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Fear and Death in Florida
Author: BobR
Date: 03/28/2012 12:36:20
On February 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin was walking home from the store to his dad's house. Self-appointed block "captain" George Zimmerman decided in his mind that this boy was a criminal and pursued him, despite direct directions from the non-emergency 911 operator NOT to do that. Supposedly, a scuffle occurred and Zimmerman shot Martin, claiming self-defense. Had Zimmerman been an actual police officeer, this may have been just another white-cop-shoots-black-youth story, and gotten little press.
But Zimmerman was a private citizen, and Trayvon's parents were not about to let Zimmerman get away with murder (literally). And so - in the interim, the case has turned into a national discussion about racism (both casual and institutionalized), assumed guilt, and what constitutes self-defense and justifiable homocide. So let's take a closer look at these things...
George Zimmerman was a self-appointed block captain sitting in his car, watching the streets of "his" neighborhood. Zimmerman was a failed wannabe cop, who had called 911 nearly 50 times previously. There don't seem to be any public records of what those calls were about, nor the outcomes. Zimmerman, however has been recorded as saying the the boy was "wearing a hoodie" and was "black". He also referred to Martin as a "fucking coon". Then, as the operator instructed him NOT to pursue the boy, Zimmerman did just that, muttering that "these assholes always get away".
It seems apparent that Zimmerman was the pursuer and the aggressor. Let's look at this from Trayvon Martin's viewpoint:
You are 17 year-old black kid, walking back from the store to your father's house. You are carrying a bag of candy and a can of ice tea. You notice that a large white male is stalking you. You try to walk faster to get away, but he's coming after you, he's not the police, and he's got a gun. What are you supposed to think? What are you supposed to do? It seems obvious you'd be scared for your life and would do what you needed to do to escape.
Zimmerman claimed he felt his life was in danger, and shot the 17 year old boy dead, despite being 11 years older and 100 lbs heavier, and despite actually chasing after the boy with the obvious goal of detaining him until police arrived.
In the aftermath of this, there have been attempts to paint Trayvon Martin in a bad light, as if anything he had done previous to that night was somehow relevant:
These are attempts to smear Trayvon Martin post-mortem in an effort to bolster Zimmerman's empty case of self-defense. Zimmerman knew nothing of Martin, which not only points out the emptiness of these smears, but makes one wonder how a supposed "block captain" would not know who the kids were on his block. In the same breath, the relevant exposes of Zimmerman's past (including an actual arrest) are somehow being labeled as smears on Zimmerman.
Zimmerman would not be getting away with murder, though, were it not for the bungling, institutionalized racism, and casual indifference of the police, district attorney, et al. The investigating officer wanted to press charges, but everyone assumed Zimmerman was telling the truth, and that Martin was just another statistic. They seemed to have little interest in determing who this boy was, despite having a cell phone in his possession. They assumed that Zimmerman was within his rights to "defend" himself, despite chasing after the boy.
After a month of no action by the police or district attorney, the family went public, and here we are today. A family has lost their son due to the fear, racism, and hubris of another, and they want understandably justice. Most of the rest of the nation sees the injustice as well. Here's hoping that justice is done, and we no longer have instances of self-appointed vigilantes acting as judge, juror, and executioner. That is about the only nugget of worth that can be extricated from this sad affair.
But Zimmerman was a private citizen, and Trayvon's parents were not about to let Zimmerman get away with murder (literally). And so - in the interim, the case has turned into a national discussion about racism (both casual and institutionalized), assumed guilt, and what constitutes self-defense and justifiable homocide. So let's take a closer look at these things...
George Zimmerman was a self-appointed block captain sitting in his car, watching the streets of "his" neighborhood. Zimmerman was a failed wannabe cop, who had called 911 nearly 50 times previously. There don't seem to be any public records of what those calls were about, nor the outcomes. Zimmerman, however has been recorded as saying the the boy was "wearing a hoodie" and was "black". He also referred to Martin as a "fucking coon". Then, as the operator instructed him NOT to pursue the boy, Zimmerman did just that, muttering that "these assholes always get away".
It seems apparent that Zimmerman was the pursuer and the aggressor. Let's look at this from Trayvon Martin's viewpoint:
You are 17 year-old black kid, walking back from the store to your father's house. You are carrying a bag of candy and a can of ice tea. You notice that a large white male is stalking you. You try to walk faster to get away, but he's coming after you, he's not the police, and he's got a gun. What are you supposed to think? What are you supposed to do? It seems obvious you'd be scared for your life and would do what you needed to do to escape.
