"...could be taking a risk"? Maybe but he's being honest. I will take more honesty and less caution.

It's just one line, out of context, but referring to the beating that kid received in Jena as "that schoolyard fight" that "broke out" rubs me the wrong way; it diminishes the meaning of six people beating one bloody and unconscious.

Before people get upset, I think the racial inequities and ugly prejudice revealed in that case are the big issue. But don't pander to people by implying that a brutal assault shouldn't concern us, because it was just "schoolyard" behavior.

Evan R
your statement that the kid in Jena was beat unconcious is completely false. The boy was not unconscious, he was not even badly beaten. He was treated at the ER, NOT hospitalized, for some cuts and bruises and released in 4 hours. He in fact went to a school social event that very evening.

So, that is pretty much the definition of a schoolyard fight.

Whereas, the hanging of nooses is a hate crime and analogous to folks painting swastikas on school property. It is specifically directed at a intimidating and terrorizing a GROUP of people based on their race or ethnicity. Which is the very definition of a hate crime and the entire basis of the law. Hate crime acts seek to terrorized a specific GROUP and are not based on an individuals behavior, point of fact, the individual need not do anything to incur the wrath and hate, other than simply being a member of the group the hate is directed at.

To "elrapierwit":

Every mainstream news story I've read about the case has indicated that kid we're discussing was beaten bloody and unconscious by a group of six other kids; they ganged up on him once his friends were gone.

I'm not saying that it's impossible that the truth lies somewhere in between that account and yours -- or even that your factual characterization is correct, but before you haughtily dismiss what I wrote, please provide some links, quotes or confirmation. How about I present some, and you do the same?

Second, you echo the frankly embarrassing implication that that attack was no big deal, because the kid wasn't that badly beaten. Because he was lucky enough to escape serious injury and make an appearance, likely as motivated by teenage bravado as his actual condition, at a dance later that night. Turn the tables for a minute: would that argument fly for even one second if the races were reversed? Um, it didn't matter what the attackers did, because their victim fortunately didn't end up horribly injured? Good one.

Why am I exercised over this? Because I think the idea of a kid of any race being badly beaten by a large number of kids (hell, by even one kid) of any race is really sickening. Too many people are implying that because the authorities in Jena acted with predjudice and exemplified the deep inequities in our criminal justice system, because they didn't respond properly to the hate speech, intimidation etc. that preceeded this attack, what happened to the kid is no big deal.

The "schoolyard fight" talking point is lazy and lame. Gross violence is no big deal whenever it involves minors and/or occurs on a playground? If you're a parent, I sure hope your kids never have to suffer to put on personal stamp on your hyprocrisy.

Finally, why do you think this kid was beaten by the six assailants? I'm guessing it probably had something to do with race. He may have said terrible things, he made have been behind the repugnant act of hanging a noose from a branch. But I hope you're not one of those people who thinks violence by a disadvantaged minority is an acceptable response to racism exhibited through words, symbols etc. (no matter how repugnant or even intimidating they might be).

I don't understand the point of all of your rhetoric about the difference between hate speech and intimidation directed at groups (the worst, apparently -- and I agree) versus actual physical violence directed at a specific target (no big deal, according to you; are you implying it was deserved, that it isn't a problem when there's a specific target and they are physically attacked?)

I'm glad a bright light is being shone on Jena, and on our justice system in general. I'll repeat that racism and the terrible inequity revealed in Jena (and present far too many other places) is the big story. I'm just sick to death of people totally dismissing an ugly beating because it doesn't fit into their talking points/ posturing.