I got wrapped up today in a debate on the situation in Jena, Louisiana. First off, my admittance of a mistake, I posted without knowing all of the basic facts. After reading the news stories from Jena, and listening to the statements of Sharpton and Jackson, I did not pick up the news of the assault on the African American teenager. Both the press and I daresay the leaders of the protest, have missed that, at least today. As did I. So some of this diary will be an apology, other parts will be a plea for sanity.
Most of what I have read surrounding Jena starts with the noose hanging and the stupid young punks who hung it getting suspended for 3 days rather than expelled. The news then cuts to the the six African American teenagers assaulting a white teenager, being jailed for attempted murder.
The attempted murder charge is a joke regardless, even if there was no incident involving white teens beating up an African American teen. The kid was hurt and had to go to the hospital yes, but checked out later and was able to attend a function. He was not beaten within an inch of his life, he was not stabbed or shot, or left to die somewhere. It's a cruel joke to claim that that is attempted murder.
The white teens should have been charged with a crime. Misdemeanor assault or felony assault depending on the specifics. As should those African American teens for beating up the white teen. Both crimes are unacceptable actions, and BOTH should've been dealt with by the district attorney.
The noose event is sickening. That said, it's what stupid, racist young punk kids do. They should've been punished, but compared with the two assaults, the noose in a non factor except to point out that Jena, Louisiana has racists in the town. Considering its location, not all that surprising is it?
So there are my mistakes. I spoke too quickly, without knowing about the other assault. I stated in comments that you cannot compare hanging a noose with actually beating someone up. Assault is a crime, plain and simple. It should be a crime for both.
The ultimate sadness of all of this is that people have forgotten the messages that they claim to believe so fervently. The white young punks decided have clearly forgotten the words of Jesus Christ (which nearly all claim to believe in the Deep South) about violence and tolerance. They clearly don't believe even the words of their President George W. Bush (whom they all likely voted for), on those occasions when he condemns racist acts. Bush, after all, is not a racist. He doesn't hate black people, he simply can't stand poor people, no matter their race. In turn, the African American teenagers clearly did not heed or believe the words of Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers and others who preached NON VIOLENCE.
Violence is NEVER an acceptable solution to problems. Only in self defense could it possibly ever be justified. It's almost as if both sides don't want to come together, they want to beat the other side, and that's just unimaginably sad. We've come so far in 40 years, and of course we're not done yet. It stinks however, to see that violence is still such an easy action to take, and MOST UNFORTUNATELY, is still used as an excuse by both sides, to get what they want.
Am I wrong? We'll find out. Will the DA prosecute the white teens who beat up the African American teen at the party? Will Jackson, Sharpton, King III and the other protest leaders condemn acts of violence against others in their community? Violence only begets violence, particularly when the motive is revenge or hatred, which it was in BOTH these incidents (hatred). I have more faith in the second question (since many already have done so) than in the first (I doubt the DA will make a move except to eventually the free the young man who's already been in jail for a year and lost a year of his life)
If I were in charge, I would free that young man in jail immediately, slap all involved in BOTH incidents with misdemeanor assault charges and whatever penalties are involved. I would then fire the DA,(perhaps disbar him like NiFong, though I don't know if thats possible under the circumstances, any lawyers who read this can help me out with that.) Then I would direct the young man in prison now to sue the living hell out of the DA for the lost year. I read that he's a football player. The negative publicity (not to mention criminal record) could well have cost him a chance to play at the next level, therefore he should be compensated for those who wronged him.
One last thing. The Dailykos community, made up of hundreds of thousands of regular posters is a wonderful, brilliant community. However, there are groups of people among us in Dkos who poison the atmosphere with their style, their anger, their hatred, and I daresay their racism. For example, I was told today, for disagreeing with a poster's point that I was a white supremacist, another said I was worthy of the Ku Klux Klan. I responded by calling that person a bi***. I regret doing that, but the sentiment remains the same...that is just awful. People who disagree with others on issues of race are not racist themselves. Anyone who think that is practicing racism. That's not logical thought, that's a hatred. If a white person hates an African American b/c he's black, that's racist. If an African American hates a white person b/c he's white, that's just as racist. It's this excusing of such statements and behavior, the defending of calling people racist, white supremacist (which really hit hard), klansman or any other, that just goes beyond any level of decency (not to mention smarts). That kind of logic is created by hatred, by intolerance, by RACISM...and it has absolutely no place here or anywhere else.
We've always been a fair community. I read this site every day and truly enjoy posting. It just sickens my soul to see that, even on a progressive site, such degrading of progressive values can take place. Calling a fellow Kossack a white supremacist (or a bi*** like I did) is wrong, juvenile and shows a lack of ability to make informed argument. Racist arguments are not informed. They are bigoted and intolerant, just like those young punks who hung a noose from a tree to stop African American kids from sitting under it.
I know I learned my lesson and I've apologized for my mistakes regarding this. I only hope everyone else gets the same out of this that I did. Not just a respect, but also a mission. To defeat racism WHEREVER IT APPEARS and WHOMEVER it comes from. For that to happen, its going to take recognition, tolerance and will. Recognition that racism can come from any side and ITS JUST AS WRONG. Tolerance to work through your believes, debate your difference w/out getting personal and finding common ground to move ahead together. Lastly, the WILL to keep it going and to RESIST the temptation to act on revenge and do it with violence. Violence is never a solution. It only expands the problem, making it that much harder to solve. What's happening in Jena, LA is a disgrace to everything decent about America and Americans. The DA should resign or be fired and that young man should be charged with a misdemeanor and released with time served (if the white teens are charged, if not he should be released with no charges, in the interest of fairness).
Violence is never the answer. Its simply gas on the fire. The challenge is to find out how to put it out and KEEP IT OUT. The second a violent act is committed, we take 5 steps back. I hope that's remembered.