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Media myths about the Jena 6 (A local journalist tells the story you haven't heard)
Christian Science Monitor ^ | October 24, 2007 | Craig Franklin

Posted on 10/23/2007 10:58:14 PM PDT by RWR8189

By now, almost everyone in America has heard of Jena, La., because they've all heard the story of the "Jena 6." White students hanging nooses barely punished, a schoolyard fight, excessive punishment for the six black attackers, racist local officials, public outrage and protests – the outside media made sure everyone knew the basics.

There's just one problem: The media got most of the basics wrong. In fact, I have never before witnessed such a disgrace in professional journalism. Myths replaced facts, and journalists abdicated their solemn duty to investigate every claim because they were seduced by a powerfully appealing but false narrative of racial injustice.

I should know. I live in Jena. My wife has taught at Jena High School for many years. And most important, I am probably the only reporter who has covered these events from the very beginning.

The reason the Jena cases have been propelled into the world spotlight is two-fold: First, because local officials did not speak publicly early on about the true events of the past year, the media simply formed their stories based on one-side's statements – the Jena 6. Second, the media were downright lazy in their efforts to find the truth. Often, they simply reported what they'd read on blogs, which expressed only one side of the issue.

The real story of Jena and the Jena 6 is quite different from what the national media presented. It's time to set the record straight.

Myth 1: The Whites-Only Tree. There has never been a "whites-only" tree at Jena High School. Students of all races sat underneath this tree. When a student asked during an assembly at the start of school last year if anyone could sit under the tree, it evoked laughter from everyone present – blacks and whites. As

(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; News/Current Events; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: alternateuniverse; enemedia; jena6; jenasix; libmyths; mediots; propaganda
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To: seemoAR
"You know, like the hangings in the Clint Eastwood movie, “Hang ‘Em High."

Sure, that's certainly possible. And those hoofbeats in the distance could be zebras, not horses.

81 posted on 10/24/2007 9:29:22 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: RWR8189
When informed of this history by school officials, they became visibly remorseful because they had many black friends. Another myth concerns their punishment, which was not a three-day suspension, but rather nine days at an alternative facility followed by two weeks of in-school suspension, Saturday detentions, attendance at Discipline Court, and evaluation by licensed mental-health professionals.

You have got to be fecesing me. If they were remorseful, then that should have been the end of it. There was no need for all the rest of re-education crap.

82 posted on 10/24/2007 9:29:35 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist ("Just 3 hours a day with Rudy Guiliani is all I ask" -- Sean Hannity is on!)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

BTTT


83 posted on 10/24/2007 9:30:56 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist ("Just 3 hours a day with Rudy Guiliani is all I ask" -- Sean Hannity is on! Thank you Scott Shannon!)
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To: CajunConservative

Thought you’d appreciate it. We had the Jessy show hit on us several years ago when a black kid committed suicide. 3 autopsies and a federal investigation later, it was still suicide, but Jessy had a march, inflamed the folks, passed his hat, took the money and left.

The poor kid is still dead, the parents are devastated, but, hey, Jessy got his mug on the TV and a wad of cash, so it worked out just fine.

/s


84 posted on 10/24/2007 9:33:39 AM PDT by Islander7 ("Show me an honest politician and I will show you a case of mistaken identity.")
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To: rogue yam

You cannot be that dumb not to know what I am talking about. Done talking to you about this, dude, or dudette, as the case may be.


85 posted on 10/24/2007 9:36:02 AM PDT by Theresawithanh (FRED!)
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To: robertpaulsen

Are you the same DU robertpaulson? I think so. You have been OUTED. I have noticed your snide remarks about the 2nd amendment always insulting. That is what you are insulting.


86 posted on 10/24/2007 9:43:19 AM PDT by therut
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To: Islander7

Yes, Je$$e’s motive$ are real ea$y to figure out.


