U.S. Attorney: Critics in Jena Six case have distorted the facts


There was a lot of distortion of the facts in the "Jena Six" case, the U.S. Attorney who reviewed the case said today at a Law Day luncheon in Shreveport.

U.S. Attorney Donald Washington, in a speech to the Shreveport Bar Association, called the situation in Jena "a convoluted mess." It was easy for people to give their opinions about what happened, Washington said, but it was the U.S. Justice Department's job to pursue the facts.

Washington said he believes there should not have been federal prosecution of the white students who hung nooses from at a tree at Jena High School.

There is no provable link between the nooses being hung by white students outside the LaSalle Parish school and the beating of a white student by black teens, Washington said. He said the events were probably symptoms of racial tensions but they were separate incidents that occurred three months apart.

"In Jena, there were distortions of several key facts," Washington told the lawyers. "The linking of the nooses to the school fight, for example, was not supported by fact."

Washington said the case came down to a school fight that happened because of a party the weekend before -- not the nooses hung in front of the school months before.

Six black teenagers were charged with beating a white classmate -- leading to complaints that the attempted murder charges were too severe for the extent of the victim's injuries and there was unequal justice, especially when no one was prosecuted for hanging the nooses. Those students were suspended from school.

The protests culminated with a demonstration by thousands of people who came to Jena last September to demonstrate about the way the cases were handled.

Washington has said that after the noose-hanging incident at the start of the school year, school went on routinely for months with no apparent lingering anger.

The incident wasn't prosecuted as a hate crime because it didn't meet the federal standards required for the teens to be certified as adults, prosecutors said, and no link was established to groups such as the Ku Klux Klan.

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U.S. Attorney: Critics in Jena Six case have distorted the facts
<snip>

The incident wasn't prosecuted as a hate crime because it didn't meet the federal standards required for the teens to be certified as adults, prosecutors said, and no link was established to groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. [/i]

So it was handled as two different cases then? The black teens beat this white teen up totally independent from the nooses hung by white teens months earlier? And the nooses totally un-linked to any racist organisations? Suuure...
Well, you don't necessarily have to belong to such an organisation to be racist, and it might have been that the black teens probably hit the wrong guy - but:

He said the events were probably symptoms of racial tensions but they were separate incidents [...]

That is, imo, an outright lie to sweep the inconvenient fact that in this school racism has been tolerated under the carpet.

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Account frozen...

U.S. Attorney: Critics in Jena Six case have distorted the facts
<snip>

The incident wasn't prosecuted as a hate crime because it didn't meet the federal standards required for the teens to be certified as adults, prosecutors said, and no link was established to groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. [/i]

So it was handled as two different cases then? The black teens beat this white teen up totally independent from the nooses hung by white teens months earlier? And the nooses totally un-linked to any racist organisations? Suuure...
Well, you don't necessarily have to belong to such an organisation to be racist, and it might have been that the black teens probably hit the wrong guy - but:

He said the events were probably symptoms of racial tensions but they were separate incidents [...]

That is, imo, an outright lie to sweep the inconvenient fact that in this school racism has been tolerated under the carpet.

Not just tolerated but encouraged in some cases.

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Hopefully the cosmos is not trying to reverse the charges.
Moderation in all things.

Not just tolerated but encouraged in some cases.

I figured out a long time ago that this world was inherently evil with only a perception of being good... ;)

(Most people don't see it, because most people don't fight it. They just dive in hook line and sinker at the first sight of cheese.)

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It may not be 1984 but George Orwell sure did see the future . . .

U.S. Attorney: Critics in Jena Six case have distorted the facts
<snip>

The incident wasn't prosecuted as a hate crime because it didn't meet the federal standards required for the teens to be certified as adults, prosecutors said, and no link was established to groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. [/i]

So it was handled as two different cases then? The black teens beat this white teen up totally independent from the nooses hung by white teens months earlier? And the nooses totally un-linked to any racist organisations? Suuure...
Well, you don't necessarily have to belong to such an organisation to be racist, and it might have been that the black teens probably hit the wrong guy - but:

Laughing Out Loud

Yeah, you didn't know we start recruiting for the klan in high school? Heck, we even have the largest booth at career day!!

stupid.

