The Trayvon Martin shooting

[BW23]

I wish something good could come of all of this, but I don't anticipate it.

As I stated yesterday, I think there's plenty of blame to go around. The news media, entertainment, leaders in this country (both elected and even self-appointed), Trayvon, Zimmerman, the families and friends, those involved with the investigation...the list is long.

Did Trayvon deserve to die? No. Was he in the wrong? I think so.

Did Zimmerman act wrongly in shooting Trayvon? I think so. Was he right to confront him? I don't see why not. Should he have acted, as some believe, as policeman and judge? Nope.

The entertainment world portrays young, black males as thugs. It's celebrated often, particularly in music. It's certainly the case in TV and movies, at least those made by non-blacks. Too many want to live up to the stereotype. (Not a slam on young blacks as the same could be said for many "rednecks".)

Maybe it was the "stand your ground" law that drew in the new media, but I don't think so. Many (ABC in particular) purposely led many to believe incorrect things hoping the race issue would be a ratings hit. Al Sharpton and the NAACP didn't show up because of the law. Nothing is said of the thousands of murders of blacks by blacks each year. I have a friend who lives in Indianapolis that said during the time of the trial, 12 blacks were murdered in Indianapolis by other blacks. Where's Jesse and Al? Where's ABC?

Where's the national media with regard to Marley Lion? Or the countless others of blacks killing those of another race?

Why are those, even like Obama, saying "what if this was your son/it could have been my son"? Do they really believe that, or is it for some political/other gain? Does anyone in the world believe Obama's son would have acted and behaved like Trayvon...not necessarily just that night, either? As a whole.

I'm just tired of the whole thing. It's been way overdrawn, and because of this, I expect race relations to get worse. Realistically, it could be a time when things could get better. It just won't happen.

[IMADreamer]

A lot of the people I hang out with are racist. It's something we avoid all together because it makes me dislike other wise decent people. I think there is a lot of racism in this country still, alot. White people think all blacks are thugs and gangster rappers, and to be fair that's about all you see in the media, tv, movies, etc. It's also reversed though, like the witness that said she didn't think "creepy ass cracker" was racists. Who even uses those terms?

To get off topic, and get real touchy here the black community needs to get it's [expletive] together. The lyrics in hip hop are not cool and the perpetuate all this [expletive]. Like that photo of Trevon blowing marajuana smoke. I'm sorry but that's not the sign of a good upstanding young man. It's time for the good black people of the world, which I'm convinced are the majority to stand up and say all this crap we see on TV is not cool, it's not respectable, and it's not ok. We need a lot more Bill Cosby's and a lot less TI's.

Secondly White people need to get their [expletive] together too. Calling people [expletive] is not cool. Neither are any of the other racists things going on. Take down that stupid ass confederate flag you white trash piece of [expletive].
People need to be told when they are acting stupid an uncivilized. Until the message is clear that it is not ok to be stupid, a thug, a redneck, whatever. It's not ok to be willfully ignorant.

If anything that's what I've taken out of all of this. That girl that couldn't read cursive on the witness stand should be absolutely ashamed. Stupid is not an acceptable way to be a member in society. Trevons parents should be ashamed of his speech and behavior, and all the trailer trash "rednecks" that I've heard or seen posting on Facebook that Treyvon got what he deserves should also be ashamed. This is not acceptable behavior.

and just to be absolutely clear, Zimmerman should be in jail for murder.

[cardsfansince82]

Zimmerman made the choice to go after Martin, I believe he would have followed any unfamiliar person, Black, White, Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, or Native American.

There's a whole lot of evidence that would make it really hard to reach this conclusion.

[Jocephus]

none of the people i hang out with have been to the moon but i think its possible.

That is exactly the same thing. Great analogy.

i thought so.

[Socnorb11]

Zimmerman made the choice to go after Martin, I believe he would have followed any unfamiliar person, Black, White, Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, or Native American.

There's a whole lot of evidence that would make it really hard to reach this conclusion.

Actually, you're probably right. Zimmerman had been a "neighborhood watch guy" for how long? Had he ever reported someone as being "suspicious" before that night? If not, why hadn't he?

[wart57]

Zimmerman made the choice to go after Martin, I believe he would have followed any unfamiliar person, Black, White, Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, or Native American.

There's a whole lot of evidence that would make it really hard to reach this conclusion.

Real evidence or contrived media driven evidence? I think Zimmerman is a bad person, he was looking to make a name for himself in his community by being the one to stop the crime in his neighborhood. He wanted to be a cop, but they saw he was a nut job and wouldn't take him. It was Martin's bad luck that put him in the path of this idiot, not his skin color. Again, this is just my opinion, and I may very well be wrong.

IMA - great post above. We all need to get our [expletive] together and stop blaming others for our life situation.

[Socnorb11]

A lot of the people I hang out with are racist. It's something we avoid all together because it makes me dislike other wise decent people. I think there is a lot of racism in this country still, alot. White people think all blacks are thugs and gangster rappers, and to be fair that's about all you see in the media, tv, movies, etc. It's also reversed though, like the witness that said she didn't think "creepy ass cracker" was racists. Who even uses those terms?

