BoringAccountant
New member
As you know, the Jena 6 are in the news, primarily because today is the rally for them. For those not familiar, see the CNN article listed below. Does anyone have any thoughts on this subject?
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/20/jena.six/?iref=mpstoryview
I wanted to point out a few things I noticed, am upset about, etc.
First, I am somewhat glad that the Presidential candidates have refrained from taking sides on this, frankly I do not think it should be a political issue or a place when political gain/loss can be made. Of course this could all change after todays rallies.
Second, I find it very troubling that we have highly influential people in this society, namely Rev Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton (who people would jump off the empire state building if they told them to) jumping in to defend the black kids in this case, who attempted to kill a white student (they outnumbered him 6-1 and were beating him and kicking him in the head while on the ground). The troubling part for me is that people are so quick to call racism and hate crime when it happens from a white to a black, yet its unfair and unjust if we charge black kids with trying to beat a kid to death with attempted murder. Is that not also a hate crime?
Third, if the kids were unfairly charged (I do not know all the details yet) then why do we assume its because of their color rather than a town getting fed up with this crap and wanting to make an example out of someone regardless of color. I feel certain that if this were reversed and the white kids beat a black kid that we would have no one marching any rallies for them...would the charges be different, I don't know, I hope not, it would still be a nasty, cruel, hateful crime.
Before any of you label me a racist, I full well know the background of the town and the school which had nooses hanging from a particular tree 3 months earlier...that is also a hate crime. I am just sick and tired of everything being turned into racism...granted some things are, but I think the race card is played way too much in this society.
For a disclaimer, I am a white male, I am not black, I have never been subject to any hate crimes against me, nor took part in any against someone, so if my naive mind gets in the way of "reality" please let me know.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/20/jena.six/?iref=mpstoryview
I wanted to point out a few things I noticed, am upset about, etc.
First, I am somewhat glad that the Presidential candidates have refrained from taking sides on this, frankly I do not think it should be a political issue or a place when political gain/loss can be made. Of course this could all change after todays rallies.
Second, I find it very troubling that we have highly influential people in this society, namely Rev Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton (who people would jump off the empire state building if they told them to) jumping in to defend the black kids in this case, who attempted to kill a white student (they outnumbered him 6-1 and were beating him and kicking him in the head while on the ground). The troubling part for me is that people are so quick to call racism and hate crime when it happens from a white to a black, yet its unfair and unjust if we charge black kids with trying to beat a kid to death with attempted murder. Is that not also a hate crime?
Third, if the kids were unfairly charged (I do not know all the details yet) then why do we assume its because of their color rather than a town getting fed up with this crap and wanting to make an example out of someone regardless of color. I feel certain that if this were reversed and the white kids beat a black kid that we would have no one marching any rallies for them...would the charges be different, I don't know, I hope not, it would still be a nasty, cruel, hateful crime.
Before any of you label me a racist, I full well know the background of the town and the school which had nooses hanging from a particular tree 3 months earlier...that is also a hate crime. I am just sick and tired of everything being turned into racism...granted some things are, but I think the race card is played way too much in this society.
For a disclaimer, I am a white male, I am not black, I have never been subject to any hate crimes against me, nor took part in any against someone, so if my naive mind gets in the way of "reality" please let me know.