Great debate

The controversy in Jena, La., has thrown discrimination back into the limelight of U.S. debate after six black high school students were charged under obviously racist pretenses for attempted murder. With a Capitol Hill hearing, thousands of words of commentary in Internet forums and Facebook activists appearing in droves, the Jena Six have lit a racially charged fuse that has not been seen since the O.J. Simpson murder trial of 1994.\nIt seems unlikely that an American citizen could have missed the whole story and its heated context – unlikely, but not impossible. A Muncie, Ind., sanitation worker was suspended without pay for 30 days last week after he attached nooses to the review mirror in his trash truck. The unidentified employee claims that the nooses were completely innocent Halloween decorations. The man was suspended after complaints were filed by co-workers, who, after hearing the man’s explanation, have said that he does not deserve the suspension.\nThis is a time that we can praise open dialogue and interpretation. There is no doubt in my mind that the man in question unknowingly placed objects in his vehicle that had clear racially charged undertones. Luckily, in this case, workers discussed the issue and decided that ignorance is not a crime. While the suspension might yet stand, at least it seems that the man will not feel the effects of lingering bad sentiment.\nMore importantly, the case of the Muncie employee seems to be the identification that ultimately occurs in an environment of minimally limited free speech. By any moral standard, the man was not guilty of any crime nor could he logically be labeled a bigot or racist. However, the symbol he chose to use in order to show his love of Halloween has clearly developed back into a symbol of hatred and threats in light of recent events. The difficulty arose as a result of a misunderstanding and two separate interpretations. The solution to the tension produced at least a decent outcome. Whether the suspension is adequate to punish ignorance will still be debated (but no doubt at least some reprimand was appropriate).\nIncreasingly, we must tread lightly in everyday speech for fear of such reprimands and the placement of labels such as “racist.” It is a natural and blameless response to draw lines and take sides based on an individual view of certain speech. In Muncie this week, the best-case scenario developed and the misunderstanding did not result in any unnecessary altercations, even though some jumped to conclusions before hearing the Halloween enthusiast’s story in full.\nJena, La., has reopened a necessary debate concerning the actual status of equality in the United States. Debates should be held with impassioned words and well-reasoned logic, and above all else, with open ears before open mouths. For all involved it is best to listen to varying viewpoints and to avoid jumping to conclusions that are difficult to take back. The case of a Muncie man who simply loves Halloween certainly proves that.