He said the events were probably symptoms of racial tensions but they were separate incidents [...]

That is, imo, an outright lie to sweep the inconvenient fact that in this school racism has been tolerated under the carpet.

Laughing again...

So is it JUST the interracial fights that fall under this weird concept of yours or can we link all fights taking place in that 3 month period to the noose hanging? Heck, they might have a fight at school today....will that be because of the noose hanging? What exactly is your time frame here?!?!?!?!

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U.S. Attorney: Critics in Jena Six case have distorted the facts
<snip>

The incident wasn't prosecuted as a hate crime because it didn't meet the federal standards required for the teens to be certified as adults, prosecutors said, and no link was established to groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. [/i]

So it was handled as two different cases then? The black teens beat this white teen up totally independent from the nooses hung by white teens months earlier? And the nooses totally un-linked to any racist organisations? Suuure...
Well, you don't necessarily have to belong to such an organisation to be racist, and it might have been that the black teens probably hit the wrong guy - but:

Laughing Out Loud

Yeah, you didn't know we start recruiting for the klan in high school? Heck, we even have the largest booth at career day!!

stupid.

That's not as stupid as it seems. I know from own experience with German right-wing organizations (like WAR, like NPD, like the "Anti-Antifa") that they do recruit right outside secondary schools, although mostly more subtly then your military recruiters. They use music, clothes, attitude to catch the pupils' nosiness, and then - once the bait is taken and the young ones are hooked, the line is reeled in: new candidates for membership.

He said the events were probably symptoms of racial tensions but they were separate incidents [...]

That is, imo, an outright lie to sweep the inconvenient fact that in this school racism has been tolerated under the carpet.

Laughing again...

So is it JUST the interracial fights that fall under this weird concept of yours or can we link all fights taking place in that 3 month period to the noose hanging? Heck, they might have a fight at school today....will that be because of the noose hanging? What exactly is your time frame here?!?!?!?!

Do you think an open threat like hanging nooses - and that no-one intervened then - is forgiven and forgotten within a few months? Racism is not just hanging nooses, that was just one tip of the iceberg of racism.
Racism is not a small matter, excused by "freedom of speech" or so. Racism is a crime against humanity, which needs to be fought against everywhere and everytime!

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Account frozen...

U.S. Attorney: Critics in Jena Six case have distorted the facts
<snip>

The incident wasn't prosecuted as a hate crime because it didn't meet the federal standards required for the teens to be certified as adults, prosecutors said, and no link was established to groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. [/i]

So it was handled as two different cases then? The black teens beat this white teen up totally independent from the nooses hung by white teens months earlier? And the nooses totally un-linked to any racist organisations? Suuure...
Well, you don't necessarily have to belong to such an organisation to be racist, and it might have been that the black teens probably hit the wrong guy - but:

Laughing Out Loud

Yeah, you didn't know we start recruiting for the klan in high school? Heck, we even have the largest booth at career day!!

stupid.

That's not as stupid as it seems. I know from own experience with German right-wing organizations (like WAR, like NPD, like the "Anti-Antifa") that they do recruit right outside secondary schools, although mostly more subtly then your military recruiters. They use music, clothes, attitude to catch the pupils' nosiness, and then - once the bait is taken and the young ones are hooked, the line is reeled in: new candidates for membership.

I wonder what part of this isn't Germany do you CONTINUALLY fail to grasp?

He said the events were probably symptoms of racial tensions but they were separate incidents [...]

That is, imo, an outright lie to sweep the inconvenient fact that in this school racism has been tolerated under the carpet.

Laughing again...

So is it JUST the interracial fights that fall under this weird concept of yours or can we link all fights taking place in that 3 month period to the noose hanging? Heck, they might have a fight at school today....will that be because of the noose hanging? What exactly is your time frame here?!?!?!?!

