A savage beating raises questions of race

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A savage beating raises questions of race

A letter to the editor sparked several comments on the Herald-Times website, and inspired me to research the subject further. A Google news search confirms the facts as stated in the letter: several black teenagers, after telling a 26 year old white woman she could not sit on a bus, attacked the woman and gave her a severe beating. The photograph to the right reveals the damage done by these thugs. For more, see the following articles on the story from michellemalkin.com, baltimoresun.com, abc2news.com, wjz.com, wbaltv.com, baltimoresun.com, and wjz.com.

The facts are valid, but the conclusions are off base. Rosa Parks was arrested because she disobeyed a law that was both immoral and unconstitutional. She was fighting against an entire system of segregation and institutionalized racism. While the crimes committed against Sarah Kreager were sick and depraved, this is not a civil rights issue and does not demonstrate the need for "another American civil rights movement". This is about violent crime. The police have arrested suspects in this crime and, if convicted, they will be punished for the crimes they committed. There is no systemic injustice to fight against, only criminals to punish.

That doesn't stop racist hate groups from pouncing on the Kreager story, however, using fear tactics to mobilize their members. It is stupid, ignorant, immoral and sinful to look down on all people with dark skin pigmentation because of the actions of a few thugs in Baltimore. The criminal actions have many causes, but skin pigmentation is not one of them. The white supremacist groups are fools and deserve no refutation other than that.

This case is similar to the infamous "Jena 6" incident where several black teenagers attacked and pummeled a white classmate. The prosecutor overreacted in that case and deserves much of the criticism he got, but there should be no question that a 6-on-1 beating carries the potential for serious harm. We saw that in the Kreager beating. Prosecutors must not be intimidated by the marches on Jena and should seek to punish the human debris who attacked Kreager as harshly as legally permissible. This includes charging them as adults, because this is an adult crime. Giving these thugs a slap on the wrist endangers society.

Conservative opponents of "hate crime" legislation need to avoid hyping this incident as a "hate crime". Whether it was racially-motivated or not should not change the punishment. Hyping this incident as a "hate crime" leaves one open to charges of hypocrisy that are not without merit. It appears this case is being handled appropriately and does not need to be a political issue. It does, however, merit observation to ensure justice is done.

[Muppethead]

I too think the LTTE was a little "off" in saying we needed another Civil Rights Movemement but I'd be careful to lump him in with the White Supremessists movement and the like.

I think part of his point was if the races were reversed, we'd see the likes of Al Shapton bemoaning race relatins and demanding "justice."

We'd also see the HT cover the story.

This wasn't just a black on white attack. It was an attack due to the fact she was white.

The media coverage of incidents like this seems one sided. I heard tons about the Jena 6 and Duke Rape case - and I hope no one is denying we heard about them due to the racial component-but I heard nothing about this until the LTTE-it seems you hadn't either.

Why is that?

His choice of words was poor-this is an apples to oranges comparison to Rosa Parks-but if the media is going to jump on stories for the mainly racial component of them, it looks like they have an agenda when they mainly choose white on <insert race here crime.

I just am saddened that this guy is smeared as a racist and white supremesist for bringing the topic up.

You haven't made that direct accusation here, but many in the LTTE comments section have.

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I too think the LTTE was a little "off" in saying we needed another Civil Rights Movemement but I'd be careful to lump him in with the White Supremessists movement and the like.

His posts in the comments section for that day's LTTE's leads me to believe he is a racist. He was using all of the code words, especially with his rants about black people committing crimes. I wasn't specifically referring to him when I mentioned "racist hate groups", however. I took a look around and saw Stormfront was pitching a fit about it, as were a couple other hate sites.

A couple quotes from MZ:

Black men have been lazy, immoral, spoiled, and irresponsible -- and also violent. The black community and our society in general has accomodated and enable this behavior -- and it has become increasingly bad over time. Rap and hip hop reflect the values of black males: bling-bling, 9mm pistols, sunglasses, misogyny, sexism, racism, violence and thuggery are all glorified in their "music" (rap and hip hop are not music, they're nothing but racket) -- not to mention wearing their caps sideways and their pants below their rear-ends. Black males don't want to join our society, they have no desire to become responsible and mature adults and make a contribution. They want to make fast money as drug-dealers, "entertainers", athletes, etc. They're not willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work. And so it goes...

And...

I am white and I thank God every single day that I am. I'm proud of my heritage, my ancestors (from England, Wales, Germany, and Holland). I'm proud of the ancient traditions and religions of my people. I'm proud; I'm glad; I'm happy; I thank God my Dad and Mom are white people. I'm proud and I'm not afraid of being proud. I think white people are the best people in the world -- the best people who have ever lived on Planet Earth. I'm not going list the historical accomplishments of white people -- but they are manifold and massive. I couldn't be more proud. I look at the other nations and cultures of the world; and it makes be even more thankful.

You're seriously trying to argue this guy isn't racist?

We'd also see the HT cover the story.

The H-T did cover this story via the AP wire, but the national media has picked it up as well, and there has been little national media coverage of this one. Had there been a buzz in the national media the H-T would have been more likely to pick it up. I don't expect the H-T to go looking for stories like this, and as critical as I have been of the H-T I don't blame them for missing this one.

[Muppethead]

I'm seriously asking this-because I looked before I attempted to defend this guy-did the HT delete those comments or were they posted AFTER I posted my posts?

Now, after that little diatribe by him, I'm not going to say "he's not racist."

If I would've seen these posts, I would've NEVER said it.

I thought I read everything he posted in that thread but hadn't followed it since my last post there.

[NurseMarcey]

Hard to say, Muppethead - the posts were lengthy; I'm amazed anyone made it through them.

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I'm seriously asking this-because I looked before I attempted to defend this guy-did the HT delete those comments or were they posted AFTER I posted my posts?

That racist diatribe was posted Sunday, December 23, 2007: 7:31, 2 days after your post. Fair is fair.

Now, after that little diatribe by him, I'm not going to say "he's not racist."

If I would've seen these posts, I would've NEVER said it.

Yep. It took him a while to completely expose himself.

Hard to say, Muppethead - the posts were lengthy; I'm amazed anyone made it through them.

Let me tell you, it wasn't easy! He just tends to

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Here is the victim.