91Èȱ¬

As former Ku Klux Klansman is convicted of killing two black teenagers forty-three years ago, we want to know if bringing justice so long after a crime has been committed can help heal the wounds. Is it sometimes better to let sleeping dogs lie in cases like this? Or is justice, no matter how long after the fact, important for helping achieve 'closure'?

And the top video on YouTube at the moment is the song . Have you seen it? What do you think? We'll be speaking to the people behind the song praising the "sexiest candidate" in the 2008 presidential campaign and getting your views.

Get in touch with your comments, and we'll chat at 1700GMT.

Madeleine

Here are some of your comments

Kalid in Gaza writes 'Fatah is responsible for everything that has been happening in gaza. Hamas is forced to use force because fatah is trying to take power without the consent of palistinian people. Hamas is elected by the people. So Hamas is by the people for the people. As far as my knowledge is concerned, this is how democracy works'

George in the US emailed 'To show the world we are not a "selective" democracy, we should recognize Hamas and help them negotiate peace with Israel.'

Sakhi in Pakistan writes 'The problem started when the international community lead by USA and Israel denied the acceptance of a demoratically elected Government in Palestine....Other wise the situation would have been different. so its simple always accept will of the people'

Craig in Swindon emailed 'Again we have a situation where the USA have given their wholehearted support - money, weapons, training - to one faction only, further de-stabilizing a troubled region. Let us not forget that Hamas won a democratic election. They were voted in by the people and whether we in the West like that or not it is not our place to seek to replace a democratically elected government with one more to our liking.'

Kazem in Dubai says 'I am Iranian and not part of all of what is going on, but i think this is silly that the 2 parties ( Fatah and HAMAS) which cannot solve their problem want to run a country and make peace with Israel. As an outsider I see the 2 Parties the main "Enemy" of palastinians not Israel!'

Sarah in US emails 'I am eladed that justice has been served. But I am afraid that the power to retry old cases will be abused. We have blocked cases from being rehashed to protect the innocent. Power currupts and absolute power currupts absolutly. I don't want our rights to be chipped away because of one evil man.'

Mussie in India says 'Please 91Èȱ¬s.. Don't ask such a question. Whether such re-opening of cases is helpful to healing the wounds of racial healing is a matter far from what this case tells us. This case tells us that justice should somehow be served. Justice must be done. Whether this heals racial hatred is a matter that should be dealt separately.'

Louis in Hamburg writes 'It is paralysing to read about these incidents. Looking at the social imbalance still alive in many Southern States today, the way a lot of animosities and hostilities are carried on in unspoken ways, every day - over centuries and decades - todays justice is only relatively better. Shouldnt we do anything we know best, to make this sad history a little more bareable? And shouldnt those incidents be marked in the clearest way as what they were? - Still our justice today is only relatively better'

Duncan emails 'It's important that as many as possible of these criminals be arrested and convicted. This establishes an official record for history that these tragic events occurred and will prevent future generations from denying them. It's justice long delayed but justice nonetheless'

John in Tampa wrote 'In the public eye, day by day, we see evidence of a society which is becoming more intolerant of racial prejudice. It is no longer acceptable in mainstream society to commit acts such as those centered in this case. Yet in reality, we see in many cities around the United States, a quiet gentrification which displaces the poor Black and Latinos further from the public eye. In my city, I've watched the neighborhood in which I live and the area around which I work transform. It is a wonderful thing to see Mr. Seales' conviction. There is no doubt that persons of his ilk should be all suffer a similar fate. The downside is that there is still so much happening which on a grander scale may actually be worse, yet it is oft ignored or generally unseen. Racism is not dead, it is simply whitewashed with pretty buildings and expensive restorations. Welcome to the new façade.

Sister Sheba emails 'I believe that cases of this type need to be re-opened so that young Americans can place the history of their parents and grandparents in proper context and understand the gains made thru the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. This is especially important as border vigilantes, right wing talk show hosts and popular media decry "political correctness" and urge wars on Arab nations, illegal immigrants and truth in general.'

Andrew writes 'of course they should be tried and locked up. no repeal probation or any kindness should be shown to them. they should be forced to tell all they know or sit in jail..... with those they advocate sending to jail.(which statistically would be african american). hell give them the death penalty'

Sarah in US says 'Although I am too young to remember the case, I believe it is the perfect justification for why race,gender and sexual orientation should be added to the federal hate crimes bill. When prosecutors on a state level are prejudiced and corrupt, these type of cases may not be tried for decades, if at all. However, adding it to a hate crimes bill would put these cases in the hands of federal prosectuors, so hopefully all of these cases will make it to court, regardless of how screwed up the state courts may or may not be.'

Steve emailed 'Does belated justice help heal the wounds of racial hatred? no. Hate is its own reason to exist. but it definitely help to show the justice system works despite its many failings..Should cases like this be re-opened? Of course. this is a cold blooded murder. How can this question even be asked? if there's a chance to solve them, why allow a murderer to get away with it? the victim's family will at least have a sense of closure. frankly that the question is asked shocks me.'

Andy in US writes 'I think they should be reopened. Just because it is an old case doesnt mean that there shouldn't be justice. And Mr Seale should be punished for what he did'