Zimmerman claimed he felt his life was in danger, and shot the 17 year old boy dead, despite being 11 years older and 100 lbs heavier, and despite actually chasing after the boy with the obvious goal of detaining him until police arrived.
In the aftermath of this, there have been attempts to paint Trayvon Martin in a bad light, as if anything he had done previous to that night was somehow relevant:
- He was supposedly suspended from school for having trace amounts of marijuana (despite having no drugs in his system, per autopsy tests) - that is not relevant.
- He said some things on Twitter that a normal teen would say - that is not relevant
- He was wearing a "hoodie" - that is not relevant
These are attempts to smear Trayvon Martin post-mortem in an effort to bolster Zimmerman's empty case of self-defense. Zimmerman knew nothing of Martin, which not only points out the emptiness of these smears, but makes one wonder how a supposed "block captain" would not know who the kids were on his block. In the same breath, the relevant exposes of Zimmerman's past (including an actual arrest) are somehow being labeled as smears on Zimmerman.
Zimmerman would not be getting away with murder, though, were it not for the bungling, institutionalized racism, and casual indifference of the police, district attorney, et al. The investigating officer wanted to press charges, but everyone assumed Zimmerman was telling the truth, and that Martin was just another statistic. They seemed to have little interest in determing who this boy was, despite having a cell phone in his possession. They assumed that Zimmerman was within his rights to "defend" himself, despite chasing after the boy.
After a month of no action by the police or district attorney, the family went public, and here we are today. A family has lost their son due to the fear, racism, and hubris of another, and they want understandably justice. Most of the rest of the nation sees the injustice as well. Here's hoping that justice is done, and we no longer have instances of self-appointed vigilantes acting as judge, juror, and executioner. That is about the only nugget of worth that can be extricated from this sad affair.
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
wickedpam on 03/28/2012 13:12:42
wickedpam on 03/28/2012 13:12:42
Morning 
Comment by 
Raine on 03/28/2012 13:22:16
good morning!
Raine on 03/28/2012 13:22:16
good morning!
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 13:30:09
Raine on 03/28/2012 13:30:09
One point of of information about the blog. There is actually a public record of Zimmermans 911 calls. This is his call history
If you click here, there is a section from the City of Sanford on the *investigation*
What I don't see, however, are the outcomes of all these calls.
If you click here, there is a section from the City of Sanford on the *investigation*
What I don't see, however, are the outcomes of all these calls.
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 13:46:32
Raine on 03/28/2012 13:46:32
So really, I heard a little chatter of this on the show, and I had to look it up. He REALLY is out of touch with reality.
Romney's CA Mansion Project Features Elevator For Cars
Romney's CA Mansion Project Features Elevator For Cars
Comment by wickedpam on 03/28/2012 13:47:25
wickedpam on 03/28/2012 13:47:25
The lastes thing I've heard was that Martin was suspended because he had burglar tools (what ever those are) and jewerly on him
People make me sad
People make me sad
Comment by 
Scoopster on 03/28/2012 13:49:03
Scoopster on 03/28/2012 13:49:03
Mornin' all.. 
A few friends and I had a tense discussion about this whole thing yesterday afternoon. One of them was taking the statement given by Zimmerman to the police word-for-word, claiming that the fact that Zimmerman's nose was broken proves he was being 100% truthful.
A few friends and I had a tense discussion about this whole thing yesterday afternoon. One of them was taking the statement given by Zimmerman to the police word-for-word, claiming that the fact that Zimmerman's nose was broken proves he was being 100% truthful.
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 13:50:49
This is getting really insane. I want to see pictures of the egregiously injured Zimmerman. I want to know if police even DID an invvestigation of the crime scene.
As Bob pointed out this morning, he was a teen. A teen doing what teens do.
I'm really looking forward to Clint's view on this tomorrow.
Raine on 03/28/2012 13:50:49
Quote by wickedpam:
The lastes thing I've heard was that Martin was suspended because he had burglar tools (what ever those are) and jewerly on him
People make me sad
As Bob pointed out this morning, he was a teen. A teen doing what teens do.
I'm really looking forward to Clint's view on this tomorrow.
