Media Post 8

Recently in class we talked about the "Jena 6" and the librarian in the video we watched talking about how there is no racial problem in Jena. We had also gone over Wu's article "Yellow" when Wu talked about how when a white person cuts in line thinking they need to be given the VIP treatment, or when a white person doesnt become plauged by the idea that they have to sit by the kitchen or back of the resturant because of racial issues. I read another editorial in the BG News that I think relates to our class more than the other two do. The editorial written by Sean Martin is titled "The other side of Jena 6 racism, hate". Right off the bat Martin talks about how the "epic" story of the "Jena 6" has to come to an end sometime. He continues on saying that the end of the story comes with more facts brought to light. Mychal Bell admitted in court that he had repeaditly hit Justin Barker and left him unconsious. He also is taking a plea bargain for the charge of second degree battery. The author says this is the second conviction of Bell for a similar charge. The question "Could this be a patterend history of extreme violence and disregard for society, or just a system that is relentlessly targeting an innocent man?" is one I do not think I can personally answer. Do I think the charges of murder were too much for a high school fight? Yes, no questions asked kids from my high school have gotten the crap beat out of them and I have never heard of a more ridiculous charge but murder to someone who was out of the hospital hours after he was taken and even attended a school event later that night, dead people dont do that and thats what murder is, killing someone. But do I think that someone who has had a charge of battery or something similiar to it before deserves punnishment? Also, Yes. It is has a lot to do with time and place, wrong place wrong time but it doesnt make it right because you are responsible for your actions and you cant always make an excuse for it. Back to the article Martin makes a comment that again sparks thought "I am suprised an innocent man is copping a plea even when the entire nations knows of his 'injustice'". I think this is also true, but at the same time innocent people have had to take plea bargains before because if they plead "not guilty" and for some reason are found "guilty" the consequences are greater. As the article continues it goes on to talk about how congress wanted Bell released as well as celebrities such as David Bowie. Martin brings up Bryant Purvis (one of the six) talking about how he is facing battery charges in his new school for beating a kid. Farther down in the editorial Martin makes the comment "'injustice' is still being committed, but now everyone is OK with it. Is this because of laziness, and lack of attention, or do many realize the truth finally reared its head?". Martin brings in the article another of the 6 whose name is Robert Bailey and on his MySpace page there are pictures of him with $100 bills in his mouth and other pictures of him showing off bling with "free the Jena 6" shirts on. Personally, why attract attention to yourself? You are already under the scrutiny of the nation, which is split on you innocence, why show them ignorace? But I can say he is giving those against him what they want, he is showing people, "hey look!, he doesnt look upset or even acknowleges all that he went through instead he looks pleased with the heafty pay off. He must not have cared that much." On the Jena 6 website the situation in Jena is summed up in 158 words, I am not sure there is a way to describe a situation like that in 158 words unless it lacked detail and was poorly written. Martin cites that there is a lot of information on the website however about donating money. He also brings about bigger issues in his article which is how I tied this editorial to Wu. The question "Why is it that when a white man tries to seperate fact from fiction, he is 'extremely racist and using ignorant spin'" Again, I dont have the answer but I do agree and out of all honesty bottom of my heart, I am not racist. I was never taught to hate, so I dont, I accept people for who they are and therefore treat everyone equally in every sense. However this includes my opinion and if I think you are wrong in an action, sorry but I am going to tell you, white, black, purple, green whatever I put it out there because that is who I am. My dad told me when I was growing up that if I wanted to act like an adult I was to take the punnishment of the adult. Which I didnt like but it makes sense, if everyone wants equality, shouldnt we all be punnished the same? Of course, there are rich people who take a detour when it comes to law but for the most part we should learn to take punnishment for our actions and not think it to be "racism", it is called responsibility. So regardless of who you are and what your background is I dont care, because I dont see that. Its sad because a lot of times I am quiet about it because I do not want to offend someone, but why should someone be so sensitive? I would never say something that was offensive, but the truth and still I feel like it could be taken the wrong way and I myself dont want to be labled. So to end the summary of the article Martin goes on to say that he thought differently and went up against a lot of people for it. And lastly he says "Many 'took a stand' in Jena. Few realized that they were the ones now standing on the side of racism, hate, intolerance, opression and ignorance." Two things first off he is brave for being so honest with his opinion on such a broken subject. Secondly, lets look as this from a different perspective, what if a group of six whites beat the crap out of a black student? What would happen to them? because I am sure that no matter the actual situation racism would play a big part, but would there be this big of an issue about it? Like I said I do not know all the details, I know about the nuces which 100% was wrong because I believe it was meant in haste and that situation definatly required more action then what was taken. I know about the DA who said he could end lives with the stroke of a pen which again is completely wrong because intimidation or not that is one hell of a thing to say, especially if someone happened to be recording him. And I feel like this situation has been blown up, because if Jena were such a terrible place to live, leave. Do I still think there is racism? Yes, but you can find that in any state and even some big cities that everyone has heard of. Am I saying that it is just so easy for someone to pick up and move? Nope because financially it is not possible sometimes but more would be done to try and get out of the situation to begin with. I liked this editorial because it is interactive with the reader and made me think a lot about the issue and topics. As it has to do with Wu I think that sometimes it is overdramatized. Personally, I get cut in line a lot I dont think it is intentional I am just short and sometimes I am not even standing in a line like I thought. And yes I have been cut by more than just whites. Also I have never thought about my place in a resturant, sure sometimes my seat sucks but I prefer to be in the back because there is less noise and I dont have to be around the windows that let in cold or hot air from the outside. My take on it is that Wu is insecure/sensitive. I know some of the things that have happened to him were very impolite and shouldnt have happened but he is comparing his feeling of unacceptance to a child who most likely watched "teenage mutant ninja turtles" right before that. Sometimes I think that people look for injustice, it doenst always have to be intentional.