Go check it out -A Town In Turmoil.
The Jena 6: Newsweek Article
By on August 22, 2007
Comments
Trackbacks
-
[...] surprised at such racism, but I’m not. In many places it’s just below the surface. (HT: Pursuing Holiness.) Share and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover [...]
HOW DISCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT RACISM IS ALIVE AND WELL. WHAT HAPPEPNED TO THE STRUGGLE? HOW DID WE BECOME SO COMPLACENT?
MYCHAL BELL WASN’T EVEN TRIED BY A JURY OF HIS PEERS BUT BY AN ALL WHITE JURY!! WHERE IS JUSTICE?
IT’S TIME TO TAKE UP THE STRUGGLE AGAIN–ALL OF US–BLACK, LATINOS, ASIANS, WHITES–WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE SHOULD BE IN THIS TOGETHER…ONLY THEN CAN WE BE STRONG ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Talk about the middle ages. This should not be happening. I am an african american female who had to deal with stupidity while growing up in Ohio. When these stupid people grow up they will learn that in hte sight of God we are all the same. The sooner they realize this the better their life will be. I don’t understand how someone that is in the position to stop this craziness is actually helping to keep it going. All I can say is, YOU will have to answer to God for you actions. YOU might want to think about what you are doing before you have to stand before God and answer for you actions. I always told my children to treat others the way you want to be treated. Clearly a lot of people living in this small minded town have not learned how to do this. I really feel sorry you ALL of YOU!
Mary:
Your narrow-minded view of Jena does not surprise me. Again, it looks as if someone is judging Jena from afar based on twisted media facts.
Here we go again…
What do you think God would say to six individuals who violently beat one while he was unconscious? Would God applaud them and say “Hey, THEY HAD IT COMING KIDS! Way to go!”
You should read the “Jena 6 update” article on this website, where I have explained time and time again that certain facts were not mentioned and only part of the story was told. Please read this article so you can gain a better understanding of the situation. That is, if you care more about the truth than your own feelings of anger.
…and keep reading it in the coming weeks. I hope to bring even more clarity to the misguided American public regarding this issue in my town.
To: FROM JENA
RE: Comments to “Mary”
While it may be true that everyone in Jena is not racist, anyone should be able to see that a school fight taking place between boys separated into two groups of black vs white students, needs to be handled by grown-ups with a mind for bringing peace and harmony between them. Not adults who want to exacerbate the problems between the races at the high school and in the now world-known Jena, Louisiana. A state where people from all over the world have been pouring out their hearts and $$$ to help recover from the effects of Katrina – this is an insult!!
Anyone who’s lived in that town for some time knows about this “white tree” thing, and how is it that no one has ever done a thing about it? While one may not be a racist, to let something like that exist within one’s community says volumes about the attitude of whites in Jena. Obviously, they saw nothing wrong with it, and that is why they cannot understand all the commotion now, and how they could have a jury come to the decision it came to – and NOT a jury of Mr. Bell’s peers, to boot!! This is a sin of omission, but a sin nonetheless, and for people who are always talking about God and Jesus, it certainly doesn’t show Christian Love to tolerate the torment of your neighbors because it isn’t happening to you and your kind. Not very Christian at all! I cannot stand the hypocrisy of the South!
One reason the jury was all white is because the black potential jurors didn’t show up for jury duty. I am 100% positive of that fact.
[Agreed. I posted on this back in July. I still have serious problems with the case - like Bell's parents being listed as witnesses so they were not permitted in the courtroom except for sentencing - but as to the jury, there was nothing sinister about the fact that it was all white. - Laura]
I am ashamed of Newsweek for this article. There are so many underlying instances where the author is essentially siding with supporters of the Jena 6. No matter what side you are on in this, you should be ashamed that a national news magazine is taking a stance on an issue that is this loaded. And people criticize Fox for being to right leaning. Tisk tisk newsweek.
I have to say thnat i am very appalled at the very nature of this whole situation. I think that it is a shame that the fact that this all started with a “hate crime”, the noose on the tree, is being totally swept aside because these young men acted in self defense.
I am a 36 year old African American male who has felt the sting of racism in a time where I thought this sort of behavior was over and done with. Not only does it upset me that a school system would tolerate such a seperatist act but that the people who purpertrated the “real” offenses where not brought to justice or even made suspect.
I feel the time has come to do a major overhaul in the judicial system in Jena and bright that place up to speed with the rest of the world.
We are all one people and as such should respect each other’s rights and feelings and stop looking at what divides us but what brings us together.