Posted by downwardspiral (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

HA HA HA!!! "The heat makes you do crazy things". Nevermind how people are raised or what they see on TV, the video games they play. It was the heat that made this guy shoot another human being? Seriously? Get with it.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

So no one has taken my billboard idea and ran with it? We need a crime billboard that has the number of shootings and murders. This will allow citizens to see the REAL reality of Selma's crime problems. It's not real to many people here. If it was real to them, then they would be taking ALL the measures to help prevent it. BUT, this group wants to talk about factors like street signs, 1965 issues, the racial makeup of this and that, and 99 others things that at the end of the day....DOES NOT MATTER. This town is a total paradox.

Posted by knowing (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Downwardspiral, much like your username, that first sentence is a well known part of speech. Also I'm assuming you know the shotter since you are fairly certain he or she plays video games etc.

I'm willing to bet you don't know the person. Am I right?

Posted by Newswatcher (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

knowing.....I know that was a typo, but it was funny "shotter"??? I know you meant shooter....wow that was funny....but not a funny situation. It's grave and sad, but I don't understand why this person would be charged with assault instead of attempted murder. Can anyone explain that?

Posted by downwardspiral (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Knowing- yes I do know the "shotter" as you like to put it. And yes, I know he likes playing video games- especially the ones he plays from the houses he has broken into.

Posted by downwardspiral (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Beats me too Newswatcher. Wouldn't we all like to know. I imagine he gets a little slap on the wrists and some small fine. I bet that will teach em'....

Posted by e7173000 (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think that blaming it on the heat is just as funny as blaming it on T.V and video games.You have to blame it on the individual not how he was raised,T.V or video games .He shot this guy ,his T.V or video game wasn't there.

Posted by downwardspiral (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow squirk! I couldn't have said it any better. Well put.

Posted by SelmaLordSelma (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Again, Squirk, you speak for so many!! But, hey, WE'RE GETTING A RIVERWALK PARK!!

Posted by I_saw_what_you_did_in_Selma (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Squirk! Well-said! This applies to the country as a whole, too, not just Selma. When are you going to announce your presidential run? You'll have my vote.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

AMEN SQUIRK!!!! This should be a front page article with your words verbatim. That is the TRUTH and nothing but THE TRUTH!!! If this 70% black community really cared about this atrocious black on black crime and murdering, then they would be taking more progressive steps to assure this epidemic is STOPPED AT ALL COSTS. Whether through city government, police force, neighborhood gatherings, marching in the streets to take back neighborhoods and streets back, using that race baiting radio station, or just being responsible adults. Nothing is being done but Lip Service. It's a real shame.

Posted by nanam (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You know, if these people had done a hard days work, they would be at home resting or sleeping for the next day. The place where I work does financing and you wouldn't belive at the young people that come in their with disability checks each month to pay their bills that don't work, and most of them look like they are in better shape than I am.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I wonder how many social security checks are cashed? I wonder how many crazy checks are cashed? I wonder how many times I have to go into Walmart and see a very abled body, very capable of working pull 2 carts of groceries filled to the rim up to the cashier....and swipe that foodstamp card? At least $300 plus worth. It makes me sick.

Posted by sel36703 (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Who said that the suspect was black; wow, I'm appalled that we automatically assumed this was black on black crime (I'm sure someone who knows the victim would know, but what about the rest of you ). And just to point out a common practice on this blog, conscious readers please compare the statements here to those found in the blog for the teen charged in the burglary spree. Things that make you go hmmm!

Posted by Wedgie (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Newswatcher- As silly as it may sound you have to prove the suspect was attempting to murder their victim where assault is classified by the degree of their injuries from the assault. The new paper article was not clear enough to determine if the guy shot at him then fled or if he walked over and tried to finish him off by shooting him again while he was laying on the ground. That would be an act that would constitute Attempted Murder. Sounds silly but true. Heat, T.V. and video games are only an excuse for the lack of respect for the life of another human being and your own. Act out of emotion and deal with the consequences later.

I also agree with squirk.

