Racism Still Alive and Well ???

[LifeInReturn]

http://freeshaquandacotton.blogspot.com

I am a 14-year-old black freshman who shoved a hall monitor at Paris High School in a dispute over entering the building before the school day had officially begun and was sentenced to 7 years in prison. I have no prior arrest record, and the hall monitor--a 58-year-old teacher's aide--was not seriously injured. I was tried in March 2006 in the town's juvenile court, convicted of "assault on a public servant" and sentenced by Lamar County Judge Chuck Superville to prison for up to 7 years, until I turn 21. Just three months earlier, Superville sentenced a 14-year-old white girl, convicted of arson for burning down her family's house, to probation.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0703120170mar12,1,1921178.story?ctrack=1&cset=true


And then there is the case that most troubles Cherry and leaders of the Texas NAACP, involving a 14-year-old black freshman, Shaquanda Cotton, who shoved a hall monitor at Paris High School in a dispute over entering the building before the school day had officially begun.

The youth had no prior arrest record, and the hall monitor--a 58-year-old teacher's aide--was not seriously injured. But Shaquanda was tried in March 2006 in the town's juvenile court, convicted of "assault on a public servant" and sentenced by Lamar County Judge Chuck Superville to prison for up to 7 years, until she turns 21.

Just three months earlier, Superville sentenced a 14-year-old white girl, convicted of arson for burning down her family's house, to probation.

"All Shaquanda did was grab somebody and she will be in jail for 5 or 6 years?" said Gary Bledsoe, an Austin attorney who is president of the state NAACP branch. "It's like they are sending a signal to black folks in Paris that you stay in your place in this community, in the shadows, intimidated."



Lets discuss ?

 

[Blueridge Believer]

Whether or not the stories above are entirely accurate I do not know. However, I do believe this, as long as men walk the face of the earth rascism will be with us regardless of the race. It's a part of the Adamic nature as much as lust, greed or any other wicked thing.
In the book of Genesis we read that it was an abomination for the Egyptians ot eat with the Hebrews. In Act 9-10 in Peter's dream it was clear he believed that gentiles were unclean. Paul rebuked some for saying that the Cretians were always "evil beasts" and "slow bellies". It's part of history and it will be with us untill the 2nd coming.

 

[elnwood]

Yes, racism is alive and well in this country, although fortunately not as overtly in this country than in others.

This case is indeed sad. It seems like such a minor offense. I can't imagine how this matter ever got beyond a trip to the principle's office. Kids beating up other kids only got suspended in the public schools where I grew up.

It is difficult to prove discriminatory "racism" though because in the two cases, the judges are probably different, the charges were different, the strength of the legal defenses were probably disparate, etc. There probably is a double standard, but it would be hard to prove.

 

[BobVigneault]

Racism comes about because of man's failure to follow the sixth commandment. Racism has two hideous components. The one, is self-love. Self-love causes us to look inward and build walls around ourselves, then others who are like us and then even larger groups that love ourselves and hate anyone outside the group.

The second component is the failure to recognize the image of God in ALL men. All mankind is created with a fundamental dignity that comes simply from being created in God's image.

When these two components unite, the result is ugly and deadly. 'Love your neighbor as yourself' means that no Christian can ever tolerate racism in any form.

 

[Blueridge Believer]

Racism comes about because of man's failure to follow the sixth commandment. Racism has two hideous components. The one, is self-love. Self-love causes us to look inward and build walls around ourselves, then others who are like us and then even larger groups that love ourselves and hate anyone outside the group.

The second component is the failure to recognize the image of God in ALL men. All mankind is created with a fundamental dignity that comes simply from being created in God's image.

When these two components unite, the result is ugly and deadly. 'Love your neighbor as yourself' means that no Christian can ever tolerate racism in any form.

Well said brother Bob.

 

[Reformingstudent]

What is really appalling to me is when racism can be found right within the church, the last place on Earth it ought to be.

Two races of men: God's children and Satan's.


Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father

 

[MrMerlin777]

What is really appalling to me is when racism can be found right within the church, the last place on Earth it ought to be.

Two races of men: God's children and Satan's.


Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father

I agree, racialism in the church is deplorable.

 

[Puritan Sailor]

If the article is accurate, then I think that city has got some major problems to work out. The girl shouldn't be in prison for 7 years for that. Suspension for sure. But not prison. But from the looks of the article there's alot more to the story than we know.

