estro

So the Jena Six thing has finally left email circles and LJ post links and hit major news outlets (like the Chron and CNN, and I find it kind of frustrating.

Small town bigotry and dubious reporting (I was unable to find credible sources for many of the 'facts' stated in the original forwards and blogs, where a credible source is any published newspaper) are now being used as an excuse for political posturing. And because this is being used as a flaming sword by the far left, any chance and genuine justice is lost. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson show up with a circus, alienate the townfolk rather than promoting dialogue, and fling mud at Obama.

Here are the only two consistently stated events:

A threatening hate-crime by some white students was insufficiently punished at a less than socially integrated small-town school.

A later event involving a related group of students ends up with the black students being charged with a much greater crime than actually committed.

Yes, both situations are unjust and reek of racism. Yes, this needs to be addressed, but now any judge has to consider politics rather than just the merits of the case.

And for Jackson/Sharpton to rant about justice while many black people die in Oakland each month, killed by other black people, just because they are poor and angry. That isn't unjust enough for them? Were are the 10 thousand protesters here?

Mr. Sharpton, Mr. Jackson, by only standing up for the events that are easy to play politics with, you make it difficult for me to believe you actually give a crap about standing up for black folk. It becomes obvious that masturbating your public image is about the only thing that motivates you.