Do you think an open threat like hanging nooses - and that no-one intervened then - is forgiven and forgotten within a few months? Racism is not just hanging nooses, that was just one tip of the iceberg of racism.
Racism is not a small matter, excused by "freedom of speech" or so. Racism is a crime against humanity, which needs to be fought against everywhere and everytime!

Actually I'm inclined to believe this incident was a continuation of the altercation which took place approximatly 3 days earlier...NOT the result of a noose hanging that took place 3 months earlier. And like most people who know right from wrong, but choose to do wrong anyway (like you), these delinquents blamed the system rather than taking responsibility for their own actions

I'm also inclined to believe that a non-violent action DOES NOT warrant a violent action in return no matter how disturbing you find the incident to be.

...but this does bring up an interesting question. Since Donald Washington is a black man, is he a race traitor lying for the man....you know, like Bill Cosby, or is he just another "idiot" lawyer?

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U.S. Attorney: Critics in Jena Six case have distorted the facts
<snip>

The incident wasn't prosecuted as a hate crime because it didn't meet the federal standards required for the teens to be certified as adults, prosecutors said, and no link was established to groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. [/i]

So it was handled as two different cases then? The black teens beat this white teen up totally independent from the nooses hung by white teens months earlier? And the nooses totally un-linked to any racist organisations? Suuure...
Well, you don't necessarily have to belong to such an organisation to be racist, and it might have been that the black teens probably hit the wrong guy - but:

Laughing Out Loud

Yeah, you didn't know we start recruiting for the klan in high school? Heck, we even have the largest booth at career day!!

stupid.

That's not as stupid as it seems. I know from own experience with German right-wing organizations (like WAR, like NPD, like the "Anti-Antifa") that they do recruit right outside secondary schools, although mostly more subtly then your military recruiters. They use music, clothes, attitude to catch the pupils' nosiness, and then - once the bait is taken and the young ones are hooked, the line is reeled in: new candidates for membership.

I wonder what part of this isn't Germany do you CONTINUALLY fail to grasp?

Do you really believe our countries are so different apart from the language? believe me, if traveled as long through Germany as I've traveled through the States - and keep your eyes and ears open (most importantly) - you would see that the extreme right-wing are even more active in your country than in mine, because in the States they are unfortunately protected by the "Freedom of Speech" law.

He said the events were probably symptoms of racial tensions but they were separate incidents [...]

That is, imo, an outright lie to sweep the inconvenient fact that in this school racism has been tolerated under the carpet.

Laughing again...

So is it JUST the interracial fights that fall under this weird concept of yours or can we link all fights taking place in that 3 month period to the noose hanging? Heck, they might have a fight at school today....will that be because of the noose hanging? What exactly is your time frame here?!?!?!?!

Do you think an open threat like hanging nooses - and that no-one intervened then - is forgiven and forgotten within a few months? Racism is not just hanging nooses, that was just one tip of the iceberg of racism.
Racism is not a small matter, excused by "freedom of speech" or so. Racism is a crime against humanity, which needs to be fought against everywhere and everytime!

Actually I'm inclined to believe this incident was a continuation of the altercation which took place approximatly 3 days earlier...NOT the result of a noose hanging that took place 3 months earlier. And like most people who know right from wrong, but choose to do wrong anyway (like you), these delinquents blamed the system rather than taking responsibility for their own actions

I'm also inclined to believe that a non-violent action DOES NOT warrant a violent action in return no matter how disturbing you find the incident to be.

...but this does bring up an interesting question. Since Donald Washington is a black man, is he a race traitor lying for the man....you know, like Bill Cosby, or is he just another "idiot" lawyer?

He is just a lawyer who would have to do a sysiphus load of work to get these black young men a fair lawsuit.
See also here

Washington, who is black, faced sharp questioning from black committee members about why he did not intervene as racial strife in the small town grew after the nooses, a historic symbol of racial lynching, were hung in a tree outside the high school, and why he did not engage the white prosecutor who charged the black juveniles as adults.