 

[Kevin]

I may be stupid, but why is going to jail for assault evidence of racism?

 

[govols]

I may be stupid, but why is going to jail for assault evidence of racism?

I guess because they compared her "assault" with a white girl who "burned" down her house. I looked for the police report or for a more definitive article about the white girl but couldn't find one. I just found articles referring to her.

First of all, you don't push, shove, "assault" someone in authority (no matter what your skin color is). If she were to push around a student, she would have gotten a suspension but b/c she chose to push someone who worked there she got something else. 7 years is way too much time for this unless we don't know something else. If she did truly just shove this person around then maybe a few weeks in the slammer and the rest probation.?

Maybe this was a little retaliation for her mother protesting for weeks outside of the school before the incident happened?

 

[ReformedWretch]

I can't believe this couldn't be over turned on appeal. However, the white girl got off far too easy. I believe there are way too many slaps on the wrists in our judicial system.

 

[CDM]

Whether or not the stories above are entirely accurate I do not know. However, I do believe this, as long as men walk the face of the earth rascism will be with us regardless of the race. It's a part of the Adamic nature as much as lust, greed or any other wicked thing.
In the book of Genesis we read that it was an abomination for the Egyptians ot eat with the Hebrews. In Act 9-10 in Peter's dream it was clear he believed that gentiles were unclean. Paul rebuked some for saying that the Cretians were always "evil beasts" and "slow bellies". It's part of history and it will be with us untill the 2nd coming.

This is off track a little bit but I'm curious about the bolded portion of your post. You said Paul rebuked some for saying Cretians were "evil beasts" and "slow bellies", etc. Here is the related portion in Titus 1:

5. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6. If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8. But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9. Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
10. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11. Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
12. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
13. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
14. Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
15. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
16. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.​

I understand this to be the opposite of what you're saying. Paul is agreeing with one of their poets, Epimenides, that Cretians in general were of such low character. Paul often cites heathen authors to make a point (Acts 17:28; 1 Cor 15:33; & Titus 1:12).

Here is Matthew Poole on Titus 1:12

One of themselves, even a prophet of their own; Epimenides, a Greek poet, thus spake of the people of this country, whom he calls a prophet, because he was a poet, and wrote something about such divine oracles as they had. Said, The Cretians are alway liars: the Cretians were famous for lying and falsehood, so as it became a proverb. He called them evil beasts, either for their cruelty or treachery. Slow bellies; a lazy, idle people, that had much more inclination to eat and drink than they had to work in any honest labour. From all this the apostle would infer, that Titus had the more need be watchful in his place, and faithful in the discharge of his office, being amongst such a people.

Matthew Henry wrote:

II. In reference to their people or hearers, who are described from ancient testimony given of them.

1. Here is the witness (Titus 1:12): One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, that is, one of the Cretans, not of the Jews, Epimenides a Greek poet, likely to know and unlikely to slander them. A prophet of their own; so their poets were accounted, writers of divine oracles; these often witnessed against the vices of the people: Aratus, Epimenides, and others among the Greeks; Horace, Juvenal, and Persius, among the Latins: much smartness did they use against divers vices.

2. Here is the matter of his testimony: Krh~tej a)ei\ yeu~stai, kaka_ qhri/a, gaste/rej a)rgai\—The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. Even to a proverb, they were infamous for falsehood and lying; kreti/zein, to play the Cretan, or to lie, is the same; and they were compared to evil beasts for their sly hurtfulness and savage nature, and called slow bellies for their laziness and sensuality, more inclined to eat than to work and live by some honest employment. Observe, Such scandalous vices as were the reproach of heathens should be far from Christians: falsehood and lying, invidious craft and cruelty, all beastly and sensual practices, with idleness and sloth, are sins condemned by the light of nature. For these were the Cretans taxed by their own poets.

3. Here is the verification of this by the apostle himself: Titus 1:13. This witness is true, The apostle saw too much ground for that character. The temper of some nations is more inclined to some vices than others. The Cretans were too generally such as here described, slothful and ill-natured, false and perfidious, as the apostle himself vouches. And thence... ... ...

 

[LadyFlynt]

Yes, racism still exists, always will. And it exists in all directions. Sad, but true. There are still many ppl out there that have nothing to do with racism.