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2007-09-23 Home Front: Culture Wars

Press kisses Jesse Jacksons ass - and gets it wrong in the process!

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Posted by OldSpook 2007-09-23 01:20|| || Front Page|| [12 views ] Top

#1 When will Al Sharpton be held accoutnable for his lies?

And if this had been 6 white boys beating a black one so severely his got a concussionand had one eye swollen shut, you better beleive they;d call it a ahate crime. So why do the Jena 6 get a pass? Hmm?

Posted by OldSpook 2007-09-23 01:42|| 2007-09-23 01:42|| Front Page Top

#2 OldSpook, your comments at the article's end say it all.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-09-23 02:36|| 2007-09-23 02:36|| Front Page Top

#3 Jackson was present when Rev M L King was assassinated. He chose to wear the same blood spattered shirt for 2 days after the killing. Anyone with class wouldn't use an event like that for self-promotion.

Posted by McZoid 2007-09-23 02:40|| 2007-09-23 02:40|| Front Page Top

#4 YOU FEEL BETTER NOW OldSpook?? I'm surprised you didn't recommend taking the 1 in 10 black populous TO THE MISSISSIPPI AND FLING THEM IN! Despite the inaccuracies by Jesse or Sharpton, history has shown what whites tend to do when they feel black males 'fraternize' with their little girls; even hiding an entire town incident (Rosewood) for 80 years because of such shame. OldSpook, you need to pause an check yourself, Reassure white people, caution them more so, on the Columbine type white youth and their idiosyncrasies that kill more kids white and black in this country, than the schoolyard brawl in Jena. You want those black boys to die; encourage them to join the military, go to Iraq and fight for their country. And finally, the DA is a racist, and he should be fired just like Mike Niphong was from the Duke rape case, but I'm not sure if there is a fair white person in Jena or that parish to hold up the "scales of blind justice"!

Posted by smn 2007-09-23 04:14|| 2007-09-23 04:14|| Front Page Top

#5 nice BS rant, smn. Avoid the facts cited and demonize. You live down to my expectations

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-09-23 07:43|| 2007-09-23 07:43|| Front Page Top

#6 One of the greatest tragedies I want to say crimes Ive witnessed has been the 30 year corruption of so many good social causes by leaders who exploit them for political and financial advantage, encouraging lies and hatred in the process. Among these, Sharpton and Jackson rank high. But they are not alone, and racial hatred is not the only such cause Paul Driessens indictment of the environmental / climate movement (of which he was an original founder) makes that searingly clear.

I really hear where youre coming from smn. But I think you have it a little wrong.

Im not African American. But Ive worked closely with and for Black business and military leaders for 30+ years now. Just this month one of them retired after more than 3 decades of military service. Grew up in deep poverty and discrimination (although not in festering Mississipi). Impressed a lot of people around him, including the school principal who, realizing he was in class when he was due to interview for West Point, drove him 2 hours to a bus station and handed him a paid round trip ticket. 30 years later he was a PhD in electrical engineering and the first Black head of an academic department at the Academy. And he had begun to articulate what I still think is the most thoughtful and valuable commentary on diversity Ive heard. (The Army / DOD thinks so too, as they had him consulting in DC on the issue.)

His model is this: its a mistake to see people as having only one identity or group membership. Black or Asian or female or Hispanic or Southern or whatever -- any soldier (or citizen) belongs BOTH to their family and social group AND to the Armys (or societys) more homogeneous culture. A wise leader will figure out how that family/racial/ethnic identity enhances the units effectiveness. And over time the soldier or citizen must evolve their own balance of identities. This isnt selling out to Whitey/men on the part of the minority or female individual. Nor is it a license for leadership to ignore valuable differences.

The model resonates for me because on my fathers side I have a strong and recent immigrant identity that didnt exactly blend in with the middle class suburban culture I saw on TV. It also matches the comments of a mentor of mine, a Japanese American theologian who, after serving for 2 years as dean of the Anglican seminary in Kyoto while in his early 30s, resigned because Im not Japanese. But Im not just American either. Im a little of both. He felt that the first non-Brit dean there needed to be indigenously Japanese and his identity included his American upbringing. He and I shared that experience of having a foot in multiple identities.

