I don't see much of a movement. There are so many issues today that you'd think would be more than enough to have young people massively protesting on college campuses all over the nation - Iraq, global warming, an administration that frankly raises the question, for me, of whether we still live in an actual democracy as distinct from an oligarchy with some democratic trimmings.

As a baby boomer, I have the feeling nobody's going to be writing best sellers about us called "The Second Greatest Generation." We seem to have succeeded with indoctrinating subsequent generations with our core values of me, myself and I.

As the world's problems become increasingly globalized, America, in brief, seems to have it's head stuck more and more firmly - well... in the sand, to go with the ostritch metaphor and eschew a road best not taken...!

Paul - originalfaith.com

Sent by Paul Maurice Martin | 1:37 PM ET | 10-02-2007

First off, I would like a clear, concise definition of 'civil rights' because the term has been applied in such varying degrees I no longer recognize a civil rights issue when I see it. Next, I wonder if marching and protesting are the most prudent ways of gaining political power.

The Jena 6 case made protesting very easy. It was clear Bell was held to a harsher legal standard. People moved in on the situation and that standard was rightfully lowered.

What happens when the injustice is not as clear? What happens when there is a perceived social injustice, but no legal one? Is the same response needed?

Part of what is needed is the changing of minds. People can be racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. and never break a law. Marches can help changes laws, but they very rarely change minds or attitudes.

There are many issues Americans need to address. IMHO the best way to protest is to resist the prevailing over-consumptive culture that permeates.

If we can learn to do without a lot of the worthless 'things' we spend our money on we will not only fare better financially we can realize (as a society) the things that are truly important. Not only is our material culture killings us financially it functions as a distraction to keep our minds off of what is truly important.

Sent by TR | 4:12 PM ET | 10-02-2007

I agree Ms Dickersons article. We as african americans have to police ourselves FIRST, before we go pointing fingers at folks outside of our race.
We cannot go around executing hood styled BEATDOWNS on white folks when they say or do things that we disagree with, THEN attempt to rely on a constitution that was written by folks who owned slaves. Reed Walters was to overzealous with the jena 6 prosecution AND way to lazy when it came to prosecuting the white folks who assaulted the young black man in a previous altercation. We can protect our young people by educating them on how to handle racialy tense situations - because lets face it this is one the first generations to grow up without Jim Crow - our young dont know how it used to be. We cannot mobilize a JENA 6 styled protest everytime something happens LETS prepare our young and let them know how the world REALLY is when it comes to black folks.

Sent by Russell Randall | 5:32 PM ET | 10-02-2007

No, the Jena rally was not misguided. Who is Debra Dickerson that she feels she can decide which actions are of value and which are not? I went to the rally and was surrounded by thousands of people who were saying, "Enough is enough." Jena was the flashpoint, but the issue is racism in America. I believe the protests forced people in America to confront the fact that racism exists and must be eradicated. At the least, people are talking about it, and that in itself is a great thing when you consider the power of denial.

Sent by Leslie Hall | 10:20 PM ET | 10-02-2007

Comments from an experienced trial attorney:....Key issues, ok?...
Victim impact reports were vastly different, correct?...Four months AFTER the first incident, September 2006, new incident involving Bell, and company...December 2006, White victim beaten unconscious after repeated attacks to the head, right? Serious bodily injuries....That attack considered attempted murder with any criminal intent to attack a person's head [closed head injury to the brain may be initially undetected. Boxing deaths teach us those lessons, right? Sure]; and, the law for most states' criminal statutes recognizes that eventuality. Victim may die days later from attacks.... White victim is now suing the school, the black defendants and families, and John Does 1-10, right? My, my how the worm turns....Black victims, misdemeanor injuries at best, right?....Whites convicted....Black US attorney refuses to file a US civil rights action against Whites...I concur. State took care of the prosecution of the defendants. Not worth spending federal monies for a PYRRHIC victory,...poor whites, right?...Question for the jury:...Think about it...Was the heat, passion of the September 2006 noose incident and subsequent attacks cooled by December 2006, the time when the white victim was attacked? Just raising the questions! by W. DeLoach, Chicago

Sent by Wendelin W. DeLoach, Esq, Chicago | 2:41 PM ET | 12-28-2007

RE: Jena6...It gets worse. Apparently, another member of Jena 6 is now charged with a violent attack on yet another high school student in a completely new and different set of circumstances. Seems as if this new incident took place at another school. Was this in a different state? Reports indicate that the accused lost his temper about damaged - he believes - done to his car by his latest victim. Apparently, this latest violent assault may have a tremendous impact on his still pending Jena 6 matter. As we follow these young defendants through the system we uncover more about their violent tendencies.

Sent by Wendelin W. DeLoach, Esq. | 4:13 AM ET | 02-11-2008