New Topic
Post Reply
Follow Topic
Unless you`ve been living in a cave, you`ve no doubt heard about the Jena 6 firestorm. Care to share your thoughts or viewpoints on the matter?
Dale King
Yes, open discourse is indeed important, and as Ross so eloquently stated, if you`re going to join in, please keep it civil.
Ross, the reason for the firestorm is that six black students are in jail charged with attempted murder, yet none of the white students have been prosecuted for the hate crime they perpertrated. Do you honestly feel that`s just?
Dale King
I have been aware of this situation. There is a terrible injustice going on here in America for human rights. I believe that these young men has been poorly treated and punished unfairly. The justice system in my opinion has had an uneven system for a long time, and yes it has made strides but in this day in age we should treat All people equal. I have personal history of racial inequality. I grew up in a home until 14 when i left where I had a prestigous father who was a local politician who pretended to care about everyone`s rights. We lived in the North out side of New York in PA. In public he pretended to be friends with folks who were of a different race to get votes, etc. In his private life, he spoke differently, defaming people, making jokes...threatening his children if they befriended someone of a different race. My brother who was three years older and my sister who was two years younger joined the neo nazi groups..skinhead garbage and it wasn`t the trendy kind it was the deep brainwashing kind. I had been living where I could during those years and tried to keep my distance. I would see them on school grounds or in the town and they would threaten me and my friends who some were of a different race than I. They would come to my work ( them and there hateful group) and steal my money, steal my things, beat me up. Finally I had enough and went to the local police. They ended up siding with my family, not only because my parents were "noble" community members but because I believe i had friends of a different race. They continued to threaten me. I had to go to my parents house one day to pick up my youngest sister and my brother and his skinhead friend pushed me to the ground, headlocked me and stabbed me slighty in the stomach with an knife. They stole everything out of my purse and I ran back down to where I worked at the ice cream shop. My parents were out of town and the owner of the ice cream shop called the same policeman, who called my parents. They came back from NY and got my brother off and told the police I was trouble. I did my best to stay away from them and lived in motels to move around so that would not find me. They kept threatening my friends. One time my brother was arrested in Allentown Pa along with his group when the police raided this house and found an african american tied up to a board like a cross with nails hammered into his hands. My brother through my fathers ties was let off. My brother never learned anything except that hate toward another human being is ok. One night he and a skinhead friend of his were driving around downtown when an african american homeless man asked them for a ride. This was the end of his life.The friend stabbed him to death...for nothing and left him for dead, while my brother did nothing. Although my brother did spend some jailtime...he was able to get his time reduced to a small sentance. He has since been in and out of jail and is a horrible human being. My point is.....that hate teaches hate. Just because small towns may be "christian" or small town people who claim to live honestly and simply doesn`t mean they can hide their hate behind that. If people don`t stand against injustice and punish fairly for every human being we will continue the legacy of hate. This only adds evil to the world and never fixes a thing. When people are ready to admit that there is a real problem and are able to discuss a solution instead of denying then this world will never be equal...hate will continue to spider and equality will never happen. I feel that the Jena 6 boys were almost pushed to doing something that they never wanted to do but were pushed to do. That is an injustice on so many levels...it is human torture of the mind and soul. How can we find our way out of this cycle? When minoritys are given honest opportunity they will open up to feel they can be vulnerable and rise to the occasion of great things...but if we keep hate growing we will only keep a man down. Is that what we are about? Is it ok to ignore it as if it is not our problem. I don`t think so because it will make it ok then in so many people`s eyes. It takes work...and perserverence on ones part to not only do the right thing but to help others to do the right thing. WE ARE ALL EQUAL and WHY can`t we see that?
Peace,
Erin
I am a new member as of tonight...09/20/2007.
Wow, what a topic! I`ve been stewing all day. Thank you DKing for asking for our opinions. (I for one would love to have you as a man of color tells us what you truly feel in your heart of hearts) Erin, Wow what can I say, God Bless You. I also was brought up in a family who pretended on the outside but hated on the inside and we were poor. Fortunately or unfortunately they were step parents so I did not inherit anything from them including their hate but when I was growing up there were still white`s only and black only signs and a LOT of white people believed they were superior to any people of color which was extremely amusing to me as I aged, because my step-mother was not a light skinned Italian.(she always said olive skin is different than black skin.) So, anyway my opinion is the black students should be punished, not let off. How severely should be up to the law and a jury of THEIR PEERS. However, I also believe the white students who admitted to their noose hanging actions should also be charged and tried. NO ONE is above the law (not even Steven Segal LOL). I also think the tree should be removed. I was personally very pleased that today`s demonstration was peaceful.
I live in Arizona and if one wants to see prejudices come on out west. Native Americans, Mexicans and all People of Color are, in my opinion, for the most part treated like they do not belong here. How Ironic. Also people without a lot of money and disabled people are looked down upon as a burden. It may not have always been like this but more and more every day the folks with money across the United States are moving to Arizona. Oh the law is followed but that`s all, period. I am disabled and in a power chair courtesy of the VA. I voluntarily served my country back in 1968 and have an Honorable Discharge with medical conditions. I wear long hair, I have Native American ancestry, African ancestry, and my skin has a red tone... YET... I look white so I am considered white but I am still looked at funny by the money folks. I have some confusion as to why there was a demonstration to let the black student free and not a demonstration to have the white students brought to justice. Sometimes I just do not get the point I guess. Thank you again DKing for the opportunity to ramble on about how I feel. I actually feel better. I also believe discussions like this can impact our businesses. The more we understand the more we can serve our clientele properly.
Unfortunately some people of all races and creeds will always have the need to feel superior. I really feel sorry for them as they are missing so much of what life has to offer. Pray for them will ya?
War...What is it good for....Absolutely nothing!
Harold
crash1eagle
P.S. Does anyone in this discussion mind if I mark you as a buddy?
Erin, that was an amazingly touching and eloquent story. Thanks for sharing it with us. That`s the exact reason I started this thread - to have open dialogue. So many people are afraid to talk about race in this country. Just because it doesn`t touch their lives, they somehow think it doersn`t exist.
Only by talking about racial issues openly and honestly can we ever begin to understand why blacks and whites have such different viewpoints about this issue.
Dale King
Ross, I wasn`t assuming anything. I was merely responding to the words you wrote. You admitted you knew little about Jena 6. Perhaps you should have done more research before you responded.
Like all of us, you`re entitled to your opinion, it just seems to me that your opinion was uninformed, because you didn`t have all of the facts. Anyway, that`s my opinion.
Dale King
Post Reply