Comment by wickedpam on 03/28/2012 13:52:36
teens always look like their up to something - their TEENS their brains are going a mile a minute, they are half kid half adult, its normal
wickedpam on 03/28/2012 13:52:36
Quote by Raine:This is getting really insane. I want to see pictures of the egregiously injured Zimmerman. I want to know if police even DID an invvestigation of the crime scene.Quote by wickedpam:
The lastes thing I've heard was that Martin was suspended because he had burglar tools (what ever those are) and jewerly on him
People make me sad
As Bob pointed out this morning, he was a teen. A teen doing what teens do.
I'm really looking forward to Clint's view on this tomorrow.
teens always look like their up to something - their TEENS their brains are going a mile a minute, they are half kid half adult, its normal
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 13:54:32
Ooof.
You know I have a nephew -- he is not a big kid. Tall and lanky at this point. He loves hoodies as well, btw. About 2 years ago, (before he got tall... he was just skinny) he was suspended from school for fighting BACK with a bully. Said bully was larger than him, but nephew had had enough of non action from the school, etc.
Both nephew and bully were suspended. Does that make Nephew a goon, a thug? NO.
Raine on 03/28/2012 13:54:32
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all..
A few friends and I had a tense discussion about this whole thing yesterday afternoon. One of them was taking the statement given by Zimmerman to the police word-for-word, claiming that the fact that Zimmerman's nose was broken proves he was being 100% truthful.
You know I have a nephew -- he is not a big kid. Tall and lanky at this point. He loves hoodies as well, btw. About 2 years ago, (before he got tall... he was just skinny) he was suspended from school for fighting BACK with a bully. Said bully was larger than him, but nephew had had enough of non action from the school, etc.
Both nephew and bully were suspended. Does that make Nephew a goon, a thug? NO.
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 13:58:13
Raine on 03/28/2012 13:58:13
Quote by Raine:
So really, I heard a little chatter of this on the show, and I had to look it up. He REALLY is out of touch with reality.
Romney's CA Mansion Project Features Elevator For Cars
Comment by Scoopster on 03/28/2012 14:15:59
Oh I know that move.. I got suspended for a couple days once for punching this asshole kid who thought it would be funny to spray the teacher's whiteboard cleaner (essentially watered-down ammonia bleach) in my face. Only thing that stopped it from going in my eyes was my glasses. He got a full week suspension tho, plus a couple weeks worth of detentions.
Scoopster on 03/28/2012 14:15:59
Quote by Raine:Ooof.Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all..
A few friends and I had a tense discussion about this whole thing yesterday afternoon. One of them was taking the statement given by Zimmerman to the police word-for-word, claiming that the fact that Zimmerman's nose was broken proves he was being 100% truthful.
You know I have a nephew -- he is not a big kid. Tall and lanky at this point. He loves hoodies as well, btw. About 2 years ago, (before he got tall... he was just skinny) he was suspended from school for fighting BACK with a bully. Said bully was larger than him, but nephew had had enough of non action from the school, etc.
Both nephew and bully were suspended. Does that make Nephew a goon, a thug? NO.
Oh I know that move.. I got suspended for a couple days once for punching this asshole kid who thought it would be funny to spray the teacher's whiteboard cleaner (essentially watered-down ammonia bleach) in my face. Only thing that stopped it from going in my eyes was my glasses. He got a full week suspension tho, plus a couple weeks worth of detentions.
Comment by 
BobR on 03/28/2012 14:27:26
You know - the house I grew up in had an elevator in the garage...
My parents were not rich. They paid 35K for an old victorian house in a small upstate town in 1968. It was built in the late 1800s. Along with the house was a huge carriage house (larger than some people's homes, really). It was two stories, built back in the days of horse-drawn carriages. There were stalls in the back for horses, and an oats cleaner fed from an oats bin on the second floor. One room contained coal for the furnace (to keep the horses warm during the winter, I expect).
There was also a hand-cranked elevator in the front part. From the second floor, you turned the crank to lower down a platform big enough for a buggie or a winter sleigh, pushed the carriage onto the platform, and then cranked it back up. This was so that winter and summer vehicles could be stored and swapped out.
BobR on 03/28/2012 14:27:26
Quote by Raine:
So really, I heard a little chatter of this on the show, and I had to look it up. He REALLY is out of touch with reality.