Posted by praize (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The Selma City Police Department need to step up more than what they are doing. They are stopping people for minor driving offenses and not worrying about the drug areas. We do have young children that are playing outside in the City of Selma. Think about your children outside playing and a shoot out goes on. If something is not done quickly, then Selma is going to be as bad as these other towns with a large crime. We have got to stop this before this gets more out of hand than it is. And this should be an attempted murder charge rather than an assault. Selma has got to get better on their crime scenes and get these police that are not sharp and do not care just want to make money. They are not out there to just make money, they are to protect and serve. But there are some that are out to just pick on people for the little things. I stay in West Selma and I can count the times that I see a police car drive through my neighbor hood as if they are scared. I ask the Selma Police Department to step up and PROTECT AND SERVE AS YOU TOOK YOUR OATH.

Posted by bama (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm not reading all of this but do not blame the police force because someone was shot.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Is it some mystery that the same crime happens on the same streets day after day after day after day? The police force is grossly understaffed. That is a fact due to the city's management report done 2 years or so ago. The force would have had to hire over 20+ officers to break even. It also stated Selma has the crime of a city DOUBLE it's size. With that being a fact, then when will there be a push for more cops? Oh yeah, we don't have enough money to even maintain the one's we have.

If not for the excessive amount of thuggery, crime and murder...Selma could probably maintain with the number officers we have. But unfortunately, this isn't the case.

Posted by jesustakethewheel (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm SO SICK of reading headlines about these dummies shooting each other every week! Heat has nothing to do with nonsense like this since we're all well aware of people being murdered in this city year 'round. What do you prove by shooting another human being? We need to stop trying to live out rap songs and L.A. life and get back to the reality that we live in a city that has enough problems without us killing each other! Whoever did this might as well turn him/herself in 'cause as history has shown here in Selma, THEY WILL GET YOU EVENTUALLY.

Posted by singdoll (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pari1220..........Where is Landsdown and Houston Park?

Posted by SpeakTruth (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

All I have to say is he should be locked up and take the key and throw it in the river. They out shooting each other up while good people dying in Iraq because of violence. They should take those bad enough to shoot someone and put them on the front lines and let them fight the war.

Pari 1220 in case you didn't know since the election of mayor Perkins black people live everywhere in Selma these days so you can't assume Landsdown or Houston Park is not colorful.(haha) I know of many white people living in trailer parks. Selma isn't a expensive place to live so anyone can live anywhere, just have to have the money. Hopefully I won't offend you by this but the things you say about black people doesn't matter to anyone white or black because in the end the truth is color has surpassed us and money has empowered us . It doesn't matter if you are black or white these days if you take a big check to anyone they will be looking at dollar signs not the person with the check. So just know no neighborhood in Selma belongs to neither white or black. I have 12 Caucasians working under me and we get along great, so yes I am their BOSS, times have changed and you don't have to like it but you do have to live with it. There are as many educated, successful, and great blacks as there are Caucasians, YOU JUST PREFER TO TALK ABOUT THE BAD ONES, because then you feel you're actually better than someone.

Posted by sel36703 (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm sorry pari1220, I don't know any of your friend and quite frankly don't know what race you are. I try not to assume, which is what you have apparently done. Lands down, Houston Park? Sorry, I can't speak for those neighborhoods either. I'm simply asking whether you are suggesting that only a certain race live in these neighborhoods. Last time I checked lower income or higher income neighborhood are dwelled in according to socio-economic status not race. That's like saying that only white people live in trailers or only black people live in public housing.
BTW, Sin is sin, are you suggesting that one of these crimes are better than the other. Of course the severity of the punishment should be assessed to the crime committed, but at the end of the day, your true color has shined.
I don't believe you are racist, but I do believe you are prejudice and there is a difference in the two.

Posted by getitreal2008 (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I know it was just a thing to put the heat causes people to do strange things, but seriously, this being a shooting I think it is distasteful. If I had been shot and someone put in the paper, even jokingly, that the heat caused the shooter to do it, I would be pissed! For the comment about the burglar compared to this shooter, other than the people related to him, it is pretty much the same. Again, big difference in trying to take a life, and take someones things. They should all go to prison just the same though! Another thing, as far as us, directed towards taxpayers like myself, paying for these people in prison, it sucks, but I will not complain about it too much. I am just grateful for the prisons to house these animals! What pisses me off is paying for the bs trials that get these animals off! I will pay to keep them away, but I shouldn't have to pay to let them continue to roam the streets and terrorize decent people!