If racism is a virulent infection, then reports are that Mississippi has been one of the lingering places where it has festered openly. I dont know if thats true or not in the Jena case. The details have come out in inconsistent and partial forms. Some of the people complaining about the behavior of the arrested boys are themselves Black. But power can be and sometimes is abused, including by white DAs.

What I do know is that the strength of the American experience is that we promote a shared identity that makes room for our family backgrounds and heritage. Sharpton and Jackson lost my respect and support when they deliberately sought to divide rather than to heal, to exploit and extort rather than to leverage and build. Unlike the quiet and effective Black Colonel who just retired, they seek to promote themselves with few visible instances of building up others. I cry Shame! on them and on any white racists as well.

Posted by lotp 2007-09-23 08:04|| 2007-09-23 08:04|| Front Page Top

#7 What I do know is that the strength of the American experience is that we promote a shared identity that makes room for our family backgrounds and heritage.

This comes dangerously close to diversity worship for may taste. The strength of America has been that it believes all men are created equal and that government should provide equal justice under law. These ideals are not always lived up to, but they are still sought after. Family backgrounds and heritage should be irrelevant to Americans. And plenty of orphans grow up to be successful Americans without them. Each person should be judged on his or her merits alone. We need to start treating people as individuals and not as group members. The great crime of Jackson, Sharpton, et al is that they pursue anti-American ~~tribal and clan~~ group policies instead of American individualistic policies.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2007-09-23 08:48|| 2007-09-23 08:48|| Front Page Top

#8 Anyone who has a bit of gray material, should by now, know -

1 - the media lies or is so wrapped up with its entertainment value that it can not be trusted to present all the facts so that a reasonable person can adjudge what the hell is happening. Remember for the media, the narrative is what is important.

2 - that means before coming to a conclusion or a position on the subject that as much data gathering must occur which is not reliant upon one or two forms of media. That means we have to work at this end. Life is tough. It's a lot tougher if you're stupid.

3 - When the usual 'suspects' are on scene, it means you'd better well take a deep breath, cause prior behaviors certainly is an indicator of future behaviors, though not conclusively. It's a red button marked pause.

Posted by Procopius2k 2007-09-23 08:57|| 2007-09-23 08:57|| Front Page Top

#9 Family backgrounds and heritage should be irrelevant to Americans.

Not sure that's possible - or a good thing in all cases.

I look at the large contingent of my father's side of our family who served in combat and/or took on military careers when it was neither the most popular nor the most lucrative option open to them. And I know that one reason they did so was both the family's history elsewhere and the values they brought from that culture.

I see the same thing among many Hispanics who are serving today. And Blacks too.

What I don't promote is 'multiculti'. Multiculturalism says we have one identity which trumps the dominant culture. Jackson and Sharpton buy into that. So do the PC crowd. Under that model being Black is inherently at odds with the majority culture. Being female is inherently at odds with the male dominated business world. If you only have one identity then you justify grabbing as much as possible for 'your own', which is just what the Sharptons and Jacksons do.

They're wrong.

The way the Eastern Europeans integrated into America was to serve in uniform and labor in heavy industry -- and to gather on the weekends at the Ukrainian Fellowship Club or the Polish Hall in hundreds of blue collar towns throughout the east and midwest. Same with the Irish. Same with many Japanese and Chinese on the west coast, although the racial dimension and the history of wide swings re: immigration shaped that differently.

There was a time when African American cadets at West Point called themselves the "fifth regiment" and saw themselves as apart from the wider corps. The Colonel I mentioned did a lot to diffuse that, insisting that they get to know and respect other cultures (including middle class white culture). And, importantly, that those cultures get to know and understand the history which produced those Black cadets as well. And the 5th regiment is not nearly so divisive a reality now, as a result.

I think the model holds. BOTH ends of the tension between a generic American identity and roots in ones heritage are valuable. Neither should be allowed to deny the other.

Posted by lotp 2007-09-23 09:23|| 2007-09-23 09:23|| Front Page Top

#10 but I'm not sure if there is a fair white person in Jena or that parish, to hold up the "scales of blind justice"!
Posted by: smn|| 2007-09-23 04:14 ||Comments Top||

Here's some Los Angeles style "blind ~~jurists~~ justice" justice for you. Jury selection began 24 September, 13 years ago.