One student, Mychal Bell, was convicted of aggravated battery by an all-white jury and faced as much as 22 years in prison. A state appeals court dismissed the verdict, ruling that Bell should not have been tried in an adult court. Bell was released from prison after nine months but was recently re-incarcerated on a probation violation.

The white students who hung the nooses were suspended and forced to attend disciplinary courses. Jena High School's principal, who is white, sought to expel them, but was overruled by the school superintendent, who is also white and called the nooses a schoolboy prank.

Thousands of people marched in Jena last month to protest what they called the overzealous prosecution of the six black students, who originally were charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Washington told the committee he could not stop the LaSalle Parish prosecutor, Reed Walters, from proceeding with the charges because the federal government's authority in the case is limited. "I want to assure this committee that the Department of Justice was engaged," he said.

Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Tex.) criticized that response. "I want you to tell me why you, the first black [Western District of Louisiana] U.S. district attorney, did not do more, and I want to know what you're going to do to get Mychal Bell out of jail!"

"I did intervene," Washington said. "I will tell you that, just like you were offended [by the charges], I was offended."

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Account frozen...

U.S. Attorney: Critics in Jena Six case have distorted the facts
<snip>

The incident wasn't prosecuted as a hate crime because it didn't meet the federal standards required for the teens to be certified as adults, prosecutors said, and no link was established to groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. [/i]

So it was handled as two different cases then? The black teens beat this white teen up totally independent from the nooses hung by white teens months earlier? And the nooses totally un-linked to any racist organisations? Suuure...
Well, you don't necessarily have to belong to such an organisation to be racist, and it might have been that the black teens probably hit the wrong guy - but:

Laughing Out Loud

Yeah, you didn't know we start recruiting for the klan in high school? Heck, we even have the largest booth at career day!!

stupid.

That's not as stupid as it seems. I know from own experience with German right-wing organizations (like WAR, like NPD, like the "Anti-Antifa") that they do recruit right outside secondary schools, although mostly more subtly then your military recruiters. They use music, clothes, attitude to catch the pupils' nosiness, and then - once the bait is taken and the young ones are hooked, the line is reeled in: new candidates for membership.

I wonder what part of this isn't Germany do you CONTINUALLY fail to grasp?

Do you really believe our countries are so different apart from the language? believe me, if traveled as long through Germany as I've traveled through the States - and keep your eyes and ears open (most importantly) - you would see that the extreme right-wing are even more active in your country than in mine, because in the States they are unfortunately protected by the "Freedom of Speech" law.

Yeah, the problem is you keep your eyes and ears open for biased information or simple distort the facts. There's an example below...

He said the events were probably symptoms of racial tensions but they were separate incidents [...]

That is, imo, an outright lie to sweep the inconvenient fact that in this school racism has been tolerated under the carpet.

Laughing again...

So is it JUST the interracial fights that fall under this weird concept of yours or can we link all fights taking place in that 3 month period to the noose hanging? Heck, they might have a fight at school today....will that be because of the noose hanging? What exactly is your time frame here?!?!?!?!

Do you think an open threat like hanging nooses - and that no-one intervened then - is forgiven and forgotten within a few months? Racism is not just hanging nooses, that was just one tip of the iceberg of racism.
Racism is not a small matter, excused by "freedom of speech" or so. Racism is a crime against humanity, which needs to be fought against everywhere and everytime!

Actually I'm inclined to believe this incident was a continuation of the altercation which took place approximatly 3 days earlier...NOT the result of a noose hanging that took place 3 months earlier. And like most people who know right from wrong, but choose to do wrong anyway (like you), these delinquents blamed the system rather than taking responsibility for their own actions

I'm also inclined to believe that a non-violent action DOES NOT warrant a violent action in return no matter how disturbing you find the incident to be.

...but this does bring up an interesting question. Since Donald Washington is a black man, is he a race traitor lying for the man....you know, like Bill Cosby, or is he just another "idiot" lawyer?