To get off topic, and get real touchy here the black community needs to get it's [expletive] together. The lyrics in hip hop are not cool and the perpetuate all this [expletive]. Like that photo of Trevon blowing marajuana smoke. I'm sorry but that's not the sign of a good upstanding young man. It's time for the good black people of the world, which I'm convinced are the majority to stand up and say all this crap we see on TV is not cool, it's not respectable, and it's not ok. We need a lot more Bill Cosby's and a lot less TI's.

Secondly White people need to get their [expletive] together too. Calling people [expletive] is not cool. Neither are any of the other racists things going on. Take down that stupid ass confederate flag you white trash piece of [expletive].
People need to be told when they are acting stupid an uncivilized. Until the message is clear that it is not ok to be stupid, a thug, a redneck, whatever. It's not ok to be willfully ignorant.

If anything that's what I've taken out of all of this. That girl that couldn't read cursive on the witness stand should be absolutely ashamed. Stupid is not an acceptable way to be a member in society. Trevons parents should be ashamed of his speech and behavior, and all the trailer trash "rednecks" that I've heard or seen posting on Facebook that Treyvon got what he deserves should also be ashamed. This is not acceptable behavior.

and just to be absolutely clear, Zimmerman should be in jail for murder.

This is a great post, IMA.

Only thing I disagree with is that white teenagers/adolescents are just as guilty of acting "stupid" (marijuana pictures, etc.), and are probably almost as illiterate (re: the girl who can't read cursive).

[Jocephus]

To get off topic, and get real touchy here the black community needs to get it's [expletive] together. The lyrics in hip hop are not cool and the perpetuate all this [expletive]. Like that photo of Trevon blowing marajuana smoke. I'm sorry but that's not the sign of a good upstanding young man. It's time for the good black people of the world, which I'm convinced are the majority to stand up and say all this crap we see on TV is not cool, it's not respectable, and it's not ok. We need a lot more Bill Cosby's and a lot less TI's.

i realize im the resident pot smoker on the board and some people have issue with that and think my opinion is less valid but i have to disagree with the "upstanding young man" statement you made. first off, he would have been a teenager. i suspect a lot of people try that in their teens and then don't continue. some do. but to assume he's not a good person because he happened to smoke marijuana is quite a stretch. just like i wouldnt assume george was a violent person because he owned a gun.

2nd, another kind of blanket statement regarding hip hop lyrics. sure some are graphic/intense, whatever word you feel is appropriate, but so is heavy metal (which is predominately white). additionally, why don't people truly listen to the lyrics of "hip hop"...if its so outrageous, why don't we try and learn "why do you feel this way" instead of just instantly blaming them for speaking "that way". and the more bill cosby and less TI's? i dont even know how to process that. i very well may be reading it wrong but it sounds awful. lets only have the "good" black people...just sounds odd to me.

but then again, i dont know why i even opened this thread up

[planet planet]

Zimmerman made the choice to go after Martin, I believe he would have followed any unfamiliar person, Black, White, Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, or Native American.

There's a whole lot of evidence that would make it really hard to reach this conclusion.

Actually, you're probably right. Zimmerman had been a "neighborhood watch guy" for how long? Had he ever reported someone as being "suspicious" before that night? If not, why hadn't he?

Here are his 911 call reports. He made a few...

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2 ... e-log.html

[Socnorb11]

To get off topic, and get real touchy here the black community needs to get it's [expletive] together. The lyrics in hip hop are not cool and the perpetuate all this [expletive]. Like that photo of Trevon blowing marajuana smoke. I'm sorry but that's not the sign of a good upstanding young man. It's time for the good black people of the world, which I'm convinced are the majority to stand up and say all this crap we see on TV is not cool, it's not respectable, and it's not ok. We need a lot more Bill Cosby's and a lot less TI's.

i realize im the resident pot smoker on the board and some people have issue with that and think my opinion is less valid but i have to disagree with the "upstanding young man" statement you made. first off, he would have been a teenager. i suspect a lot of people try that in their teens and then don't continue. some do. but to assume he's not a good person because he happened to smoke marijuana is quite a stretch. just like i wouldnt assume george was a violent person because he owned a gun.

2nd, another kind of blanket statement regarding hip hop lyrics. sure some are graphic/intense, whatever word you feel is appropriate, but so is heavy metal (which is predominately white). additionally, why don't people truly listen to the lyrics of "hip hop"...if its so outrageous, why don't we try and learn "why do you feel this way" instead of just instantly blaming them for speaking "that way". and the more bill cosby and less TI's? i dont even know how to process that. i very well may be reading it wrong but it sounds awful. lets only have the "good" black people...just sounds odd to me.

but then again, i dont know why i even opened this thread up

I don't think IMA was judging people who smoke marijuana, necessarily. But why take pictures of yourself, and be proud of doing it? It's nothing to be proud of, for sure.

And yeah, heavy metal music is nothing to be proud of, either. But I don't think it defines a culture the way that hip-hop does.