No bashing of Al Shartpon and Jesse Jackson!

[Tim4319]

I am so tired of people bashing Al Sharpton. I am so tired of people bashing Jesse Jackson. Being a black man, I have too much respect for these gentlemen, and many more like them because, whether you like them or not, they will challenge the wrong that is going on in this country. For those people playing Monday morning quarterback, what are you doing to address the Jena 6? What are you doing to address Genarlow Wilson? What are you doing to address Meagan Willimas? These gentlemen, plus many others have put their lives on the line, and the only thing people can do is criticize them for it! This is crazy!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. That thread just didn't make any sense.

I sure wish those people who chimed in on that thread that made horses' asses of themselves would care to explain themselves.

[Tim4319]

6. You want me to explain myself?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. No, the rubes in that other thread.

The ones with their heads firmly shoved up their asses.

[Rick Myers]

2. I'm all for NO BASHING of Our Side!!! Too many Rwingers to bash!!!

I try to stay out of all the chaos...

Peace.

[CatWoman]

3. ok

can I bash Buckwheat instead???

:)

[Chovexani]

4. Of course

But only 'cause you're onse, tice, FEE TINES A MADY.

[CatWoman]

7. and I wuv youuuuuuuuu

:rofl:

[Cha]

42. Hey, I like

Buckwheat!

[CatWoman]

44. if that's true

why did you shoot him???? :hi:

[Cha]

49. No savvy you, Cat..

I didn't shoot 'im! :hi:

[liberalmuse]

5. They can sure rally up support.

And it's sad that even in this day and age, leaders are needed to ensure a population is protected from bigotry. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are out there every time crap like what is happening in LA goes on. I admire what they are doing and if they piss off the status quo, good! I get irritated when I hear someone like Bill O'Reilly saying the assinine stuff he did the other day, and on top of all that, he thinks he has the standing to suggest that the black community dump Sharpton and Jackson. He has no right to speak for anyone but the rich, sexually depraved white male oligarchy, because that is all he knows. He doesn't think for himself, so it's laughable that he would suggest to anyone else that they need to do such and such and think for themselves.

[Zywiec]

10. Yep, they rallied up all kinds of support at Duke n/t

[cali]

9. I'm not sure what you're talking about and

I'm not defending bashing, but surely you're not suggesting that either Sharpton or Jackson are above criticism.

[Tim4319]

14. Far from it!

No one is above criticism. However, every they stand up for someones right, they are under constant attack. I've seen more threads about their agendas, then I have about the unjust of what's going on in Jena, La. My question is, why are people quick to criticize Sharpton over the comment that Bill O'Reilly said, when he is meeting with Congress to address the Mychael Bell. Why criticize him then?

[burythehatchet]

19. Whenever I see the criticism you speak of, I wonder how

much of their lives they've sacrificed to empower the powerless. I can't always agree with them but I sure do appreciate their voice. Iwas disappointed that Sharpton stayed out this time around.

[cali]

20. I think I understand where you're coming from though I don't

recall seeing any threads about their agendas, and I'm glad to say I've seen lots of threads about Jena. But I gotta say, I think putting up a post saying No bashing Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton isn;t the best header for your subject. Threads that demand that x not be bashed are counterproductive. Maybe you could have titled it "Give Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton a breaK".

[Tim4319]

25. I may have been a little over the top

with my subject line. But, I am kind of an emotional writer. A lot of times I just start writing out of frustration and what I post is what I felt at the moment. From time-to-time, I do write something than a few minutes later I kind of kick myself for stating things a little strong.

[cali]

28. I can relate to that, Tim. n/t

[rucky]

23. You can criticize individual words and actions...

but still show respect for the person.

[stillcool]

11. It seems like there are lots ..

of people who love to hate, point fingers, and ridicule. I can usually stomach it, but today..for some reason..it's all very loud, and very depressing.

