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</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,297840,00.html[/url]”>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,297840,00.html</a></p>
<p>Will be interesting to see what happens.</p>
<p>Not to start a flame or argument, but until the media; which has a major impact on all of our lives and opinions; gets on the bandwagon and promotes equality and doesn’t promote the differences in race, people of all colors, religion, etc… we will continue to have issues.</p>
<p>As subliminal as it may appear in the article, do you notice how one kid is classified as “White”. The other child isn’t classified as “Black”. Instead is classified as an “African American”. The article alone creates a separation and promotes their differences. Not that saying 1 was a “European-American” and 1 was an “African-American” would have been any better.</p>
<p>My point is, that however tragic this episode is, it doesn’t help when the media emphasizes the differences. It’s bad enough to have to emphasize their color differences, but hyphenating someone just causes more problems. My grandparents came through Ellis Island. I am second generation immigrant. They told me that many immigrants who became “Legal” were often referred to hyphenated. e.g. Italian-American, Irish-American, Asian-American. It usually suggested a person born in a DIFFERENT country and immigrated to America. I believe that emphasizing “African-American” instills a subliminal opinion that somehow that person isn’t “Really” an American.</p>
<p>We are all AMERICANS. Especially if you were born here. This has nothing to do with surrendering your heritage or pride of where your ancestors may have originated. I am very proud of my Italian background. But I’m NOT an Italian-American. I am an AMERICAN!!! I was born here, went to school here, got married here, had children here, served 21 years in the Military for AMERICA. I AM AN AMERICAN! </p>
<p>I can’t change the mind of the media. Maybe I can’t even change the mind of a group of people. But if each of us can recognize that we are AMERICANS first, then we will have a basis of something in common to build from there, instead of concentrating on our difference. That is one reason I really liked the military. While it isn’t the perfect environment. While it definitely had it’s racial problems; especially in the 1970’s. The one thing they focused on in Basic training/Boot Camp was how to take hundreds, thousands, millions, of men and woman from all over the country, with different back grounds, and find something in COMMON with all of them to build on and make them a team. Once we had something in common; our green uniforms, no hair, common HATE for the drill instructor, etc… we learned to be a team. While not perfect, you could tell the difference. Especially when stationed overseas where we ALL were the MINORITY. AMERICANS sticking together.</p>
<p>Anyway, there’s my soap box opinion. Political correctness is bad enough. I for one won’t do that with race. Just because something is “Politically Correct” doesn’t mean it’s right. I only know AMERICANS. Some are white, some are black, some have asian backgrounds, some American Indian background, some latin ancestry, and the list goes on. But I only know that they are ALL Americans. There are NO hyphenated Americans. A hyphen means that they aren’t TRUE Americans. Sorry, but all the Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Asians, Indians, etc… that I know in this country are ALL TRUE AMERICANS. Maybe someday the media will care more about helping to fix the issue instead of sensationalizing it so they can get better ratings or sell more newspapers.</p>
<p>I live in the metropolitan area where this attack occurred, and was absolutely appalled. If anyone here is looking for me to excuse such behavior, you’ll be waiting a long time. The footage of the fight was recorded by another white boy, who happened to be skateboarding in the area at the time. He used the video feature on his cell phone, and soon afterward, he was threatened because he turned the video evidence over to the police. At first, the school administration at Granby High (the school all the boys attended), asked the mother of the boy who taped the video to transfer him to another school, because they claimed they “couldn’t insure his safety”. He mother was rightfully outraged, pointing out that it shouldn’t be <em>her</em> son who should have to cut and run. So now, the school system, in the glare of public scruntiny, has hired a security guard to accompany the young boy to and from class, to and from football practice, etc. It is a crying shame when school systems refuse to rid themselves of their trouble making elements, while insisting that good kids run scared. </p>
