My agenda is getting people who post smiley faces or gloat about death in one thread about life and death, and then turn entire threads filled with elements of history, politics, ethics, and jurisprudence into mundane affairs filled with some overriding sanctity of life argument in others, to reconsider their positions, because I think it abundantly clear that these matters are of grave importance and should not be taken so lightly according to their own beliefs---or they need to stop hiding behind that shallow argument to recognizing there is much more beyond that. i'm applying certain people's standards from their characteristic positions, and seeing how they react in this thread, and there is not a very good fit, to say the least. Now, seeing as you have just burst in on this and may not know about that whole mess, I have been following this case, and more or less could see this happen. You'll see that I have expressed my reservations, but if you want to tack onto another agenda of mine, I would kindly suggest reforms within the legal system, to reduce the possibility of actions outside it.
My goodness, I love how you feel you've got the mentality of every black person down and your rash generalizations have led to the point where you now get called such names. Please don't speak for ALL "coloured" folk and presume they all believe "EVERY" situation between blacks and whites is a racial issue. Unfortunately there are some situations where it becomes that but I'm pretty sure there are a good number of black people that don't resort to that thinking and don't need you to strive to change their thought process. Get over it. Our society has not advanced that far that cases involving one race (black, white, hispanic or asian) against another is not looked at from a racial angle. It's unfortunate but that's the way it is. I won't call you any such names but jeez, you come across as a douche. I'm sorry for that form of name calling but I can't stand it when people take the actions or thoughts of some and ascribe to all.
Agreed and departments sending cops out in riot gear is even more ridiculous. There is alot of ignorance floating around at the moment as emotions run high all around...
Except though you have to consider though that if Martin felt threatened by Zimmerman he has as much a right to stand his ground too. This argument for self defense has been so focused on Zimmerman when forgetting the fact that stand your ground applies equally to both. Zimmerman happened to be the one who lived to fight it legally. I actually have been in those situations and teach self-defense. A state like the one where I live in doesn't have a stand your ground law yet you can still defend yourself. The legal defense is simple. You show that there was no reasonable way for you to retreat, such as someone jumped you or attacked you in your house. The problem with the stand your ground law though as this case shows it that it basically legally sanctions putting yourself into a dangerous situation. True there are a lot of stupid people out there but then there are a lot of stupid people who rather than showing better judgment and avoid those potentially violent people decide to put themselves in situations with those people. Neither is being very smart.
Again, you only perpetuate racism and prejudice when you group an entire race together and say they act or have acted that way. Don't try to speak for all of us when the truth is you hardly know most of us. I implore people of all races, creeds, religions, etc. to do the same.
And you wonder why blacks are now being considered more racist than whites these days. If you had read the whole post, I was basically saying black people always bring up stuff like slavery and Jim Crow when trying to justify why white people owe them something (and to some degree, that is actually valid but I'll save that for another thread). You act like I don't know what it's like to be black: -For people to assume the worst out of me. -How I saw my brother get assumed to have been a trouble maker by some security guards less 10 minutes after he got into an establishment and a flimsy story be used to justify it. -How missing black people are never talked about but when a missing white woman that's pretty goes missing, it's national news. I can go on but you get the point. Just because blacks have had and even still have major injustices in society doesn't mean the white man is out to get them every time. Most whites I know are loving and compassionate toward blacks or at worst, indifferent toward us until blacks insert racism where it doesn't belong and it sours them on us. When evacuating Hurricane Rita in 2005, me and my family stopped in a southern "redneck" town and surprisingly, in this country and seemingly backward town, this white woman hugged me and my grandfather. She said she saw images from Katrina a month earlier (you know, of BLACK people) and felt sad about how she couldn't help. In me, you're talking to someone who volunteers in the a very black community and strives to help and educate them. Just because we don't see eye to eye doesn't mean we still aren't brothers. But what I'm trying to get across to you is that ALL people in this society are brothers and as Dr. King said "I have dream that one day people will be judge not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." Let's embrace that message and not just celebrate him because he effectively put an end to segregation.
I think that is where the reform has to happen. As it is, it's terrible moral hazard. Why GZ felt comfortable chasing after someone when he was clearly told to stand down should be examined very carefully in the context of the laws that encouraged this behavior---behavior that led to death.
Exactly, man! Guilty because black! I will goad you into your black negro gorilla mode and then I will shoot you and claim self defense. Total bull**** man.....you are 100% correct. Get your license to carry and keep it moving.
LOL, uneducated. So because I don't side with the black community (at least in their undertones), I'm a Fignewton, Uncle Tom, Sell-out, etc..? I'm hoping to see all of us overcome our transgressions and see past race just as Dr. King dreamed of one day. Now honestly Clutch Fans, which one of the two of us sounds uneducated?
It boils down to who threw the first punch in this case. Martin did NOT have the right to assault Zimmerman, even if he thought the "creepy ass cracker" was following him. Zimmerman did not have a right to put a hand on Martin, either. It seems from evidence presented that Martin doubled back on Zimmerman and confronted him (also a stupid move - lots of stupid moves going around that night), and when Zimmerman said "What are you doing here?" the fight started. The person who initiates physical contact is going to lose out when it comes to self-defense pleas. And that is absurd. It puts the burden of proof on the defense. There is no curing stupid. Those who will put themselves into dangerous situations are going to do so regardless of the law. It takes training and proper mindset to avoid it. The law will not prevent that from happening. If it could, then ALL bars in this country would be shut down permanently. Both Zimmerman and Martin made errors in judgement. As is usually the case when someone dies. Just because some people will make errors in judgement does not, however, mean that you remove the legal defense for all, as others who did NOT make an error as such will still need that legal defense going forward.
Actually I don't care that some people think black people are more "racist" I don't care if they think I'm "racist". I care about the people who don't see AFRICANS as HUMAN BEINGS. That is FAR more important to me! Your second and third paragraph: Forth paragraph: Nice, touching story.......but why does that matter? What does that have to do with anything I have said? Your "Dr. King" paragraph: Don't patronize me. Dr. King also said that he feared he was integrating his people into a BURNING HOUSE.....why is that MLK Jr. never quoted? Tell me what Dr. King would say if he was alive to see the crap. Tell that to those who thing that being a CRIMINAL is an inherent african TRAIT.
Thats the part that makes NO sense. He brought this whole situation on himself by pursuing when told not to.....and that has no bearing on the case at all? He has a gun, he pursues when told "don't" and someone ends up dead....he was told "don't" but that part doesn't matter? The only part that matters is black kid got pissed and confronted you for being a nosey douche for following him.....you all of a sudden play victim and now have a reason to use that gun you've been itching top use. WOW! That prosecution team was beyond terrible. Cant blame anyone but them, honestly.
How are your assumptions "Blacks are considered more racists" "They think they're owed something" "They're reaction to this case" etc. any different from black people's assumptions about the white race? Both seem VERY wrong to me.