[cynatnite]

12. I've got a couple of family members who bash them...

they don't like them and think they only do it to get on TV. That's their reason for not liking them. I don't get it.

[NOLALady]

47. I've heard some people say that.

Personally, I don't give a rats hiney why they do it, as long as they do it. I do have a problem with someone who's never done anything to help, yet they can complain about the "agendas" of those who are trying to help. (I'm referring to some friends and family)
They have an agenda? So What! If the presence of Jackson and Sharpton calls attention to the cancer that's rotting this country, more power to them. The only thing that matters is for the Jena families to get help. They've been living with this nightmare over a year now. The children can't attend school. And, now there are death threats on the families.

[cobalt1999]

13. No one is above criticism

Unless Skinner makes a new rule, they are as open for criticism as anyone else.

[Tim4319]

16. You subject line is correct.

But, in the time where unity is needed, why use that time to go after him?

[Redstone]

15. Bashing? There won't be any of that from me.

I am not black. Therefore, I do not have the slightest right to bash or criticize the actions of ANY black American.

I'm half American Indian, and my wife is half African (though not African American). This gives me the perspective to understand what I said above.

No, repeat NO, bashing from me.

Redstone

[Zywiec]

18. You have to be black to bash or criticize a black?

OK, no blacks can criticize Bush using your logic.

[Redstone]

22. No American who is not black can truly understand what it's like to be black in America.

If you have a problem with that sentiment, be my guest.

But I guarantee you that an awful lot of black Americans will be only too happy to explain the idea to you, if you'll take the time to ask them.

I, at least, have enough sense to understand that I simply CANNOT know what it's like to be black in America, because I'm not, and therefore humble and respectful enough to not presume that I can speak for those who are.

You stated: "OK, no blacks can criticize Bush using your logic." That's NOT what I said, and you know it.

Redstone

[Zywiec]

26. Just so I understand your thinking

Would criticizing a black president be out of bounds for you?

I certainly hope you had nothing bad to say about Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, or Michael Vick.

[Redstone]

33. Sorry, but I'm not going to take that bait. You know EXACTLY how you're trying to bait me,

and I'm not going to take it.

Get pissed off, post whatever inflammatory comments or accusations you want to, I'm not responding to your junior-varsity attempt to bait me. Because, after all, what possible motivation could you have for attempting to draw me into a flamewar over this subject? Are you indeed a Black American who wants to have a REAL discussion about the issues of racial relations in America? I don't think you are. I don't think you're anyone, in fact, but someone who wants to have an online fight with me.

And guess what: You're not getting one. Sorry to disappoint you, but the ignore button is being clicked right now.

Go offer your bait to someone who will take it.

Redstone

[CatWoman]

35. oh give it the fuck up already!!!

what the fuck is this?

"contortions 'r us"????

[Redstone]

38. If you don't understand, I don't think I need to read your commentary either.

'Bye.

Redstone

[CatWoman]

43. Redstone

I wasn't talking to you.

[cali]

24. Sorry, that's just bizarre.

I'm not black either but I know damn well I have the right to criticize any public figure, regardless of the color of their skin. By your lights there would be no criticism of Michael Vicks or OJ Simpson.

Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are in the public sphere. If they say something or do something that I consider worthy of criticism, I'll criticize them, as I have in the past. I'm glad they're doing what they're doing re Jena, but they're just people, and people who screw up sometimes.

What about Obama? Good grief, man, he's running for President. People have every right to criticize him, just like any other candidate.

[Redstone]

27. Missed my point, didn't you?

We'll talk about this later, OK? I'm not here for long tonight, but I'll be back soon.

Redstone

[cali]

30. respectfully, let me suggest that whatever point you were trying

to get across, was not clearly made.

[Zywiec]

36. Obviously I wasn't the only one to miss your thoughtful point. n/t

[Tim4319]

29. It's a little different for Jesse and Al

Almost every time they stand up and speak on something, the first thing people says about they are doing this just to be seen! Or, they are loud mouths. That kind of criticize it what I am talking about. I totally agree that people in the public eye deserve criticism when they deserve it. But to "shoot them down" for speaking out against injustice is unfair.