<p>Details about the fight are trickling in little by little. It was reported tonight on WVEC-TV that the fight stemmed from “an argument” between the parties involved, that occurred earlier in the week. They did not say what the argument was about. The juveniles who attacked the boy (who was 13), ranged between the ages of 13 and 16. They have all been identified, arrested and charged with “Battery by Mob” (I believe that’s the term reported this evening). It is not yet clear whether or not this boy was attacked because he was white. If true, that’s a shame. There is NO excuse for that kind of hatred. But why this particular kid?</p>
<p>I can also tell you that attacks of this sort, whereupon a single victim of one race is attacked by several assailants of the same race, have been reported on the news in the past in our region, often caught on school bus video tape. The reason why this one is causing a bigger stir, is because the victim is white, and the assailants are black (seeming to echo the circumstances of the Justin Barker beating, which has been in the forefront of national news).</p>
<p>My son was in a situation for a time in middle school, whereby he was bullied and threatened by some other boys in his class. We were told we should perhaps transfer him to another school, for the same reasons the video taper’s mother was given. We insisted that they deal with the disruptive, delinquent element that was attempting to make my son’s life a living hell. The boys threatening my son were warned by the school administration that there would be consequences should they choose to follow through with their threats against my son. It was touch and go for a while (believe me, I did a lot of praying), but after a while, things settled down.</p>
<p>My son is now a senior in high school. Once they all moved on to high school, his tormentors seemed to find better things to do, and thus, left my son in peace. Interestingly enough, one of his former enemies approached him recently, and apologized for the way he’d treated my boy in middle school. Seems it had been weighing on his conscience for almost four years, and he just wanted to clear his soul. My son was incredulous, and relieved. He extended his forgiveness, and things are good between them now. It did my heart good to see such a positive thing come out of all the heartache.</p>
<p>Someone once told me and the guy I worked with, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Norfolk is full of white people.” </p>
<p>We both looked at her and at the same time, no kidding, said, “You weren’t in Norfolk, you were in Virginia Beach.”</p>
<p>I’ve lived here for three years and never been accosted. The bums here at least come up with interesting stories as to why you should give them money… unlike DC.</p>
<p>Rack up another point for High School kids being stupid High School kids.</p>
<p>636</p>
<p>
I had this exact same experience. I think some kids just go crazy in middle school and really aren’t bad kids at heart.</p>
<p>Just heard on the morning news: The boys were charged with “ASSAULT By Mob”, not “Battery By Mob”. Just want to be accurate.:)</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see if any of the nationally known racial activists come forward.</p>
<p>I saw the boy who filmed the attack on tv last night. He said that the incident had been planned as a staged fight between TWO boys for Utube that got out of control and someone got hurt. I wonder what the truth really is.</p>
<p>Christcorp,</p>
<p>It is not just the media; it is many colleges as well. Anthony T. Kronman, the Sterling Professor of Law at Yale University, expressed some similar thoughts recently about the need to understand our common heritage, which can get lost amidst celebrating diversity.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/09/26/kronman[/url]”>http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/09/26/kronman</a></p>
<p>The title of this thread is confusing. If it’s on tape, why is it “alleged?”</p>
<p>Hmmm. I just watched the video, and it’s a bit peculiar. The point of view of the cameraman changes several times, and doesn’t seem to be too far away from the action. But if they actually arrested these boys, it seems unlikely that the whole thing is a hoax. I’d want to know more–a lot more–before I tried to fit this into some neat narrative about race.</p>
<p>kill, kill your T.V. before it completely destroys you, your family, and this country.
