[Shuhite]

Bringing up the whole black/white thing doesn't make this discussion any prettier. It's embarrasing to me just how many racists there are in the freerepublic forums...

I was surprised at your responses at first, but then once you mentioned the racial factor the responses makes sense. I would think people could possibly have somewhat of a sense of grief over a sad story (not necessarily disagree with the shooting, not necessarily agree with the article..).

Why would the article fail to mention the fact that this happened in a black community? Because it doesn't matter what kind of community it happened in! It's still sad that a kid went down the wrong track and got shot because of it.

[goodnesswins]

"It's embarrasing to me just how many racists there are in the freerepublic forums..."

Define for me what a RACIST is these days, please.

Are we racist if we require the color of the college applicant on the application?

Or are we ONLY racist if we wonder about the color and the impact on that particular ethnic groups community when a crime has been committed?

Are we racist when we tell white kids they CANNOT leave a school that has a certain number of minorities in it, but the minorities can leave?

Are we racist when we ask the Black community when they are going to start looking at the realities in their communities so they can SAVE the LIVES of more of THEIR young people? I'm a little confused, I guess.

[don-o]

Because it doesn't matter what kind of community it happened in! It's still sad that a kid went down the wrong track and got shot because of it.

Thank you.

Seems that a certain sector of Freepers have a selective compassion switch that can be turned off/on.

[driftless]

There may be racists on this forum, but the truth of the matter is that they didn't make this kid go bad. And racist or not, some of the above posters are pointing out a legitimate problem in Black communities. I myself have read more than a few accounts of young Black males who have destroyed their futures by following a life of crime. Who should we blame? All the nasty white racists on talk forums or the person who ruined his own life?

I have an relative who helped rob a gas station when he was in his teens. His family was dirt poor, but that didn't excuse his actions. He was lucky he wasn't killed by the local police, but it would have been his fault , not society's or some nasty racists on some talk forum.