Posted by curious1 (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I totally agree with you SpeakTruth. Blacks have come a long way. Many people hate it but theres nothing that can be done about it. My father always taught us to get an education and no one can take that away from you. We will continue to do good-like it or NOT. We have college degrees and holding down top positions. Look at our President. OBAMA he's smart, intelligent and he made history. When he won it was so obvious how many racist people are in Selma. As far as the neighborhood thing goes Blacks can live where they like. We have money and credit also. That is what matters when you go to the bank.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

SpeakTruth, I'm glad you have acclimated yourself to modern day. It's great that you don't carry that slave mentality like a majority of Selmians. To have 12 white workers "Under You" is pretty normal in business. That isn't much of a credential or skill to list on your resume. But for some in Selma, it's probably a glowing long term goal.

I wouldn't say since the election of Perkins that blacks have lived "everywhere in Selma". I think some neighborhoods have been integrated LONG BEFORE this election. I'm trying to figure out what his election had to do with where people choosed to live in Selma? You act like he opened the doors to exclusive neighborhoods or ammended some law that allows blacks to live "anywhere" now. hahah Jesus man, are you serious. If you have the cash, you can live where you want.

WHo said there weren't any successful, educated blacks in this town? Hell, I wish the whole town was FULL of intelligent, successful, hard working blacks. If there were, we wouldn't be having this same, tired 1965 discussion. As far as what is discussed on here, when 90% of the crime, shooting and thieving in this town is committed by African Amercicans, how can one not discuss this atrocious epidemic killing this town? I guess that statement isn't true either, huh? Guess I was just twisting the stats and facts again.

Posted by sel36703 (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pari1220
The type of crime and your belief that life is more precious is not why I said you are prejudice. I agree life is more precious. My point was not to identify which crime was more lethal; I wanted to bring attention to the ambiguity in the blogs. However, if you presume that because a crime is in a majority black neighborhood that the suspect is black then you have prejudged without a basis other than that of race.

Posted by sel36703 (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Eyeoneyou,
There is something called margin of error in statistics, moreover, it would be fair to say that the majority of REPORTED crime is among Blacks, but not simply that the majority is by blacks (unless valid, empirical data have conclude such based solely on aggregated data and race being the only variable). Also, stats have show that crime is more prevalent among poor, uneducated people, so I would encourage one to further analyze the crime rate to determine if race or soci-economic factors is the correlation between crime and Selma citizens. (Your comments would suggest that crime in Selma is because of the blacks in Selma) and because the majority of the city is Black there is a disparity in how the percentage truly reflect the demographics of criminals in Selma. By the way, I do not have a slave-mentality and I do not encourage or support those that do, but I will acknowledge that as much as there is a slave-mentality there is a Jim Crow mentality, which is probably why both mentalities exist.
BTW,
Does anyone know the crime that the teen burglar committed in his first offense, which prompted the courts to order him to rehab? I wonder if the other criminal caught with minor possession of drugs and reported in STJ be offered rehab instead of jail?

Posted by monique72 (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is so sad. Yes he is black and what is the meaning to this. All I know time is just about over. The fire is getting hotter under us and we just don't seem to get it in our head that the world will soon end and people are getting crazier by the second. Is anyone praying for our community. Because last I heard prayer changes things?

Posted by Selma1970 (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It seems as though Pari1220 is just hooked on race. Everything with pari1220 is connected to race. It's "Blacks" this and "Blacks" that. The Blacks in this town probably feel sorry for you. Get a life.

Posted by Wedgie (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Obama has/had a white mother so he is actually mixed. Half black and half white. Who will we blame if he makes a bad decision? The black half or the white.

Selma is a little over 70% black to white. It's kind of reasonable to say that crimes will involve more blacks than whites.

Selma City schools are for the most part segregated which is whose fault. Like it or not industry will not locate here if for the most part people will have to send their kids to private schools if they relocate here.

