Jena 6 Aftermath: Nooses Punishable By Prison

Until we as a society learn to tolerate other people and protect the acts of a few idiots laws such as the noose law will need to be legislated and enforced upon us. Look at seat belt laws, speeding laws, etc. We need laws to protect us from ourselves and change the way we as a society think. It is a process in which ideas supported by a law will take plant in society. Perhaps this should have been legislated years ago.

I applaud those states who choose to enact laws against noose use. (Catchy phrase). For those of the mindset this is some kind of free speech declaration, If as Lee Bollinger once said, "The free speech principle is left with the concern of nothing less than helping to shape "the intellectual character of the society." Now I ask you, how does a symbol of hate and oppression shape the intellectual character of society. It would in fact display of a lack of character, or at least a character of worth.

In Brandenburg vs OH, the supreme court stated restrictions on free speech are appropriate if the "speech" were "likely to incite imminent lawless action". Is not Jena 6 an example?

I'm going to be hung for this (pun fully intended) but, while I found the actions of the kids in Jena personally offensive, I'm not so sure that laws are the way to go. It's a slippery slope argument.

If we outlaw nooses, should we outlaw say the Confederate flag? If the Confederate flag than shall we outlaw displays of the American flag in churches? At what point is the right to free speech limited?

The essential issue of free speech is the paradox that in order to exercise it we must defend it even for those we find odious, or it shall be lost to all.

Far better in my view to teach the meaning of symbols, and the power that they have over people.

Excellent story, happy to know that someone has began conducting a noose watch to support where these incidents are happening so legal action can be taken. Now it's up to many of us readers to get in the face of lobbiest, senators etc to get the law endorsed in our states.

We should have had these laws on the books a long time ago. Let's find legislators in other states willing to author and support similar bills.

For years I was unaware of the depth of emotion that the sight of a noose could create. Then, six years ago, I was in a discussion in which an African American man told how someone had left a noose in a common work area and how that made him feel and why. Because of that discussion I can better understand the desire to have laws like those in Louisiana and other states.

It just really amazes me how we still keep a foot stuck in history and not work progressively towards the punishment of demeaning and nafarious acts. I work for the government, where, I'm happy to say, there is a lot of diversity. However, I spoke to 3 other "white" women last year about this incident. I was the only one on the side of the Jena 6. I thought it was absolutely deplorable how they were treated and that nothing was done to those vicious white kids!! All the women I spoke to were up in arms against any of the "white" kids being punished. I rebutted and said it needs to be done, period!! I'm so happy that some of the states are coming around and seeing the wisdom in this. I hope and pray that eventually all states will recognize the wisdom as well. Sure wish I could have marched with the people in Louisianna; thanks to all of them for doing that.

It is about time that there is a law in place to penalize such cowardly and detestable acts.