. The black boys were ENTITLED to beat the white boy because they were offended. Give us a break, dr, phil and stop getting behind reverse racism. Shame on you for not pointing out that hanging nooses DOES NOT COMPARE to beating someone within an inch of his life. And your "pastor" showed absolutely NO REGARD for the beating victim. Sorry, no kudos for this ridiculous, shameful show.

Quote From: chas0501

 If you feel the 6 boys should be charged with a hate crime then do you think the 3 white boys that hung the nooses should be charged with a hate crime or should the boy that got beat up be charged with a hate crime for saying his ignorant racial words.? Because that boy can say all he wants he never said anything to the 6 boys but sorry i can't believe that one 6 kids just don't jump on another classmate for the heck of it and give him a a**beating for no reason at all. So if you feel the 6 boys should be charged with a hate crime then so should the other 4 white boys.

Quote From: julie1418

Freedom of speech (from answers.com).....Despite the constitutional guarantee of free speech in the United States, legal systems have not treated freedom of speech as absolute. Among the more obvious restrictions on the freedom to say just what one likes where one likes are laws regulating incitement, sedition, defamation, slander and libel, blasphemy, the expression of racial hatred, and conspiracy.

 

In other words, you do NOT have absolute freedom of speech. You are not legally entitled to speak words, or use non-verbal communication, that is an expression of racial hatred or likely to incite violence.

Quote From: julie1418

Nice sentiment, but it has nothing to do with the law.

 

Do you understand what theoretically means?  There are MANY cases where the courts have put restrictions on freedom of speech. The whole purpose of the FCC is to censor what is said on TV, radio, and other electronic media. We have laws regarding child obscenity. It is illegal to burn a draft card. You cannot yell FIRE into a theater. We have laws against libel and slander. You cannot publish the name of a rape victim. You do not have the unrestricted right to say, or engage in non-verbal communication, that is likely to incite violence. There are specific laws against inciting violence.

 

Here is an example.....cross burning is considered a non-verbal form of communication....

 

In Virginia v. Black, the Court held that its opinion in R.A.V. did not make it

unconstitutional for a state to prohibit burning a cross with the intent of intimidating

any person or group of persons.143 Such a prohibition does not discriminate on the

basis of a defendants beliefs as a factual matter it is not true that cross burners

direct their intimidating conduct solely to racial or religious minorities.... The First

Amendment permits Virginia to outlaw cross burning done with the intent to

intimidate because burning a cross is a particularly virulent form of intimidation.

 

 

 

Furthermore, just because legally you CAN do something, does that make it in any way justifiable? Even if there is no law against hanging nooses, how can anyone in their right mind defend such an act, or try to rationalize it as a prank?

 

Quote From: julie1418

10 months? Mychal Bell was originally charged as an adult for attempted second degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. That can carry a sentence of 100 years.  Then he was charged with aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit battery. That could be 25 years. I believe his original conviction was for 22 years.

 

First of all, he did not fit the legal criteria to be tried as an adult. That is why the higher court overturned the conviction. He will still be tried as a juvenile. Secondly, for a crime to be considered aggravated battery, it must involve the use of a deadly weapon. The DA decided that his tennis shoes could constitute a "deadly weapon". Do you think that seems reasonable? If that is the case ANYTHING could be used to up the charges from battery to aggravated battery...a purse, fingernails, etc.

 

I have NO PROBLEM with the defendants being charged with a crime and sentenced appropriately. But the DA went above and beyond in how he charged this kid. The biggest problem with this is not just what it means to this town or those defendants, but what it means to race relations as a whole. If blacks are shown time and time again that they will not be treated fairly in a court of law, why would they feel compelled to follow the law? the laws should serve and protect them just as they do everyone else. People can bitch all they want, but statistics prove that even today, blacks are charged with more serious crimes and handed out stiffer sentences for the SAME offenses that whites commit. As long as this continues, we will NEVER resolve race problems in this country, and THAT affects all of us.

 

The boys who hung the nooses, which is a CLEAR act of intimidation and hate, received no consequence that would impact their future. They won't have a record, it won't affect their college plans or employment. If I were a college recruiter or potential employer, I would be just as interested to know that I am looking at someone who is willing to send a racial threat as I would be to know that I am looking at someone who is willing to engage in an unfair fight.

Quote From: julie1418

I think he should be tried within the confines of the law. If the law permits his prior offenses to be consider, so be it. It some cases it does, it some cases it doesn't. Neither of us know the specifics in this case. Did you actually read my post? I wrote (pretty clearly) that he should be tried as a juvenile for battery. That WAS the crime.

 

The DA didn't consider it a deadly weapon because he was outnumbered, he claimed the tennis shoes were deadly weapons. You cannot bend the law to suit the case in front of you. The DA may only go by the evidence and front of him and apply charges as they fit the specific criteria of different crimes. Furthermore, I read from multiple sources that the eyewitness testimonies differed as to who did what. Many witness claimed that Mychal, or a boy in a green sweatshirt they couldn't identify, threw the first punch and then ran while others kicked at Justin.  You can't charge him with something most witnesses say he didn't do just because you want to throw the book at him.

 

If one of my boys were beaten like that, I would be beyond livid too. That is why we don't let family or parents dole out punishments to the accused. We are supposed to have an impartial court system that operates by a uniform set of rules.

 

Furthermore, this isn't simply about Mychal Bell or Justin Barker. We have a race problem in this country. A black man who works with my husband was pulled over by the police three times in six months. He is an accomplished businessman who makes a hefty six figure salary. His wife is a beautiful, articulate, educated woman who goes on peace missions to underdeveloped countries with her Church. His daughter is a pre-med student and his son just finished his MBA. Why was he pulled over? Driving a BMW while black. Each time he was let go without explanation. There is NO WAY the cops confused him with a street thug. They saw Beamer, they saw black, they assumed.

 

At the risk of being understood, if we don't conduct our courtrooms with equality and within the letter of the law with ALL defendants, we will exacerbate race problems, not solve them. If black people do not feel they are getting a fair shake in our courtrooms and with our laws, why should we expect them the follow or respect the laws? The district attorney should not have tried a 16 year old as an adult, he should not have gone for attempted murder, and he should not have gone for aggravated battery because it was NOT within the letter of the law to do so. If you think he is nothing more than a thug, by all means throw the book at him, but you need to make sure you have the right damn book.

Quote From: amydee

" I love how this kid who started the whole thing is now playing the poor victim." I am stunned by how many times I continue to see this misinformation posted on these threads. Did you watch the Dr. Phil Show? Did you read the news reports? The boy who was beaten unconscious and continually kicked in the head afterward DID NOT "start the whole thing." He DIDN'T hang nooses. Got it? He was beaten up for being white -- period!