nevermind . . . too late.</p>
<p>
People formerly known as black now prefer to be referred to as African American. That is why the term was used. What you point out is not as significant as it may seem.</p>
<p>Actually, what I pointed out is very significant. People, including the media, use the term Black quite often. However, they also like to use hyphenated terms such as African-American whenever they want to emphasize a “RACIAL” problem. Personally, I don’t care if people prefer to be referred by a hyphen. It’s wrong and I WON’T use it. The whole purpose of the hyphen is to show separation among 2 different things that are trying to be made common. If I complained on applications because there wasn’t a block that said “European-American” or “Italian-American” on it, the NAACP and ACLU would go ballistic. And rightfully so In my opinion.</p>
<p>My point is, was, and always will be, that Political Correctness is wrong. Especially when classifying a person’s race. If you were BORN as a U.S. citizen, then you are an American. Plain and simple. If you were born in a different country and immigrated to the United States of American, “Hopefully legally” then you can be a Hyphen if you want to be. I don’t care where your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc… were born. I care about the person I am referring to. When I MEET a black man or woman who was born in Africa and they immigrated to the USA, then I will refer to them as African-American if, and only if, that is their desire. Political correctness will be the social downfall of our nation. As long as it’s there, people will continue to concentrate on our differences.</p>
<p>And it’s not just with race. Why can’t we all be part of the “HUMAN” race or all part of “MANKIND”. No, that *<strong><em>es the woman off. Ooops, can’t say “WOMAN” it has the word “MAN” in it. Call them girls and they get </em></strong>ed also. So, I guess it’s just “Ladies” then. Of course, you can’t be a “Salesman”, “Congressman”, etc… you are a “PERSON”. “Salesperson”, “Congressperson”. What a Crock of $ht. Talk about INSECURITY. That’s all it is. People insecure and uphappy with themselves so they have to latch onto something that can make them feel special. </p>
<p>So, let’s see if I get this straight so I don’t make anyone blow a gasket.</p>
<ol>
<li>Salesman=Salesperson</li>
<li>Congressman=Congressperson</li>
<li>Garbage Man=Garbage Person. Unless it affects their “Self Esteem” because they are picking up garbage. Then they are sanitation engineers.</li>
<li>Human=Huperson</li>
<li>Manhole Cover=Personhole Cover</li>
<li>Menopause=Personopause. Unless a “Lady” is actually experiencing it, then she might just want to put “Men-On-Pause”, so that one might actually be OK as originally used.</li>
</ol>
<p>God this is stupid. Sorry, but the media is what has made this the way it is. As I said in the first post, I doubt that I will have any impact on the media or any large group of people. I can however stand by my own principles. I try to NEVER USE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS whenever possible. If nothing else, then just to **** off the ultra liberal left. If there is a group of people and someone asks me to point out a particular person, I will continue to say the “White” guy, or “Hispanic” girl, or “Black man” or “Asian lady”. That’s life. If that isn’t explicit enough depending on the audience, I might even have to be more descriptive and say the one with the “Long Hair”, “Bald Guy”, “Large woman”, “Tall Girl”. If that isn’t enough, I might even get more descriptive about their features. Oh well, that’s life.</p>
<p>As I’ve said before, just because “Somebody” came up with the phrase “Politically Correct” doesn’t mean it IS CORRECT. If different groups want equality, then it starts at the most common denominator among all “Legal” citizens of this country. We Are All Americans. Get rid of the hyphen crap and racism has a chance of being stopped. As long as we concentrate on our differences, we won’t be able to concentrate on our commonalities. The media could take the lead on this, but they won’t. Not because it’s wrong, but because it doesn’t sell. The media doesn’t want happiness. They want misery. They want death. They want poverty, war, killing, slander, and anything else that will sell. They couldn’t just say; "A group of kids beat up another kid and almost killed Him. Sources say that it may have been racially motivated. No, that wouldn’t sell as good. </p>
<p>The media is the biggest problem in this country. They make it almost impossible for our military to do their job. They perpetuate the stereotypes of minorities and the inner cities. They have pitted our political parties against each other and now neither can get anything accomplished. As more and more people learn to use the internet and report their own news through blogs and forums, people will need traditional news services even less. We can only hope.</p>
<p>I don’t really see where political correctness or the objections to same are going to help with the problem of kids from one group beating up a kid from another group.</p>