Romney's CA Mansion Project Features Elevator For Cars
You know - the house I grew up in had an elevator in the garage...
My parents were not rich. They paid 35K for an old victorian house in a small upstate town in 1968. It was built in the late 1800s. Along with the house was a huge carriage house (larger than some people's homes, really). It was two stories, built back in the days of horse-drawn carriages. There were stalls in the back for horses, and an oats cleaner fed from an oats bin on the second floor. One room contained coal for the furnace (to keep the horses warm during the winter, I expect).
There was also a hand-cranked elevator in the front part. From the second floor, you turned the crank to lower down a platform big enough for a buggie or a winter sleigh, pushed the carriage onto the platform, and then cranked it back up. This was so that winter and summer vehicles could be stored and swapped out.
Comment by 
Mondobubba on 03/28/2012 14:28:37
Mondobubba on 03/28/2012 14:28:37
Took the day off, watching Mamma and the stuff before and after the commercial breaks when they are off the air is a hoot.
Comment by Mondobubba on 03/28/2012 14:32:24
Romney has hired a lobbiest to get a zoning variance for the garage.
Mondobubba on 03/28/2012 14:32:24
Quote by Raine:Quote by Raine:
So really, I heard a little chatter of this on the show, and I had to look it up. He REALLY is out of touch with reality.
Romney's CA Mansion Project Features Elevator For Cars
Romney has hired a lobbiest to get a zoning variance for the garage.
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 14:34:24
I was reading up on this issue, and I know that many vehicle elevators aren't exactly a lot of money -- but it just really shows how out of touch he is, IMO. The basement of the house has a larger Sq. Ft. Area than the house itself.
It's more the image it sends than anything else.
Raine on 03/28/2012 14:34:24
Quote by BobR:Quote by Raine:
So really, I heard a little chatter of this on the show, and I had to look it up. He REALLY is out of touch with reality.
Romney's CA Mansion Project Features Elevator For Cars
You know - the house I grew up in had an elevator in the garage...
My parents were not rich. They paid 35K for an old victorian house in a small upstate town in 1968. It was built in the late 1800s. Along with the house was a huge carriage house (larger than some people's homes, really). It was two stories, built back in the days of horse-drawn carriages. There were stalls in the back for horses, and an oats cleaner fed from an oats bin on the second floor. One room contained coal for the furnace (to keep the horses warm during the winter, I expect).
There was also a hand-cranked elevator in the front part. From the second floor, you turned the crank to lower down a platform big enough for a buggie or a winter sleigh, pushed the carriage onto the platform, and then cranked it back up. This was so that winter and summer vehicles could be stored and swapped out.
It's more the image it sends than anything else.
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 14:37:38
Raine on 03/28/2012 14:37:38
Pap is asking ALL the questions I want answered.
Comment by BobR on 03/28/2012 14:40:56
At least he's spending money. That's good for the economy right?
and hey - if it helps the economy, it helps Obama, so that ends up hurting Romney's election chances!
BobR on 03/28/2012 14:40:56
Quote by Raine:I was reading up on this issue, and I know that many vehicle elevators aren't exactly a lot of money -- but it just really shows how out of touch he is, IMO. The basement of the house has a larger Sq. Ft. Area than the house itself.Quote by BobR:Quote by Raine:
So really, I heard a little chatter of this on the show, and I had to look it up. He REALLY is out of touch with reality.
Romney's CA Mansion Project Features Elevator For Cars
You know - the house I grew up in had an elevator in the garage...
My parents were not rich. They paid 35K for an old victorian house in a small upstate town in 1968. It was built in the late 1800s. Along with the house was a huge carriage house (larger than some people's homes, really). It was two stories, built back in the days of horse-drawn carriages. There were stalls in the back for horses, and an oats cleaner fed from an oats bin on the second floor. One room contained coal for the furnace (to keep the horses warm during the winter, I expect).
There was also a hand-cranked elevator in the front part. From the second floor, you turned the crank to lower down a platform big enough for a buggie or a winter sleigh, pushed the carriage onto the platform, and then cranked it back up. This was so that winter and summer vehicles could be stored and swapped out.
It's more the image it sends than anything else.
At least he's spending money. That's good for the economy right?
and hey - if it helps the economy, it helps Obama, so that ends up hurting Romney's election chances!