He is just a lawyer who would have to do a sysiphus load of work to get these black young men a fair lawsuit.
See also here

Washington, who is black, faced sharp questioning from black committee members about why he did not intervene as racial strife in the small town grew after the nooses, a historic symbol of racial lynching, were hung in a tree outside the high school, and why he did not engage the white prosecutor who charged the black juveniles as adults.

One student, Mychal Bell, was convicted of aggravated battery by an all-white jury and faced as much as 22 years in prison. A state appeals court dismissed the verdict, ruling that Bell should not have been tried in an adult court. Bell was released from prison after nine months but was recently re-incarcerated on a probation violation.

The white students who hung the nooses were suspended and forced to attend disciplinary courses. Jena High School's principal, who is white, sought to expel them, but was overruled by the school superintendent, who is also white and called the nooses a schoolboy prank.

Thousands of people marched in Jena last month to protest what they called the overzealous prosecution of the six black students, who originally were charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Washington told the committee he could not stop the LaSalle Parish prosecutor, Reed Walters, from proceeding with the charges because the federal government's authority in the case is limited. "I want to assure this committee that the Department of Justice was engaged," he said.

Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Tex.) criticized that response. "I want you to tell me why you, the first black [Western District of Louisiana] U.S. district attorney, did not do more, and I want to know what you're going to do to get Mychal Bell out of jail!"

"I did intervene," Washington said. "I will tell you that, just like you were offended [by the charges], I was offended."

Standard liberal response.

The outcome didn't turn in your favor so someone must have lied/cheated/bribed/etc. The problem is that you either didn't read the whole story or didn't think I would.

Washington said for the first time publicly that the department is gathering evidence to determine whether there are racial disparities in Louisiana's judicial system and in its application of justice.

What was the outcome of that investigation you ask? Read the first post :)

The fact of the matter is that in the world today there ARE bad people actively making bad decisions. Were they actually trying to kill him with 6 on 1 odds? You tell me:

For murders where the race of the offender was known, 54.8 percent were black, 42.8 percent were white, and 2.4 percent were other races. (Based on Expanded Homicide Data Table 3.)
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2006/offenses/expanded_information/homicide.html

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The fact of the matter is that in the world today there ARE bad people actively making bad decisions.

Well, I sure as heck can't argue with that fact... ;)

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It may not be 1984 but George Orwell sure did see the future . . .

The fact of the matter is that in the world today there ARE bad people actively making bad decisions.

Well, I sure as heck can't argue with that fact... ;)

Neither can I. It's high time to stop these bad people and let righteous people do the job instead!

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Do you really believe our countries are so different apart from the language? believe me, if traveled as long through Germany as I've traveled through the States - and keep your eyes and ears open (most importantly) - you would see that the extreme right-wing are even more active in your country than in mine, because in the States they are unfortunately protected by the "Freedom of Speech" law.

Ah yes, people in the US are "unfortunately protected by the 'Freedom of Speech' law." Once again, more evidence that suggests that Thorin will happily use gov't force to make people think exactly as he has decided that they must. They shouldn't be allowed to think as they wish, simply because Thorin has decided that what he thinks is right must be rammed down the throats of others.

I mean, why would any country want to protect the freedoms of it's people to think and speak freely. They must not be allowed to speak as they wish, because some of the things they speak do not fit happily into the world that Thorin would force upon us with his iron heel.

As I said in the another thread, the problem with PETA, or any other group of nearly irrational ideologues is that it's never been OK with them that you make choices for yourself, EVEN IF YOU EAT NON-ANIMAL MEAT THAT WAS NEVER AN ANIMAL TO BEGIN WITH.

Some of them are repulsed, and so because they are repulsed, then they want to force you to change as well. It was about/is always about using gov't force to make you do whatever the hell they think you should do, regardless of what you think is best.

Just like Thorin wants to do to you here. He doesn't like what you happen to think, or the things you would say, so he would remove that protection from you. Simply because it has never been OK that you would make choices for yourself.

