It's been a week since George Zimmerman was found not guilty.After thinking about the many things that have been said about the case here are some thoughts. First not guilty does not mean innocent Zimmerman will have to live with some of the decisions he made that night for the rest of his life.The big mistake people keep talking about is getting out of the car and following Treyvon after the police told him not to follow. It's kind of easy to condemn Zimmerman for disobeying the police unless you have ever reported a burglary. Normal police response is not like on T.V. we reported the theft of some items from my son's car when he lived at home so we have seen real police work. They basically told us that all they were doing was making a list for the insurance company this was when we pointed out that it was probably the kids who live three doors down. Unless it is a major crime they really don't investigate. So Zimmerman probably figured he could sit in the car and let his neighborhood be burglarized again or he could do something about it. I'm not saying it wasn't a mistake I just understand his decision.
My second thought is about the people most culpable for the death of Treyvon his parents. I know this sounds cruel after all their son is dead and I'm sure they are grieving However what kind of parent let's their children wander the streets after dark remember this was not his usual neighborhood. Especially when they are suspended from school after being found with stolen jewelry in his backpack. Kids are going to get in trouble from time to time that's why parents are there to set curfews and guidelines to limit their exposure. Treyvon didn't deserve to die but he was no innocent little boy this was a kid that needed some very firm guidelines to straighten him out. It seems like his parents failed him on this issue. The school system didn't help Treyvon much either because at least two of the suspensions should have been handled by the police. The school opted to handle it themselves to make the school look better, calling the police reflects on your state rankings,can't have that. Handled correctly his last suspension probably would have landed him in Juvenal detention where not only would he be alive but maybe he could have learned about consequences before the consequences killed him.
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i agree that "not guilty" doesn't mean "innocent" and that a fair trial doesn't mean justice is done. i look forward to seeing the outcome of the surely-upcoming civil trial.
ReplyDeletei don't blame martin's parents, tho i don't know his history of school/legal troubles. i think he should've been safe walking to and from the store by himself; but then i know folks who've been aggressively targeted by security-minded people, and looking suspicious to _them_ didn't take much.
Yes, everyone should be safe walking where ever they want but that isn't reality. Some areas of our cities have sketchy safety at best especially after dark. I can't control my adult children actions now that they are on their own but when they lived at home they weren't allowed to wander the streets after dark.I think far to many look to blame someone else when they should look in the mirror first.
DeleteD&S,
DeleteYou state: "i think he should've been safe walking to and from the store by himself." He was safe. He wasn't shot for walking to and from the store. No, as he told his girlfriend he was upset that someone was watching him suspiciously. Being a big, strong guy he decided to show the weaker guy that he should mind his own business. He was in the middle of beating the crap out of Zimmerman when he found out he brought fists to a gun fight.
Then a local case that was clearly self-defense was raised to a national story by racial agitators to increase minority voter turnout in an election year. The shooting was tragic the politicization afterwards was beyond disgusting.
"He wasn't shot for walking to and from the store." he was shot _while_ walking from the store minding his own business by Zimmerman, who stalked Martin by car and then on foot after having been warned off by law enforcement and then who then killed Martin when he felt threatened. vigilantism didn't end well.
Delete"he brought fists to a gun fight." he didn't bring anything to this particular gunfight. this gunfight was following him.
"clearly self-defense" not hardly. i have trouble calling it self defense if you kill the guy you picked a fight with because now you feel threatened.
"the shooting was tragic." i agree with you there.
D&S,
ReplyDeleteAs a wise man once said "You're entitled to your own opinions, not your own facts." You are clearly misinformed about what happened in this case and have decided to belief in "facts" from an alternative universe.
roflol!
Deleteit's entirely possible i am wrong in my understanding. i'm not sure anyone who wasn't there will ever know the "facts," and the one survivor refused to testify. please feel free to offer your own understanding for my consideration. or not, as you wish.
i do appreciate the moynihan quote.