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 14:44:56
Raine on 03/28/2012 14:44:56
Ok, I would like to know how this can happen -- legally. Boner is using house funds to pay for its DOMA defense.
But those numbers became clear Tuesday as lawmakers sparred over the point, and the costs, of the House hiring outside attorneys to defend the federal ban on gay marriage at a time when money is tight and when various courts -- but not the U.S. Supreme Court -- have ruled that the law is unconstitutional.
Boehner so far has collected $742,000 to defend DOMA, and that money was skimmed from funds that would normally go toward House officer and employee salaries, Chief Administrative Officer Dan Strodel told members of a House Appropriations subcommittee. Strodel said none of that money came out of the budget of the Justice Department, which dropped its defense of DOMA in February 2011 after Attorney General Eric Holder determined it to be unconstitutional. Boehner, in his authority as speaker, has been defending the law on behalf of the federal government ever since.
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 14:45:30
Raine on 03/28/2012 14:45:30
Quote by BobR:
At least he's spending money. That's good for the economy right?
and hey - if it helps the economy, it helps Obama, so that ends up hurting Romney's election chances!
Comment by Mondobubba on 03/28/2012 14:48:02
Mondobubba on 03/28/2012 14:48:02
Raine, no porn on Jim's laptop.
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 14:48:08
Raine on 03/28/2012 14:48:08
and please read the whole Boner DOMA article -- tell me what you think about the Organic food portion.
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 14:48:29
Not today..... 
Raine on 03/28/2012 14:48:29
Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, no porn on Jim's laptop.
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 14:51:50
Someone stole the Lorax Statue from the Seuess estate.
Raine on 03/28/2012 14:51:50
‎"And deep in the Grickle-grass, some people say, if you look deep enough you can still see, today, where the Lorax once stood just as long as it could before somebody lifted the Lorax away."
Someone stole the Lorax Statue from the Seuess estate.
Comment by Mondobubba on 03/28/2012 14:54:58
True.
Mondobubba on 03/28/2012 14:54:58
Quote by Raine:Not today.....Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, no porn on Jim's laptop.
True.
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 15:00:34
Raine on 03/28/2012 15:00:34
I'm just trying to figure out what sight he is looking at. He was there on Monday as well.
Comment by Mondobubba on 03/28/2012 15:04:10
Mondobubba on 03/28/2012 15:04:10
Quote by Raine:
and please read the whole Boner DOMA article -- tell me what you think about the Organic food portion.
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 15:14:45
Yeah, me too. 
Raine on 03/28/2012 15:14:45
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
and please read the whole Boner DOMA article -- tell me what you think about the Organic food portion.
Comment by wickedpam on 03/28/2012 15:19:15
wickedpam on 03/28/2012 15:19:15
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
and please read the whole Boner DOMA article -- tell me what you think about the Organic food portion.
Comment by Will in Chicago on 03/28/2012 15:27:41
Will in Chicago on 03/28/2012 15:27:41
Good morning, bloggers! I hope that everyone is well.
BobR, thanks for an excellent blog. I think that the Trayvon Martin case is exposing a lot about our society. So far, it seems that George Zimmerman has shown little evidence to support his story. I have more faith in external investigations in Sanford, as the town police did nothing to see if Zimmerman was drunk or even pick up the cell phone on Trayvon to determine his identity.
As to why some of the rhetoric is so heated, I think that we have indeed reached a tipping point where racism is no longer acceptable for much of society. It is a time of transition for us as a nation, and such times are often painful. Yet, once we get past such times, we can emerge into a better and more compassionate society.
Also, I fear that the Fox pundits and their allies are proving Abraham Lincoln correct in this famous quote:
[Quote="Abraham Lincoln"]It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
BobR, thanks for an excellent blog. I think that the Trayvon Martin case is exposing a lot about our society. So far, it seems that George Zimmerman has shown little evidence to support his story. I have more faith in external investigations in Sanford, as the town police did nothing to see if Zimmerman was drunk or even pick up the cell phone on Trayvon to determine his identity.
As to why some of the rhetoric is so heated, I think that we have indeed reached a tipping point where racism is no longer acceptable for much of society. It is a time of transition for us as a nation, and such times are often painful. Yet, once we get past such times, we can emerge into a better and more compassionate society.