The Selma Police department is well understaffed and underpaid. The $48,000 study revealed that 2years ago. Not one of them are getting rich off of the salaries that they are getting paid. They do however, take a lot of crap off of the general public that have no clue what their duties consist of except for when a relative is arrested or they are given a ticket for something they DIDN'T do. So don't think for one second that they are living it up because you can go 45 miles in any direction and make $10000 more a year starting out. Be greatful the ones we have havent left.

Where I am going with this is we can sit here and bicker back and forth about something that doesn't have a hill of beans to do with the problem or we can get off our butts and start doing something to remedy it. Nothing will get better if is all we can do is talk about where blacks and whites live. Anyone who breaks the law should pay for their crime, black or white. We have to get away from black and white issues because if you will notice most of the time blacks violate blacks and whites violate whites. Every now and then it will cross racial lines but not too often.

Let's try to be a little more rational and come up with solutions rather than excuses.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 5:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sel36701, you seem pretty intelligent. So with all your wordy explanations of Selma's crime and stats, I'm trying to figure how you are masking the problem. Yes, a majority of Selma's crime is committed by African Amercicans. That is a fact. With Selma being 70% black and 90% of that crime being committed by African Americans, then how else would you spin it?! I don't care if it's because of being poor, uneducated or social deformaties....we aren't analyzing the reasons why...we are analuzing the crime.

If we are going on crime that isn't reported, then you can be sure to add more percentage to that previous 90% committed. Besides maybe a handful of people in this town, the Jim Crow legacy is dead here. As bad as certain people want to demonize that community, more people have moved past those days and want a progressive, positive, hamonious, crime free, industrious, rich city for ALL. But until these REAL problems in Selma such as crime, black on black crime, shootings, murders, robbings, race baiting and finger pointing can stop......it's all a broken record.

Posted by SpeakTruth (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 11:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pari 1220, what I was trying to say is mayor Perkins ran most of the caucasions away, but I see you ride the slow bus. Its ok Pari, we understand that the only mind stimulation you get comes from reading the Selma Times Journal and posting racist statements.

Why talk to the blogs about black people? Get in your car if you have 1 and go to the neighborhoods you have talked about and try telling the people you call "blacks" how you feel, because no 1 else cares. Go ahead, just go to royal street and get all the hatred off your chest big bad racist Pari 1220, I can bet if you did that you would make Selma Time Journal headlines.(LOL)

and whomever assumed I praised Perkins (punch yourself). I don't give a poop about Perkins or any other mayor to say the least, last time I checked none of them are giving me anything. Now when you find 1 giving out free money then I will praise him.

Posted by downwardspiral (anonymous) on June 25, 2009 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

pari- he stated his problem in his last sentence- "when you find 1 giving out free money then I will praise him." Sounds like almost half of any other Selmian..... looking for a handout. I think it would be great if Alabama would adopt some sort of rules and regulations about drugs and welfare. After all, I have to take a drug test before I start a job, why not make them take drug tests before getting on welfare? Also, be sure to randomly do drug tests after the initial test. If you are caught- well that is the end of your hand out money and you will never receive welfare again. I might be on to something here....Selma might actually have a fighting chance.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on June 25, 2009 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

See pari220, this person calling you out on here has listened to too many Jeremiah Wright sermons. When a person can't see the obvious problems within one's own community, then one is doomed and plagued. Isn't it funny that most of the people calling you out are the same one's living that "Double Standard". He can call you out, name call and stereotype, but don't YOU dare say one thing that might lead to the notion of race. That's the paradox in this town. 98% of the crime, unemployment, shootings, killings are associated with the black community, YET, you never hear any solutions to the problems from the one's responsible or effected. When you do hear something, it's pure lip service. Where is the action? This has been an epidemic in this town for years and not one solution has solved the problems.

How can anyone point the finger at the people that are indirectly effected by these problems? This is not a racist statement, this is a FACT. Anyone calling a racist statement will only JUSTIFY what I'm saying about blaming the one's that AREN'T responsible for this. It's only a scapegoat method to blame the innocent to take the heat off of themeselves. It's an old technique that has become mastered by many here.

