Messages By: barb82142

Currently in my home town two teenagers are being tried as adults for committing a crime while two others are being tried as adults.  The reason a teenager is tried as an adult is that he has a record!  Obviously, this boy who was placed in jail has been in many skirmishes with the law.  The boys who are responsible for hanging the nooses are acting of ignorance.  However, they were punished.  They were not breaking a law.  It will be on their school record forever...any college who wants their records may see that they were suspended.  There is quite a difference in the "crime."

Since most of us had never heard of this small town, we haven't a clue what the true feelings are.  All of the media, Sharpton and Jackson (two rabble rousers), and even Dr. Phil have only added fuel to the flames.  I sincerely believe that Sharpton and Jackson are quite the egotists.  They love being on camera.  I might have thought differently had they been men enough to apologize for their comments to the Duke fellows who lost a year of their lives.  This gal saw money and tried to make a fast buck.  Her two saviors rush to the scene not having a clue about the true case.  This does so much harm.

I am of the belief that we will never have a society that is not prejudiced in some way until we quit setting ourselves apart from others.  Why black Americans....Why Mexican Americans....The only people who have a right to be classified as something other than American is perhaps the Native American.  But am I to be shunned if I refer to my friend as an Indian?  I have good friends who are black.  I taught with one for years, we've traveled together, etc.  I don't see these people as anything except my friends.  They don't refer to me as their white friend and I don't see them as my black friends.  Until this type of labeling stops and we stop having separate awards, contests, etc. we are maintaining this divide.  Why a Latino music award, a black award,..and then we watch the regular show and Latinos and Blacks are winning there also but a Caucasian could not win at the other two.  We have a double standard here.  Oprah had the big party with the Legends....almost all black.  What if Streisand had done this with only a couple blacks.  She would have been ostracized.  Dixie should be played...The Battle Hymn of the Republic should be played....they are both part of our history.  We're not always proud of our family perhaps but we can forget they exist! 

Did you see the Black teachers in Louisiana who showed their children what it was like to be hung?  A grandmother at the school holding her grandchild in a noose.  What this not promoting hatred? 

Racism is a two way street!  Until all races jump off the me, me, me train, it will continue

Teachers (I am a retired teacher) are at the mercy of any student who wishes to "get back" at them.  Society seems very quick to believe the child.  When the young man came on stage and began his story, I told my husband that I believed he was lying.  After teaching for 34 years and raising a child, I could tell from his eyes that he was not being truthful.  Seldom are the eyes wrong!  It is sad that she will forever be labeled in this narrow minded town.  I am not usually in favor of many lawsuits, but I do believe she should find a GOOD lawyer and sue the school board for back salary, for punitive damages that it still is inflicting by not allowing her to go to her child's school, and to sue the students' parents for punitive damages.  They have destroyed her career, and it has possibly placed a strain on her marriage.  I worked w/two male teachers who were accused of misconduct.  One was by a girl who later admitted she lied.  But he lost a year of work, and eventually he and his wife divorced.  The other was a young man accused of teacher of touching him, and if it had not been for a neighbor coming forward stating that they were both working in their yards that particular evening, he would have suffered thru a trial.  How sad that this is allowed to occur.

This girl is so vain, so immature.  I hope the fellow realizes what he is getting.  Forever he will be giving in to her whims.  Not to say that the mother is blameless, but as a mother of a son, I can understand her wanting to hear from him, perhaps butting in at times, etc. and I blame the son for carrying tales!  No one will ever love any of us the way a mother does.  Other relationships may come and go but a parent (a loving parent) is always there to act as our champion.  I would have hated to see my son bring home this gal.  Her mother has probably attributed to some of her problems by always finding an excuse for her bad behavior.  The one to be pitied here is the son!  He will marry this whiner, cut off his family, and finally end up so digusted w/her that he will regret so many poor decisions.