jena 6

[b-diddy]

no discussion yet? ill start it up.

its an unfortunate incident down their, perhaps indicative that jim crow is still alive in some parts of the country.

but in the big picture, its irrelevent. jim crowe might not be dead, but he is living a life of easy retirement in most parts of the country. whites dont need lynch mobs anymore, blacks took that role long ago.

did you know 49% of murders in america are committed by black men, who represent ~6.5% of the population? and a vast majority of those murders are committed on members of their same race (something like 80-90%).

hell, the city of detroit's adult illiteracy rate is 47% (!!!!). how is that possible in a 1st world country? think about what that means, what these illiterate adults are doing all day, the chances that these people are giving their children any chance of succeeding in the world. how bad their lives are and how much worse it can actually get for detroit. what the effects of consentrated extreme poverty can be for the city of detroit, the surrounding metropolitan area, and even the state of michigan. right now, to me, it looks like detroit is absolutely fucked barring a massive humanitarian intervention that is far beyond the ability of our state. and barring this aid, detroit may very well be a heavy enough weight to bring down the entire state.

jena 6 is a red herring. its an anomally that diverts attention from where it really should be. jena 6 is not the problem that most black people face. but as long as THAT is the problem, and as long as we make sure as hell that the rutgers womans basketball team knows that they are victims, the real problems will go largely ignored.

[Big Swami]

On one hand, I do think that Black Americans have a problem with self-image that has its roots in slavery. Fundamentally, Anglo-American society was (and is) profoundly sick. We are willing to let people be abused and neglected as long as it satisfies the almighty dollar, and we haven't really made that much moral progress as a society since the 1700s.

But on the other hand, I do believe that dignity and liberation are mental phenomena, not physical phenomena. Each person is responsible for his own dignity and liberation. Every time Black History Month rolls around and people hold up pictures of Frederick Douglass, I wonder how many people really know the amazing spiritual truth he discovered - that freedom is a state of mind, and that it cannot be reached if you remain in ignorance. He really is the closest thing there is to an African-American Buddha.* And if there's a spiritual teacher needed in the black community, it's not Jesus or Elijah Mohammed. It's Buddha.


*Other than James Edwards

[Big Swami]

On one hand, I do think that Black Americans have a problem with self-image that has its roots in slavery. Fundamentally, Anglo-American society was (and is) profoundly sick. We are willing to let people be abused and neglected as long as it satisfies the almighty dollar, and we haven't really made that much moral progress as a society since the 1700s.

But on the other hand, I do believe that dignity and liberation are mental phenomena, not physical phenomena. Each person is responsible for his own dignity and liberation. Every time Black History Month rolls around and people hold up pictures of Frederick Douglass, I wonder how many people really know the amazing spiritual truth he discovered - that freedom is a state of mind, and that it cannot be reached if you remain in ignorance. He really is the closest thing there is to an African-American Buddha.* And if there's a spiritual teacher needed in the black community, it's not Jesus or Elijah Mohammed. It's Buddha.


*Other than James Edwards

[-NoQuarter-]

[DennyMcLain]

...and we haven't really made that much moral progress as a society since the 1700s.

Define "moral".

In the 15th century, nobody had a problem with conquering lands and killing the indigenous... just take a look at Columbus. How many "americans" did he slaughter in order to "discover" us (nevermind the Vikings, right?). But back then, they really saw no problem in what they did.

How about the 1800's. U.S. Cavalry v. the indians...er, "native-americans". Did any U.S. citizen at the time find our actions barbaric? Maybe, but it certainly wasn't a majority.

The industral revolution and factory conditions at the time. Child labor. No unions. Lung cancer. Severed limbs. Death. No health insurance or pensions.

General safety, in cars, the food we eat, the air we breathe. I'd like to think we've made advancements in our overall quality of life.

As for the Jena 6. From what I've read, the principal did his job (recommending expulsion of the white kids for the noose display), and was overrruled by the board.

Now, ask yourself the question: What if this had happened 30 years ago. Would the principal had even thought of expelling these kids in a school that is 85% white? Would there be such an outrage over this incident, leading to massive marches on the town?