[cali]

31. We're in agreement there.

I've definitely noticed some of those comments. that's not exactly what I call substantive.

[Zywiec]

34. Does Jesse or Al ever apologize if they're wrong? n/t

[BlooInBloo]

17. It's just what white folks do.

[Catherine Vincent]

40. Some may take issue with what you said. n/t

[BlooInBloo]

41. That does happen, from time to time.

[slackmaster]

21. OK, but both of them deserve to be made fun of once in a while

They can be pretty funny.

[hiphopnation]

32. LOL

:wow:

EVERYONE deserves to be made fun of.

bashing is something different. but i agree the whole goddamn human race needs to oft be made fun of. just look at how seriously we take ourselves!

[Chovexani]

39. I miss Rev Al's medallions and tracksuits

That man looked a hot mess and I loved him for it. :D

[Chovexani]

37. My Rev. Al story

I've told it before on DU but I'll tell it again.

When I was younger, I went to a prestigious K-12 private school in Brooklyn that was predominately rich WASP. I mean this was the kind of school where people bragged about their families coming off the Mayflower, and kids collected ski lift tags from Switzerland on their winter coats. That school's tuition cost more than the college I went to. Mom worked two jobs and I got scholarships to be able to afford it. As a gifted kid, I was the poster child whenever the school wanted to pimp its so-called "diversity". I was in the freaking brochure, for crying loud.

So I was absolutely shocked when, one January day, I got pulled out of class and was told I was expelled for "unsatisfactory academic performance". Granted, my grades had slipped some because I was dealing with severe depression and was on meds for a while, but I still had a C+ average. Not the best by any stretch but certainly nothing to expel someone over, especially without any kind of academic probation period, or any previous offenses. A white male D student who brought a knife to school and consistently started fights didn't even get suspended.

Well, we weren't taking it lying down. My older sister knew Al Sharpton's lawyer through her job, and he agreed to take my case. The headmaster's response to the initial request for reinstatement was, and I quote, "we're not running a charity". We decided to sue for breach of contract, asking for $100k in damages...basically the tuition that we paid. Some investigation turned up a pattern of the school forcing minority private scholarship students out in the 8th grade year to make room for disadvantaged minority students in Upper School, students that would qualify the school for public grants where kids like me wouldn't. We uncovered five separate instances just in the previous two years, and that's a lot for a school that small. In every one of the cases, the kids just upped and left because they couldn't afford to fight it.

Rev. Al himself called the headmaster and said that if I got expelled, he would lead a march up and down the street in front of the school with every news camera he could find. The result is that settled, I got to finish out the year (I was leaving anyway for a specialized science & engineering public high school), AND they paid for our lawyer.

That's why I will defend Rev. Al to my last breath. I'm not trying to equate my situation to anything like the Jena 6 but my point is Rev. Al and Jesse do a fuckton of good that you never, ever hear about on CNN/Faux News.

[Catherine Vincent]

45. Love that story!

:hi:

[NOLALady]

48. WOW!

Great Story!

[flashl]

46. I dont get the bashing n/t

[Skittles]

50. WHO is bashing them Tim?

You want I should kick their ass? I agree with you - Al and Jesse provide a valuable service....I wish more people would stand up for what freaking counts these days.

[NashVegas]

51. WTF?

I read about the Jena 6, on DU, at least two-three weeks before it came to mainstream media.

Here. On DU. Because an average DUer thought it was important for people to see and hear about it.

I have never seen anyone bash Jesse Jackson on DU, ever. I've never seen anyone on DU speak of him with anything but admiration.

Al Sharpton, OTOH, is open game, IMO. He does a lot of great things within the black community, but he also blows his own foot off, in the wider arena.

I can't say what I'm doing for the 6. Double secret probation :)