Also, I fear that the Fox pundits and their allies are proving Abraham Lincoln correct in this famous quote:
[Quote="Abraham Lincoln"]It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
Comment by Will in Chicago on 03/28/2012 15:32:07
Will in Chicago on 03/28/2012 15:32:07
Oops, forgot to close the quote tag.
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
Comment by 
livingonli on 03/28/2012 15:45:47
livingonli on 03/28/2012 15:45:47
Good morning folks. We had a power outage from 10:30 to 11:05 which screwed my DVR record this morning. When they started playing the cat sounds earlier, the cat here woke up and started staring at the TV and then she went back to sleep.
Comment by wickedpam on 03/28/2012 15:55:16
wickedpam on 03/28/2012 15:55:16
racist potato bugs?
Comment by Mondobubba on 03/28/2012 15:59:38
Anti-semetic ants!
Mondobubba on 03/28/2012 15:59:38
Quote by wickedpam:
racist potato bugs?
Anti-semetic ants!
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 16:37:58
Raine on 03/28/2012 16:37:58
Insects kilt the blog!
Comment by wickedpam on 03/28/2012 16:43:53
hateful insects
the Lady Bugs and Butterflys had nothing to do with it ;)
wickedpam on 03/28/2012 16:43:53
Quote by Raine:
Insects kilt the blog!
hateful insects
the Lady Bugs and Butterflys had nothing to do with it ;)
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 16:51:47
Raine on 03/28/2012 16:51:47
I would like to make a strong book reading suggestion. If your Library carries it, get a copy of *The Blessing* by Gegory Orr.
In addition to being a professor of English/poetry at University of Virginia, he attended Germantown Central School. His father was many a friends first Doctor in that town. I am just about done reading the book and it is amazing.
I really would like for one of my friends to read the book and tell me what they think. I am biased, as it mentions places in Germantown that I know like the back of my hand -- and NYC -- but it also talks about his father relocating his family to Haiti in the early 60's and thier return to Germantown and then his civil rights work in Mississippi in 1965. I was struck to the core last night reading it -- and realized that wrt to ACA and Trayvon martin -- some hate never really went away.
As a matter of fact, he talks about a lot of things that happen in small town family settings and what happens when the bigger world intervenes.
In addition to being a professor of English/poetry at University of Virginia, he attended Germantown Central School. His father was many a friends first Doctor in that town. I am just about done reading the book and it is amazing.
I really would like for one of my friends to read the book and tell me what they think. I am biased, as it mentions places in Germantown that I know like the back of my hand -- and NYC -- but it also talks about his father relocating his family to Haiti in the early 60's and thier return to Germantown and then his civil rights work in Mississippi in 1965. I was struck to the core last night reading it -- and realized that wrt to ACA and Trayvon martin -- some hate never really went away.
As a matter of fact, he talks about a lot of things that happen in small town family settings and what happens when the bigger world intervenes.
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 16:53:48
Raine on 03/28/2012 16:53:48
Oh and please, read this Q&A. it was done in 2011, his book was published in 2002.
Comment by BobR on 03/28/2012 18:29:39
Thanks Will - I certainly hope we are transitioning, and in the proper direction.
BobR on 03/28/2012 18:29:39
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Good morning, bloggers! I hope that everyone is well.
BobR, thanks for an excellent blog. I think that the Trayvon Martin case is exposing a lot about our society. So far, it seems that George Zimmerman has shown little evidence to support his story. I have more faith in external investigations in Sanford, as the town police did nothing to see if Zimmerman was drunk or even pick up the cell phone on Trayvon to determine his identity.
As to why some of the rhetoric is so heated, I think that we have indeed reached a tipping point where racism is no longer acceptable for much of society. It is a time of transition for us as a nation, and such times are often painful. Yet, once we get past such times, we can emerge into a better and more compassionate society.
Also, I fear that the Fox pundits and their allies are proving Abraham Lincoln correct in this famous quote:
[Quote="Abraham Lincoln"]It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
Thanks Will - I certainly hope we are transitioning, and in the proper direction.
Comment by livingonli on 03/28/2012 22:44:41
livingonli on 03/28/2012 22:44:41
It sure got quiet here today.
Comment by Raine on 03/28/2012 22:46:25
My book suggestion seems to have killed the blog.
Raine on 03/28/2012 22:46:25
Quote by livingonli:
It sure got quiet here today.
My book suggestion seems to have killed the blog.