The Jena-6 and the power of personal non-violent protest

I have been powerfully effected by the situation in Jena, Louisiana. I teach in a ninth grade transition program that's over 90% African American. My students in North Carolina have taken it very personally, and understandably so. The worst part of the racism in Jena is that it occured on many levels including Institutional Levels. Institutional racism is the most destructive of all. When members of institutions such as the School Superintendent, Law Enforcement Officers, and Attorneys wield their power in an unequal way it is not only insulting on a racist level, but it undermines the public's confidence in these very important institutions. If the public has no confidence in these institutions the very fabric of our society begins to tear apart.

I believe that these young black men were shown repeatedly that the standards of their community were applied unequally. The situation got to such a point that they finally erupted in a violent attack on a white boy that was connected to some of the hatred. While I can understand the frustration, and outrage of these young men I wish they hadn't resorted to violence. It has without question made the situation worse for them.

The power of Martin Luther King Jr.'s civil rights movement of the 60's was that it was non-violent. In Selma it was obvious who the victims were. It opened the eyes of the nation. Nobody could deny the injustice of innocent, peaceful blacks being beaten by the police. In Jena things are more complicated because 6 victims of racism and violence used violence to make their oppressor into a quasi-victim in the eyes of some.

I bring this up to lead into another point. I believe that personal non-violent protest is the most powerful way to change injustice. However, it must be differentiated from a government's response to injustice. The Bible says that governments are a sword to execute judgement and justice. If they do not respond with force to protect their citizens from attack, they shirk their God-given responsibility.

By definition governments cannot be Christian, only individuals can. Governments are entities without souls who only do what their leaders make them do. Governments can and should reflect Christian values, so the citizens will be blessed with justice, peace, freedom and prosperity, but they will never answer to God. Only people do. Governments are a sword to be used wisely.

-Paul B.

No more Republican scandals

Congress should spend their time on something other than crime in this country, it seems the criminals all get elected to Congress now. There are plenty of bad Democrats. But not every Democrat has $100,000 in their freezer. My distress is that so many of the criminals in Congress are in my party, Republican.

This is my appeal to the Republican party and Republicans thinking of running for public office. If you are like Bob Ney, Duke Cunningham or Tom DeLay and you are after money, we (my fellow Republicans) don't want you. If you have some sexual predilection like Mark Foley or Larry Craig, we (my fellow Republicans) don't want you. If you can't wait to start using earmarks, we (my fellow Republicans) don't want you either.

If you ever want to win another election, you will hold the Democrats on spending money, be swift in winning the war in Iraq and moving on to new terror locations and face up to the Mainstream Media without shame. The voters didn't vote for Democrats because they had a better plan, that is clear. They just didn't want the Republican party in its present state.

-Jeremy

Sally Field is a Fool

During her Emmy acceptance speech last night, Sally Field said that if mothers ruled the world, there would be no war. She won her Emmy portraying a mother. This to me is the epitome of foolishness. She is so ignorant of the Muslim world where not only do mothers themselves strap on bombs and make war on occasion but they are proud of their martyr children that make war against the perceived enemy.

She may never understand that we will only have peace when the rest of the world adopts America's Judeo-Christian values regardless of whether they practice Judaism or Christianity.

-Jeremy

Carbon offsets and other liberal lies

I agree Jeremy. Edwards is a nightmare. He lives in an enormous mansion over 20,000 sf and talks about us being frugal. What an idiot and a hypocrite. I suppose he needs that much space to research poverty. Yeah, to some that actually makes sense. Then there are the so-called carbon offsets so they can feel better about their lifestyle. I actually have no problem with him living as extravagant a lifestyle as he wants. Just don't preach to me about giving up anything. Carbon offsets are literally nothing. They pay windmill companies money to run their clean windmills. While this does add more electricity, it does not replace the "dirty" forms of energy out there. It's the same as the medieval indulgences, where the rich would pay money so they could indulge in sin. My how they've lost their way!!!!

Under Edwards, an apple a day, does not keep the doctor away

I don't know if you heard it this week but Edwards actually said that if elected president, he will create a federal mandate requiring annual physicals. I guess this means we will end up paying double for health insurance because of government waste but it's okay, he will raise your taxes for it.

As much as I don't like Tom Tancredo, I have to hand it to him. He absolutely made the war on terror crystal clear in the Republican debate the other night. So many people to not take terror seriously. They are so isolated in safe old USA.

-Jeremy

My condolences to all you who had to have the iPhone first.

Hillary and Tyranny

Read my title to the tune of "ebony and ivory". Fred Thompson said it well recently, "if government is big enough to give you everything, it is big enough to take away everything". So true!!!!!!! John Edwards wants us to give up our SUV's. Hillary wants to take "corporate profits". Obama wants to try "diplomacy" with murderous thugs. Yeah, it's quite an outstanding crop of leaders the Dems are trotting out there.

-Paul

Hillary for Socialist Ruler of America, er President

After listening to her stump speech over the weekend, it seems that she wants to redistribute wealth and give "you" everything you can't seem to get on your own. I don't know why she hates the rich, she is rich. She seems to think that she can provide healthcare, higher wages, paid education, pre-school for all and of course no service member to ever be outside the US. None of this, of course, is provided for in the constitution. Even if you could make a valid argument for some of these services, they can only be funded by states and not the Federal Government.

Hugh Hewitt played the speech for most of his first two hours and I don't know how I will be able to handle four to eight years of listening to her much less the next year of campaigning. At least President Bill Clinton had a comfortable voice.

-Jeremy