Want me to tell you what is going to happen in this town if ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS aren't fixed within a reasonable amount of time. We are going to see many responsible, professional, educated people that are sick to death of hearing the race baiting, excuses and watching this town melt from ignorance and crime LEAVE. Certain people will say "leave then". Well that's easy for you to say when you are one of the one's responsible for the problems. NO ONE should have to be subject to living in a crime infested town that is obsessed with race and isn't willing to correct their own communities problems.

Posted by sparkl88 (anonymous) on June 25, 2009 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I have read everyones messages and it seems to me that each time we point a finger at someone, we need to remember there are three pointing back at us on that same hand. Also if everytime we look at a person, all we see is black or white, then maybe the real problem is us. I think the problems in Selma have more to do with our choices than whether we are black or white. Moms and Dads can just do so much. There comes a time when we make our own choices and then we have to suffer the consequenses.
All of these people, theives and shooter, made a choice to do these things. One of the boys is in the hospital, this is one of the consequences of his choice. Two others are in jail, that is the consequences of their choices. Mom and Dad didn't make their choices. Their race didn't make their choices. It was their choice alone. Laws are made for a purpose, to protect the innocent. God made the first laws, the Ten Commandments. If we all lived by those laws, God given instruction for our lives, there would be no need for consequences. This I think is the number one problem in Selma. Even though there are church buildings on every street corner, we forget that God plainly states in His Word the we as Christians are the church, His church, His chosen people. We need to get back to the Basics of Life. Prayer, Reading the Bible, Living in Harmony, Loving Others, as God loves us. If we could, no we can, if we would do this then Selma would truly be a place that was Blessed by God, not one that is cheered on by Satan.

Posted by Selma1970 (anonymous) on June 25, 2009 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sparkl88 make a great point, maybe the real problem is US. if everytime we look at a person, all we see is black or white. Everyone should read that post over and over until they get it.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on June 25, 2009 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You are right Selma1970, but there comes a time when you have to face it. Yes, crime is crime...but when you have an ongoing trend that is specific to one community, then you have to accept it, talk about it, recognize the facts and statistics and work toward resolving it. All we are doing is saying, hey, Selma has crime. Yes we do. So with the percentage of crime happening on the same streets day after day, night after night...what would be the solution to resolving it in these specific areas? There has to be a solution that starts at the ROOT of the problem.

Posted by Selma1970 (anonymous) on June 25, 2009 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Eyeonyou, we are talking about, but I would like to see us, like you said, working towards resolving it. The time is now. I think the time is now. I think it will take everyone to do it. Residents, Police, Mayor, business owners, workers, parents, kids, pastors, teachers, mothers, fathers, editors EVERYONE.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on June 25, 2009 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

But not EVERYONE is working on it. The police force can only do so much while understaffed to patrol these areas 24/7. The mayor has his hands tied because of the lack of funds to dispurse to the Police Department. It's a catch 22, all while the crime keeps on happening.

What are the streets, neighborhoods, citizens IN THESE AREAS doing as a whole to combat this? After a while, "the people" that are effected by this and causing this must STEP UP. It's hard for a person living on one side of town to just waltz in and help a person living on Minter Avenue, GWC Homes, etc. There has to be a greater solution. I'm just not hearing the people treat this as a top priority in Selma. The people that label themselves as activist, community leaders, bishops, preachers, co-councils etc. aren't doing anything for this epidemic. When are THEY going to FACE IT???

Posted by sel36703 (anonymous) on June 25, 2009 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

BTW,
Does anyone know the crime that the teen burglar committed in his first offense, which prompted the courts to order him to rehab? I wonder if the other criminal caught with minor possession of drugs and reported in STJ be offered rehab instead of jail?

Posted by popdukes12 (anonymous) on June 25, 2009 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

eyesonyou: What exactly is a "co-council"? who elected them? Are they paid? Do they have any authority? It sounds like a lawyer term, but I don't find any reference to the term in a participatory democracy as related to leadership. Is this some third world invention that is trying to migrate into the American lexicon or just someone attempting to bolster their own self esteem by playing off the ignorance of others? popdukes12