Some other facts about the final jury: (1) None regularly read a newspaper, but eight regularly watch tabloid TV shows, (2) five thought it was sometimes appropriate to use force on a family member, (3) all were Democrats, (4) five reported that they or another family member had had a negative experience with the police, (5) nine thought that ******** was less likely to be a murderer because he was a *********** ******. The racial composition of the initial jury pool differed considerably from the racial compostion of the final jury. The pool was 40% white, 28% black, 17% Hispanic, and 15% Asian.

Posted by Besoeker 2007-09-23 09:53|| 2007-09-23 09:53|| Front Page Top

#11

history has shown what whites tend to do when they feel black males 'fraternize' with their little girls

Racist, much, smn?

Posted by Rob Crawford">Rob Crawford 2007-09-23 10:41|| 2007-09-23 10:41|| Front Page Top

#12 Temptest in a Teapot.

No MSM coverage so need to make a photo op = bigger news.

Didn't work. MSM is catching up to the Jackson-Sharpton act.

I'll be surprised if this ever amounts to anythiing more than what it is = small town news.

Posted by Jack is Back!">Jack is Back! 2007-09-23 11:13|| 2007-09-23 11:13|| Front Page Top

#13 history has shown what whites tend to do when they feel black males 'fraternize' with their little girls

Try dating an African-American girl...

Posted by Pappy 2007-09-23 13:24|| 2007-09-23 13:24|| Front Page Top

#14 I liked him better when he was only bothering us with theories about Israel using tactical nukes in Syria when there is no evidence supporting it whatsoever, nor any evidence that Syria ever brought in the expertise or equiptment to build a hardened, underground facility. The idea of Israel letting the nuclear cat out of the bag so they can bomb an outhouse is ridiculous. So is the idea that Russia may potentially go to war against Israel over Iran. As if Russia gives a damn about Iran beyond making money.

Save your get whitey crap for the Kos.

Posted by Mike N. 2007-09-23 16:46|| 2007-09-23 16:46|| Front Page Top

#15 smn... a question, please; how do you know the actual colors of any of us on the internet? Those who have not specifically identified ourselves, that is.

Remember; no one knows you're a dog...

Posted by Sgt. Mom 2007-09-23 18:39|| www.celiahayes.com]">[www.celiahayes.com] 2007-09-23 18:39|| Front Page Top

#16 Mike N, I'm glad you stipulated the money angle in Russia's desire to help their 'friend' Iran, otherwise, Putin being the first Soviet to visit there has raised eyebrows especially during these times of crisis. Go ahead hate me for my 'contribututions', but when the 'dare' comes down the pike, I'll be sitting back with the rest of you, watching the Rantburgers tally hundreds of opins over the gall!!
http://www.debka.com/article.php?aid=1304

Posted by smn 2007-09-23 19:05|| 2007-09-23 19:05|| Front Page Top

#17 sorry, smn - no "take-backs" - you've been noted and recognized. Freudian slips can be damaging, can't they?

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-09-23 19:16|| 2007-09-23 19:16|| Front Page Top

#18 Sgt. MOM, Blacks in general and perhaps even other minorities 'waiting in the wings', appreciate the efforts of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. They are the 'little chihuahuas that yelp in the backyard'; 'poodles that go nuts when the doorbell rings', when matters concerning minorities are foreshadowed by racist intent by the white majority. We all here know, but don't want to admit it, that the source hatred started when the star black players were cheered and perhaps smiled at by the schools white girls; the young white males instead of perhaps doing what Pappy suggested (#13), decided to take the destructive course and viola!! Jesse in Jena, Sharpton in Jena yapping like little terriers to alert the rest of us (outsiders)!!

Posted by smn 2007-09-23 19:21|| 2007-09-23 19:21|| Front Page Top

#19 Well, Jesse and the Rev. Al would make me run the other way, just on general principles... but you still haven't answered my question.

How do you know the colors of any of us on Rantburg, who haven't made any specific mention of our racial/ethnic/religious background?
You seem to suppose that the Rantburgundians are all lily-white WASP and that the dating preferences of our offspring are along the racial lines of which Nathaniel Bedford Forrest would approve.
Curious.
Do you hold an Olympic medal for conclusion-jumping?
Inquiring minds want to know.

