"Surpassing" is probably not the best word choice in that phrase "growth and surpassing hate."

The first meaning that comes to mind when I read it is something like "exceptional hate" -- kinda like in the phrase "a person of surpassing beauty."

I'm sure that's not what is meant, but just saying I think that's one of the first meanings of the word that would occur to a lot of people...

Does anyone know if any action has been taken against the official (the DA I think it was?) who went into the school and made those terrible comments to the students about "erasing their life with a stroke of a pen?"

"Surpassing" doesn't seem like the best word choice in the phrase "growth and surpassing hate."

The first meaning that comes to mind when I read it is something like "exceptional hate" or "exceeding hate" -- kinda like in the phrase "a person of surpassing beauty."

I'm sure that's not what is meant, but just sayin'...

I think the better term would would be "overcoming" in place of "surpassing."

It is positively shocking to many of us in the northeast that places so divided still exist in this nation. I am also astounded that the jury for the (improper) adult trial was all-white. In that racially charged region, how does that comport with any reasonable notion of due process? Justice should be blind but it shouldn't be deaf and dumb.

This is not to say that if an assault actually occurred under definition of the pertinent statute, the perpetrator should be excused because of past and ongoing injustices, but jail time? I don't think so. In any event, it doesn't sound like justice for alleged black-on-white offenses can be carried out in that particular venue.

I just heard the Jena DA on the radio saying how he doesn't want (basically) "outisders" (northern agitators?) coming to Jena, b/c they don't know/understand what is going on there.

I really feel like History is real.

These seem to be the facts of the case: On December 4 2006, seventeen year old Justin Barker was attacked from behind, struck on the back of the head, and then six guys preceded to kick and stomp the unconscious victim. After the incident, more than forty statements were taken by police and investigators and none of them mentioned the "noose incident" that occurred three months earlier as the cause of the brutal attack on Justin. In addition, no one is asserting that Justin had anything to do with the "noose incident" but are rather implying that somehow it is acceptable to randomly beat a white high school student because some white high school students are bigots. I'm open to the argument that the criminal charges are excessive or that the attackers should be adjudicated in juvenile rather than adult court but it is ridiculous to assert that an racist incident that occurred three months before give anybody a free pass to randomly assault and brutally beat people.

Sgt. York, I certainly don't take your comment as supporting white bigotry, but I suspect you expected many on this board will so interpret your comments. (The name you've chosen to identify yourself on this board is, you know, kind of "in your face," but I'm trying to look only at what you said here ON its face.)

I would point out to you that it is natural for many of us who are appalled by conditions in many Southern towns (and let's not fool ourselves, many places beyond that) where blacks are still second class citizens, to want to right past wrongs.

Believe it or not, I agree with you -- the criminal justice system isn't the place to "even the score." When we politicize individual instances of criminal misconduct, justice is never served. (Mike Nifong, for example, politicized a criminal allegation -- the result? He's done a terrible disservice to every rape victim whose credibility will be questioned by invoking the "Duke lacrosse case." Thank you, Mr. Nifong, from a woman who was sexually assaulted in college!)

Underlying much of the support of the Jena 6 is the reasonable belief that the black boys haven't been afforded a fair shake in the system (and with an all-white jury in a racially-charged venue, I really don't see how that would be possible). But the answer isn't to turn a blind eye to a legitimate criminal allegation. There is a way to handle it, it's called "change of venue."

Sgt. York, I certainly don't take your comment as supporting white bigotry, but I suspect you expected many on this board will so interpret your comments. (The name you've chosen to identify yourself on this board is, you know, kind of "in your face," but I'm trying to look only at what you said here ON its face.)

I would point out to you that it is natural for many of us who are appalled by conditions in many Southern towns (and let's not fool ourselves, many places beyond that) where blacks are still second class citizens, to want to right past wrongs.

Believe it or not, I agree with you -- the criminal justice system isn't the place to "even the score." When we politicize individual instances of criminal misconduct, justice is never served. (Mike Nifong, for example, politicized a criminal allegation -- the result? He's done a terrible disservice to every rape victim whose credibility will be questioned by invoking the "Duke lacrosse case." Thank you, Mr. Nifong, from a woman who was sexually assaulted in college!)

Underlying much of the support of the Jena 6 is the reasonable belief that the black boys haven't been afforded a fair shake in the system (and with an all-white jury in a racially-charged venue, I really don't see how that would be possible). But the answer isn't to turn a blind eye to a legitimate criminal allegation. There is a way to handle it, it's called "change of venue."

Sgt. York, I certainly don't take your comment as supporting white bigotry, but I suspect you expected many on this board will so interpret your comments. (The name you've chosen to identify yourself on this board is, you know, kind of "in your face," but I'm trying to look only at what you said here ON its face.)

I would point out to you that it is natural for many of us who are appalled by conditions in many Southern towns (and let's not fool ourselves, many places beyond that) where blacks are still second class citizens, to want to right past wrongs.

Believe it or not, I agree with you -- the criminal justice system isn't the place to "even the score." When we politicize individual instances of criminal misconduct, justice is never served. (Mike Nifong, for example, politicized a criminal allegation -- the result? He's done a terrible disservice to every rape victim whose credibility will be questioned by invoking the "Duke lacrosse case." Thank you, Mr. Nifong, from a woman who was sexually assaulted in college!)

Underlying much of the support of the Jena 6 is the reasonable belief that the black boys haven't been afforded a fair shake in the system (and with an all-white jury in a racially-charged venue, I really don't see how that would be possible). But the answer isn't to turn a blind eye to a legitimate criminal allegation. There is a way to handle it, it's called "change of venue."

MSPitt I agree entirely with your suggestion of changing the venue.

Maybe we should also free any sexual offenders simply because they are black.

This was a hate crime, pure and simple.

Anyone on this site defending them or rooting for their freedom whilst calling themselves a "feminist" is a bigger hypocrite than most christians.

They commited a hate crime, and as such, need to be sentenced to no less than 10 years, if not life.

Same goes for any race.