87 posted on 10/24/2007 9:43:54 AM PDT by CajunConservative
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To: robertpaulsen

Gee, you wrote that it might be possible a white outlaw might have been hung. I read about many cattle rustlers being hung from trees. Only a racist would see a noose as being racist. ;0)


88 posted on 10/24/2007 9:52:53 AM PDT by seemoAR
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To: rogue yam
"Who told you this and why did they tell you this?"

Oh, were they wrong?

I seem to recall stories of nooses hung after Jena (New Jersey Home Depot, Columbia University professor, a forklift in Long Island, various schools in North Carolina) and they were interpreted as racist.

Gosh, where could I possibly get the idea that nooses were racist?

""In Louisiana." Well, say no more, right? Those people are ignorant, racist troglodytes"

"Lynchings were concentrated in a swath running through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana: the region often referred to as the 'Black Belt'"
-- Stewart E. Tolnay and E.M. Beck, A Festival of Violence: An Analysis of Southern Lynchings, 1882-1930.

"That's some mighty fine detective work there, Sherlock."

Detective work? Nah. Just common sense and a little knowledge of history. You ought to try it.

89 posted on 10/24/2007 9:53:54 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: therut
"I have noticed your snide remarks about the 2nd amendment always insulting."

You, personally, were insulted by my remarks on the 2nd amendment? Why, thank you.

90 posted on 10/24/2007 10:10:09 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: robertpaulsen
I seem to recall stories of nooses hung after Jena (New Jersey Home Depot, Columbia University professor, a forklift in Long Island, various schools in North Carolina) and they were interpreted as racist.

Gosh, where could I possibly get the idea that nooses were racist?

Who hung these subsequent nooses? Who did the "interpreting"? Why?

"As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly."

Proverbs 26:11

91 posted on 10/24/2007 10:12:27 AM PDT by rogue yam
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To: seemoAR
"Gee, you wrote that it might be possible a white outlaw might have been hung."

Yep. It's possible. Sure. You go with that.

92 posted on 10/24/2007 10:14:39 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: Theresawithanh

Your abhorrence of Southern white racists makes you as a God, Theresa. As a God!


93 posted on 10/24/2007 10:15:46 AM PDT by rogue yam
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To: rogue yam
"No matter where you go, there you are."
-- Buckaroo Banzai
94 posted on 10/24/2007 10:17:36 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: robertpaulsen

Darn, you actually admitted that a white man might have been hung. I guess you are not 100% racist. ;0)


95 posted on 10/24/2007 10:24:14 AM PDT by seemoAR
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To: rogue yam

I know I said I would not reply any more to you on this, but it is you, in fact, who are the rambling idiot. How do you get “abhorrence of southern white racists” by my remark? Did you do the long jump in high school, because that’s quite a stretch there. I merely expressed my surprise that these kids didn’t know what nooses could mean.

Get a clue AND get a grip. You’re drooling...


96 posted on 10/24/2007 10:37:17 AM PDT by Theresawithanh (FRED!)
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To: rogue yam

“I think George Soros wants you to agree with Karl Marx on this, which apparently you do. Please reconsider.”

When I mentioned people in power, I meant politicians.

I fail to see how my statement makes me a latent Marxist.

That’s a real leap into conclusionland on your part.


97 posted on 10/24/2007 1:30:16 PM PDT by Califreak (Duncan Hunter-no clothespin necessary!)
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To: cherry

In the video link below, Taylor gives the Black Power Salute as he walks out of the room after the hung jury:

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/p...TY&pageId=1.1.1


98 posted on 10/24/2007 4:04:16 PM PDT by Main Street (Stuck in traffic)
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To: cherry

Try this link:

http://mfile.akamai.com/12942/wmv/vod.ibsys.com/2007/1023/14407158.200k.asx


99 posted on 10/24/2007 4:29:21 PM PDT by Main Street (Stuck in traffic)
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To: rogue yam

I have been for years. The problem is very few care.

If it does not concern who is boffing Britany Spears or on American Idol most could not care less.


100 posted on 10/24/2007 6:57:05 PM PDT by sport
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