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Cordially,
Rush

elrushbo2@theobviousgmail.com
Remove the obvious...

Do you really believe our countries are so different apart from the language? believe me, if traveled as long through Germany as I've traveled through the States - and keep your eyes and ears open (most importantly) - you would see that the extreme right-wing are even more active in your country than in mine, because in the States they are unfortunately protected by the "Freedom of Speech" law.

Ah yes, people in the US are "unfortunately protected by the 'Freedom of Speech' law." Once again, more evidence that suggests that Thorin will happily use gov't force to make people think exactly as he has decided that they must. They shouldn't be allowed to think as they wish, simply because Thorin has decided that what he thinks is right must be rammed down the throats of others.

I mean, why would any country want to protect the freedoms of it's people to think and speak freely. They must not be allowed to speak as they wish, because some of the things they speak do not fit happily into the world that Thorin would force upon us with his iron heel.

As I said in the another thread, the problem with PETA, or any other group of nearly irrational ideologues is that it's never been OK with them that you make choices for yourself, EVEN IF YOU EAT NON-ANIMAL MEAT THAT WAS NEVER AN ANIMAL TO BEGIN WITH.

Some of them are repulsed, and so because they are repulsed, then they want to force you to change as well. It was about/is always about using gov't force to make you do whatever the hell they think you should do, regardless of what you think is best.

Just like Thorin wants to do to you here. He doesn't like what you happen to think, or the things you would say, so he would remove that protection from you. Simply because it has never been OK that you would make choices for yourself.

Wrong, dear Rush. I have nothing against opinions of others even if I disagree with them. But I am against any freedom to spread fascist, racist, and other hate-related propaganda and agitation, using the excuse of the "Right of Free Speech".

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Account frozen...

Wrong, dear Rush. I have nothing against opinions of others even if I disagree with them. But I am against any freedom to spread fascist, racist, and other hate-related propaganda and agitation, using the excuse of the "Right of Free Speech".

So you are in fact against utilizing free speech to spread ideas and opinions you disagree with, including but surely not limited to, "fascism, racism, and other hate related propaganda and agitation"

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Wrong, dear Rush. I have nothing against opinions of others even if I disagree with them. But I am against any freedom to spread fascist, racist, and other hate-related propaganda and agitation, using the excuse of the "Right of Free Speech".

Then what does it mean you are against people's freedom to think and believe what they wish?

That right is protected because everyone disagrees with everyone else, on any number of things. For the most part, you have the right to think and believe what you wish, and speak it however you wish. The fact that you can say as you did up there is predicated on the right that you can think and speak as you wish.

You don't want people who disagree with you to be able to tell you what you can think and say, do you? Simply because they disagree with it?

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Cordially,
Rush

elrushbo2@theobviousgmail.com
Remove the obvious...

Wrong, dear Rush. I have nothing against opinions of others even if I disagree with them. But I am against any freedom to spread fascist, racist, and other hate-related propaganda and agitation, using the excuse of the "Right of Free Speech".

So you are in fact against utilizing free speech to spread ideas and opinions you disagree with, including but surely not limited to, "fascism, racism, and other hate related propaganda and agitation"

No, just within those limits.
Because fascism is against humanity, racism is against humanity, as is each other hate related agitation as well.

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Account frozen...

No, just within those limits.
Because fascism is against humanity, racism is against humanity, as is each other hate related agitation as well.

But they are still your chosen limits...

Is the next step book burnings, or would pre-existing material be allowed to survive and undermine your new empire?

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Is the next step book burnings

Only if they fail to convince people that the books say something that the books really don't say... ;)

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It may not be 1984 but George Orwell sure did see the future . . .

I noticed a bit of flames that entered the conversation a bit earlier in the thread.

To those posting flames: Please make certain your post does not insult anyone, and otherwise follows the forum rules.

To those that see flames: Please use the Red X instead of replying to the post. The Red X is there for a purpose. The moderators do get a report that may generate a response. They do NOT get any information about the person that complained other than the user name and ID.

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