Deeper implications of Jena 6 - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Obama Hopes Could Rest on Jena Case

Submitted by Tom Evans, Sep 20, 2007 11:12

I will agree that the act of hanging a noose in a tree is an inexcusable act of racist provocation, and the boys who did it should be punished severely and publicly. However, the point that I think is being missed here is this: did the punishment fit the crime? Were the six African-American boys justified in their treatment of one of those white boys? Much like the O.J. Simpson trial, I think that the there is a significant disparity between the black and white races when it comes to this issue. If you asked the question "Is it justifiable to beat or kill someone in retaliation for a racist remark?" how different might the responses among the various ethnic communities, and particularly between black and white?

Again, the use of racial epithets and bigoted provocation has no place in our culture. But there seems to me to be a bit of a double standard. When there are racially motivated hate crimes perpetrated against whites by blacks, and there are many (http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/?p=39), rarely do they receive attention. Why? Because it is politically incorrect to suggest that such a thing is even possible. The insidious subliminal message is that whites always have it coming, that racial hatred is understandable and even justified when it is directed toward a white person. In the minds of many in the black community, and especially among their "leaders," all white people are de facto racists. The scare tactics of race baiters like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have fostered an atmosphere of rage and fear among many in the African-American community. It is time to dispense with all of the political correctness, get over our fear of dealing with racial taboos, and open a sincere, and civil, dialogue about all of this.

Tom Evans

Brooklyn, NY

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
How can anybody charge the african Americans and not the white kids i think this is terrible that the white... [MORE]	Olivia	Sep 23, 2007 16:40
It is really simple. Bust the black kids for the outrageous violence. Then sue their parents to recover the cost... [MORE]	John House	Sep 20, 2007 23:48
So sad that these boys are in jail and even sadder that it is being turned into a presidential rat... [MORE]	Venus	Sep 20, 2007 15:55
U.S. statistics say that 87% of racial crime is black on white. It has gone to far, we need to... [MORE]	rpielh	Sep 20, 2007 15:01
Racial crime? Just exactly what is racial crime? I have heard of "hate crime" but I would think all crime... [MORE]	John House	Sep 20, 2007 23:38
I am a white male. I think that they deserved the punishment they got. I know from something like that... [MORE]	bob	Sep 21, 2007 11:36
The stats for black on white crime are from the FBI. I don't if 87% is accurate, but the figure... [MORE]	Char	Sep 27, 2007 11:06
Mr. House needs to face reality and read up on the statistics. [MORE]	Selene	Sep 27, 2007 12:09
Yes indeed the jena 6 has taken national attention especially in the south. I live in southwest Georgia right above... [MORE]	Antwan graham	Sep 20, 2007 14:53
The students should not be charged or jailed. They should be suspened from school, that is how fights were handled... [MORE]	My point of view	Sep 20, 2007 14:30
Yep fights were handled with suspension,but when you killed somebody...then thats a whole different ball game [MORE]	bob jones	Sep 21, 2007 11:38
I have lived in the south all my life. I went through integration and all the changes back in Elem.... [MORE]	Greg Williams	Sep 20, 2007 14:10
Did anyone see the fight firsthand? I would put a million dollars on a bet that 99% of the "civil... [MORE]	Bobbie Stewart	Sep 20, 2007 13:59
This is not true and I beg to differ. This case in no way does it define his candidacy. He... [MORE]	Antony	Sep 20, 2007 13:19
Being arrested for sitting at a lunch counter and firmly demonstrating equality in the segregated Sixties is far different than... [MORE]	David	Sep 20, 2007 12:56
I will agree that the act of hanging a noose in a tree is an inexcusable act of racist provocation,...	Tom Evans	Sep 20, 2007 11:12
But there were violent acts perpetrated against black students too. Several black students were beaten up too--there wasn't just the... [MORE]	Jena	Sep 20, 2007 13:24
The media really needs to stop trying to find ways to make Barack Obama look vunerable in the eyes of... [MORE]	Leslie Jones	Sep 20, 2007 10:58
This is a sad day in America when these black activist men draw and single out Senator Obama and slam... [MORE]	RuthieM	Sep 20, 2007 10:30
This is not a racial issue at all, this is an act(s) of people not being punished for the wrong... [MORE]	And so it goes	Sep 20, 2007 17:33
Another prominent black man said something relevant to the physical assault in Jena. Malcolm X: "If he wasn't a coward, he... [MORE]	Richard	Sep 20, 2007 08:16
Ummm ... Alan Keyes? (OK, maybe if they said "viable"...) [MORE]	Colby Kinser	Sep 20, 2007 06:49
It's call, he called him? At the bottom of page two you're missing a word ass. [MORE]	Khari Johnson	Sep 20, 2007 03:16
Since when does it take six to guys against one, sounds a little cowardly to me. When I was a... [MORE]	Ben	Sep 20, 2007 14:02
It would be impossible to educate the Tom Evans' of the world. They are truly hateful at heart, unfeeling, steadfast... [MORE]	T. Garner	Sep 20, 2007 14:19

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