Jena 6 : WISDOM

Some of what this author had to say reminded me of what Bill Cosby has to say. Obviously true, yet somewhat painful. The author of this article deserves a shot as a nationally ranked commentator. I certainly want to hear more of what he has to say.

I don't think anybody is saying that they do not need to be punished and as I was watching CNN today, it was made known that M. Bell was not innocent, but I don't feel like attempted murder is a charge that should be handed down when the victim was out of the hospital within hours. I don't really agree with the need to have a march about this, but his attorney should make an effort to get the charge dropped to maybe something like aggravated assault, possibly a hate crime because I'm not really sure what their reasoning was for jumping him, but if it was because of his race, that is a hate crime. So in summary, my opinion is that no he should not be charged with attempted murder, (but most criminal cases end up getting pled down anyway.), It was very wrong and uncalled for what they did. That did not help whatever situations or incidents had went on in the past. It has made things worse. I do agree that more fathers and mothers need to be involved in their kids lives and know what they are doing and who they are hanging with. Teach them right from wrong and these types of things wouldn't have like that.

The problem is the race hustlers and the sensationalist journalists. Both of these groups make money off of blowing everything out of proportion.

I would like to point something out to everyone. If I take my 30.06 Remmington 700 bolt action rifle and fire it at someone while aiming at the center of their head but completely miss, the person is unharmed, yet it is attempted murder. The fact that the assault victim only spent 3 hours in the hospital does not mean the 6 were not trying to kill him. This would depend on remarks made by the 6 during and after the assault and whether or not the beating continued after the victim was unconscious. I don't know what the 6 said during and after the beating, but they did continue to beat the victim while he was unconscious. They really may have been trying to kill the man.

I agree with you Mntlward, the charge is extreme, but that didn't make no sense for them to beat him up like that. He was in the hospital for 3 hours, not 3 days and his condition was not life-threatening. That makes it no way near attempted murder. The march and protesting for something when the other party was wrong and negative is not something that i stand behind. And I guess as the only African-American person it seems like who has responded to this discussion, let me tell you that by no means do i agree with pretty much anything that Jesse Jackson and Al sharpton do. They are divided themselves so how can they get people united. It all boils down to people raising their kids and getting they s*** together as a family. It's too many people (black and white) out there just having kids and basically letting them raise themselves. I agree that AS and JJ are doing a disservice and making the race look crazy.

Well usually when 6 people beat down 1 person, its not a casual fight or assault. Thats a lot of fists and damage being done to a body.

I've tried to come up with a hypothetical scenario that might help other white dudes like me understand why some nooses hanging from a tree might seem more like a threat than a prank to black people. I can't think of any equivalent.

Exactly, what do we whites get offended about, I don't know. And is it that we are more relaxed as a race, and less confrontational. Or is it that black people are more often put into a position where they feel they are being persecuted so are ready to react?

Oh yeh that is sad. You know here in the UK teenage mums on wealfare benefit get money to have their hair, nails and make-up done to 'help with their low self-esteem'? It's fcuked up!

Well put and very sensible. Thank-you.

A noose hanging in a tree is an implied threat. Does that answer your question? Now, I've got one for you. Does waiting behind a doorway with a total of 6 people until someone passes by in order to attack the person from behind knocking him unconscious immediately and then beating that person while he is unconscious mean anything to you? The fact that the above is justifed by a hanging noose several months earlier is ridiculous. This was not a fight. Nor was it a response to the hanging noose. The attack occurred too far in time to justifiably be related to the noose incident. Nor, was it in any way justified. It was much closer to attempted murder than a "school yard fight".

"All of these play a lifestyle factor. To say that the incident is completely separated by the space of two whole months seems dismissive." Exactly right that two whole months separation of the hanging noose from the attack is dismissive of the hanging noose as a motive. According to the law, that's how it is supposed to be! You are aware that the perpetrators of the hanging noose were caught and punished? Do you think anyone should be allowed to decide a punishement was not severe enough so that would justify administering additional punishement on your own? Look, you said you do not support gang violence on either side. You may think you don't but you are encouraging it with your rationalization and misguided incorrect attempt at understanding. When rationalizations for violent behavior are accepted it emboldens those who are committing the violence to think they have a chance to get away with it. This results in even more violence. The injustice not mentioned I've seen at Jena is that some black leaders have conned a bunch of good hearted people out of a lot of time and money. Think not? Then tell me you'd like the Jena 6 to live in your neighborhood. Remember now, these young men decided they did not like a punishment that was administered by due process so they took it on their own to administer some more in a violent manner. Do you think anyone should be allowed to commit violence at their own discretion? BTW: 6 young men laying in wait for another, immediately knocking him unconscious and then continuing the beating while that man is helpless quite possibly is attempted murder.

I have not given any indication that I feel that the violence against the white youth was acceptable behavior. Nor do I think that it was. Another person answering the posed question, may have said that they see absolutely no problem with nooses -- that it's just a piece of rope and nothing more, or some other bit of nonsense. As you may or may not be aware, incidents of noose hangings dramatically increased nationwide when the Jena 6 matter was exposed. For the record: * I do believe that Bill Cosby was absolutely correct when he said that "his people" needed to take responsibility for their lives. * I believe that Juan Williams, commentator, was correct when he basically said the same thing. * Against the popular grain, I actually disagree with the firing of Don Imus, over this particular issue. He should never have said what he said and he should have been punished for hurting those people. However, if he is not going to be fired over the many shocking and painful things that he has said in his tenure, why fire him now over what "musicians" say everyday on the radio? I do not know the motivations of these particular 6 black youths, nor will I attempt to discern them. The legal process is underway and they currently have to deal with it. My belief is that it is a mistake to judge how quickly people will get over an offense. If we assume that the link to the noose hanging is valid/truth -not a fabrication, and put it in the context of an entire system of intimidation and racism, why should black/non-white students have to deal with such a vile reality in a school, where they should be going to learn how to better themselves and the world around them? If my use of the phrase "entire system of intimidation" causes confusion to those who do not have to deal with such a reality, please allow me to elaborate (some more - ;). The school knows they have a racist element. School teachers/ administrators, do not put an end to the racist element. Kids have to navigate a system of implied violence that WILL EVENTUALLY erupt from one of the parties. A threat of murder may make one decide to strike first. The same school teachers/principal that one sees in school accepting your being under constant threat, may be the same principal/teachers you see at Wal-Mart or the movie theater. Being around community meeting places such as the mall, or even church, knowing that if YOUR back is up against the wall, this person, with the paycheck of a "one who is to cover" will likely not cover you. All of these play a lifestyle factor. To say that the incident is completely separated by the space of two whole months seems dismissive. I probably have to reiterate here that I don't support gang violence on any side. Discussions would have been ongoing amongst the various groups: "the this is our turf group"; "the we have a right to be here group"; and "the I don't want any part of any of this, so I will either make nice with everybody or stay away from everybody group." Just as the national debate rages from afar, those living in the community would have been repeatedly discussing this same matter over a long period of time as well. I'm sure the white youths felt good having the school's backing and the police backing and the government's backing. When Sharpton and friends came along for yet another march, that backing with all the media frenzy that tends to follow may have made the black community feel good, with an "at least someone is here for US" mindset. I'm glad the young man was able to be released from the hospital the same day and was able to be with friends after the attack he was subjected to -- There may be some in Jena, however, who are wondering if their wounds will ever truly be acknowledged so that they may be healed. Please forgive any misspellings. I believe I've broken quite a few rules of our great language.