What I wished would have happened in Jena, Lousiana
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You’re probably seeing the news of the 30,000+ blacks that are protesting in Jena, Louisiana over the arrest of 6 young black men who beat up a white kid. The white kid, witnesses say, was taunting them racially.
The incident erupted after some black kids sat under a tree that was known to have been normally sat under by whites. Apparently, some white kids thought it was a joke and put some nooses under the tree.
Nooses are not a joke. Ever.
I’m sorry that I didn’t see any news on this event sooner. I’m glad that 30,000+ blacks thought enough of the incident that they traveled to Jena and had a peaceful march. I’m sorry that it wasn’t 30,000+ whites that traveled and marched, though. For 40+ years, the majority of whites have found racism despicable and would love to see it eradicated. We should have been there to send a message to the racists in Jena that we were and are ashamed of them.
I’m sorry that these 6 young black men had to take it upon themselves to beat this white kid senseless. I wish it had been 6 young white men that had beat this racist senseless as well as the other racists responsible for the nooses.
Now that would have sent the right message.
More: CNN, NPR, MSNBC, Huffington Post, Fox
You’re absolutely correct on the violence part - I went overboard. It’s time that we end this ridiculous practice of ignorance, though! And it’s time that Christians speak out against racism.
Were there really only black folks there and no (or that few) white people? That makes me really sad, and perhaps more determined to try to get there if they have another day of action . . .
I do not purport to have the answer. What I do know is this, it is high time that both sides stop this ridiculousness. We are not all equal, we have individuals in our society that are smart and dumb, rich and poor, fat and skinny, nice and mean. However, we are all CREATED equal, in the image of God. We are what we make of ourselves, no matter to gender, ethnicity, race or handicap. It is our duty as Christians to live up to our full potential, whatever that may be. By expressing ignorance and stupidity the white man (and I use that term loosely) that hung the noose is not living to his potential . Nor the black men (again, I use this term loosely) that chose to use physical violence to prove a point, rather than their intellect.
Both sides were wrong, and mama always said “Two wrongs don’t make a right”. That’s the lesson that we should be teaching, it is my most humble belief. Teach your children to love everyone, no matter who they are. When I reach the end of my life, that will be my greatest accomplishment, next only to living that way myself.
I recognize and respect your stance - and I personally believe that it makes sense in theory, but unfortunately - in my humble opinion - not in reality.
The reality is that as long as there is a majority and a minority, true equality is never possible. We’re all biased… it’s why our friends tend to look like us and have the same interests as us. We ‘think’ we can love everyone equally - but nature has a way of pushing us in a different direction.
That said, I believe anyone can overcome diversity, bias and racism and rise to the top… but not being black, I can’t possibly understand the impact of a situation like this.
I’m not trying to advocate violence - but the day that a white kid gets his butt kicked by other white kids for being a racist is the day that I think we’re making progress. Racism should be the enemy of all of us.
Bottom line is, racism, from either side, just doesn’t make sense to me b/c race is not something that matters to me and I just live my life that way. I am only concerned with the state of your heart and the quality of your actions.
Cheers!
Doug
What one has to realize is that these events has uprooted the pain and suffering that many of our ancestors endured during the times of slavery and segregation. The time when African Americans were fighting with their lives to prove that they were in fact citizens of the United States of America and should be treated as such.
I agree that all of this could have possibly been avoided if the issue was addressed as soon as the event of the nooses occurred. But the issue was passed along as a prank and kicked under the rug as if to forget about it. But what they failed to realize was that that sparked fear into those young boys lives and with dealing with their mindset put them in a position to defend themselves at any cost because their lives was at jeopardy.
Racism still exists and has evolved in so many levels but many people are blind to it and try to act as though it doesn’t exist. It exists in the corporate office where a black man can only attain a certain level on the corporate ladder. It even exists in politics, for if it didn’t there would be no question as to whether or not a “black” man can run this country as President but just whether or not he is adequate enough. That’s just part of my take on it.
Racism is alive in America, north and south, east and west
“I wish it had been 6 young white men that had beat this racist senseless as well as the other racists responsible for the nooses.”
I agree with you but I also think that beating anyone senseless is wrong, racist or not.
My disappointment, I suppose, is that it seems whenever behavior like this happens many of the ‘majority’ turn their heads. If the majority turned on these people that make up such a tiny percentage, I think it would have far more impact than bussing minority support in from other cities to show them their behavior was wrong.