What pisses the fuck out of me is the general assumptions liberal fucks make over this incident. Unfortunately, I listen to NPR at work from time to time, and there have been so-called "expert" crying about how this nation is still one of segregation and racism. Sure, "this nation" is EXACTLY like backwards buttfuck Louisiana. I take a look around the San Fernando Valley, and I see nooses hanging from trees and dudes in white sheets burning crosses on the lawns of City Hall. I see minorities averting their eyes from The Fuzz. I see beatings every day. There isn't a black man for a radius of seven miles from where I live.

Bullshit.

I see blacks, hispanics, whites, asians, etc. walking up to the cops at Baja Fresh and Starbucks to say "hi"... and The Man says "hi" right back. They don't care what color you are out here. People are fucking people, which means cops, like you and I, will have an occassional bad day. Yeah, if you dress the part, all gansta and shit, the Fuzz will stare you down. And why not?... you CHOSE to dress that way, so don't bitch like a drunk no-undies whore in a pool hall when you draw attention.

Are there racist assholes out here in Cali. Yeah, sure there are. Racism abounds everywhere. Wherever there are people, there will be a racist. It's been that way for thousands of years, and it'll be that way for a thousand more. The difference is power. Up until the mid 20th century, racists were largely unchecked, not held accountable for their actions. Protected by the system. Now, they are a minority, not powerful enough to protect themselves from within the system. Watchdog groups as well as the mainstream media and the internet are all dropping eyes on these people.

Jena is a rather small town, and I'm sure stuck in a sort of time warp as far as values go. Off the radar, the powerful of the region were left unchecked. Now, that superintendant not only may lose his job, but might never work for any other school board again. Powerful individuals are lining up to assist the Jena 6. The small town is under a crushing scrutiny it may never shake -- it's economy might suffer tremendously (according to Wikipedia, WalMart just built a superstore in that region...lucky Jena, just getting it in before Hell broke loose).

I don't think any of this would have happened several decades ago.

[Uncle Mxy]

Playing the anti-Buddhist's advocate: Freedom is a state of body. When your heart, arteries, and veins aren't free enough to circulate blood, you are dead. If death is some ultimate freedom, it isn't about body -or- mind (exceptions will be made for 'la petite mort').

And now back to your regularly-scheduled racial profiling...

[DennyMcLain]

Playing the anti-Buddhist's advocate: Freedom is a state of body. When your heart, arteries, and veins aren't free enough to circulate blood, you are dead. If death is some ultimate freedom, it isn't about body -or- mind (exceptions will be made for 'la petite mort').

And now back to your regularly-scheduled racial profiling...

Betcha can't wait for Matrix 4 to come out.

[b-diddy]

And now back to your regularly-scheduled racial profiling...

is saying black males commit 40 whatever percent of murders racial profiling?

[Hermy]

Can we talk about tipping?

[DennyMcLain]

is saying black males commit 40 whatever percent of murders racial profiling?

It's not that simple.

First: It's fair to say that impovershed areas see more violent crimes.

Now compare races. Is it fair to say that a majority of blacks in America reside within these impovershed regions? Can you say the same about Whites, or Asians? If you can assume with a reasonable amount of certainty that a large percentage of blacks live in areas of violence, then the conclusion is that black male will find themselves either victims or suspects of violent crimes.

Of course, then one can place the argument as to WHY these regions are so violent. Is it the poverty? The hopelessness? Do blacks live in these regions due to cheap rent as a result of a lack of decent job opportunities, which very well could be a direct result of inferior schooling brought about by a system that wishes to crush the black man of his dignity and free will? Does the Nubian Warrior defile his race by choice, or is there a larger portrait of coercion amongst those who are fearful of unleashed Black Power. Jim Crow wishes not to be butt-raped by the superior African King, and knowing an inch of give might ultimately equal the fall of his ethno-european heritage, will do whatever it takes to bring down the black man in any form imaginable.

Because the black male averages 14 inches, while whites average 6. Those figures are scientifically accurate. A study at the University of Rhode Island proves it.



Just sayin'.

(smap snap snap)

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