Posted by Sgt. Mom 2007-09-23 19:37|| www.celiahayes.com]">[www.celiahayes.com] 2007-09-23 19:37|| Front Page Top

#20 Frank G, you and OldSpook, are not going to get me to deny my education, nor my abilities. Should I feel insulted on the academic level, I shall gladly withdraw and 'read' the opinions of others, keeping my rich content to myself. No damage done!!

Posted by smn 2007-09-23 19:46|| 2007-09-23 19:46|| Front Page Top

#21 Sgt Mom makes a good point. You are presuming a good deal about the commenters here.

And - you are presuming to speak for my minority friends, pretty much all of whom detest Jackson and Sharpton and are pretty scathing in their dissections of them.

Overreach, smn.

Posted by lotp 2007-09-23 20:06|| 2007-09-23 20:06|| Front Page Top

#22 Wow, all this talk about racist.....
I looked thru the constitution, and I can't find where its against the law to be a racist.
So, racist is just another politically correct bullshit terminology. Another cleaver way the media has developed to separate Americans like abortion and global warming. Meaningless, pointless issues leveraged only at class warfare and the senseless loathing associated with it. Take our eyes off the real issues with a good dirty racial fight, and lather up the black vote for another senseless trip to democrat land to sign up for pitence and the occasional pat on the head.
These issues are learning tools, and I intend to use 'em. So, join me youse racists, vote republican, vote Rudy, vote for America, not Greater Hispanola.

Posted by wxjames 2007-09-23 20:12|| 2007-09-23 20:12|| Front Page Top

#23 smn, I don't hate you for your contributions, I disrespect you for some of your "opinions" and think some of your analysis goes so far that it borders on laughable, but I most certainly do not hate you.

Rantburg is a place where everyone can share their thoughts and be called on them from time to time.

Posted by Mike N. 2007-09-23 20:12|| 2007-09-23 20:12|| Front Page Top

#24 smn, the syndicated columnist and economics professor Walter E. Williams doesn't agree with the race baiting tactics of the reverends Sharpton and Jackson. Nor does a certain Supreme Court Justice, nor one of my best girlfriends back in high school, who is now a terribly successful lawyer in Davis, California. Granted, the last on the list grew up in a terribly safe university suburb with one of the the then-best public high schools in the country rather than a city ghetto or a racist small town (Mr. Wife worked really hard to teach me to lock the front door after we got married, but he grew up in Lackawanna, where they did things like that), so perhaps we'd best not count her as really black.

I'm Jewish, which makes me a minority, but I don't agree with the good Reverends either. I'm female, which for some reason makes me a victim category if not an actual minority, but I still don't agree with the good Reverends. I'm the child of immigrants, which makes me a plurality, and still I don't agree.

Dear smn, I don't ask you to deny your education, nor your abilities, which I am eagerly awaiting you unfolding before us. But on this question you'd be wise to admit to the possibility of being wrong, or at least the impoliteness of insisting that you are right in this particular, very mixed company.

Posted by trailing wife 2007-09-23 20:14|| 2007-09-23 20:14|| Front Page Top

#25 Wow, you guys are taking smn a lot more seriously than is justified by anything he has said. Maybe I just miss .com.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2007-09-23 20:18|| 2007-09-23 20:18|| Front Page Top

#26 wxjames, racist opinions are as valid as any other for which there is no basis in fact. That isn't the point. Expressing such opinions to a mixed audience is decidedly rude, and rudeness results in calls for pistols at dawn, whereas opposing opinions call for a punch in the nose, hopefully followed by a beer together to wash off the bloody snot.

In my not at all humble opinion, Sir.

Posted by trailing wife 2007-09-23 20:20|| 2007-09-23 20:20|| Front Page Top

#27 wxjames seems to have mistaken freedom of speech with freedom from reciprocity.

Like what's gonna happen after I say the following.

Does anyone really think that America is going to vote for a president with a lisp?

Posted by Mike N. 2007-09-23 21:55|| 2007-09-23 21:55|| Front Page Top

#28 Let's leave the AI researchers out of this, ok?

Posted by Abdominal Snowman 2007-09-23 22:26|| 2007-09-23 22:26|| Front Page Top

#29 LOL 2 trolls out. Memory For The Win.

Posted by Thomas Woof 2007-09-23 23:34|| 2007-09-23 23:34|| Front Page Top

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