Zimmerman Found Not Guilty!

[gurneyhalleck1]

This is precisely the problem with folks like yourself. You make huge assumptions about people. Because I think Zimmerman was innocent, I 'come off' as a racist to you. Well, I must be a racist who:

a) is married to a Filipino and has three children who are half Filipino

b) has a bilingual credential in Spanish and is fluent in it

c) taught my first two years in a fully bilingual Spanish-speaking class in a rural minority Mexican community nearby

d) has several good Mexican and Filipino friends

e) has had several solid, awesome black friends growing up whom I fought for and with when they were assaulted or insulted by bigots with the "n" word

f) devotes huge amounts of time in his classroom speaking out against racism and trying to get kids to understand one another and be tolerant

g) was told by a black student's mother in my classroom this year that, after coming out here to California from Georgia where her son was constantly picked on racially, that I have done more to make him feel comfortable and a part of a community and respected as well as challenged and loved than any teacher he has ever had...

h) voted twice for Barack Obama

I.) has helped black and Mexican students who came to my class with only one pair of clothes, got them new wardrobes, made sure the parents got financial support, and helped them out

J) Prefers the John Stewart (black) Green Lantern to Hal Jordan (the white one!)

If you told ANY of my students, kids' parents at school, my friends, or acquaintances that I'm a racist, you'd either get laughed at or your face slapped.

Personally, I find the charge offensive and I deserve an apology.

BTW, look around my church and see how many black faces I see? Last Sunday I counted about seven or so, sometimes more. And we have a very small parish.

You are indeed aware that the Ethiopian Church is black, right? And they're Ethiopian Orthodox. I'm not sure of the point you're making? You seem to be poking fun at Orthodoxy as if we exclude black folks and don't care about them? I'll keep it real with you, BB. Orthodoxy mostly came to the United States via ethnic groups trickling in from immigration throughout the past 150 years. You had waves of Greeks come in. Well, they're not black. Sorry. Then you had the Serbs, the church I attend, and well, again, they're not black. Then you had Russians, Bulgarians, Antiocheans, and so forth. None are black. The Orthodox Church CAN indeed be accused of being lazy to spread the word. I won't argue with you there. They can be accused of being a touch too insular and just content with staying in their enclaves ethnically that they came here in. But if you look at it, the Catholic Church hasn't had massive black ministries either. They also haven't had the zeal to mission and spread the word. Both churches are now waking up to getting out the Word of God.

But you might be surprised that there are black Orthodox. I've met a lot lately actually. A speaker who came to our parish at Lent, a high-profile speaker, was black, his wife white. There is a table at coffee hour with a couple of large black families. Everyone greets them and is excited when they visit or join up. I know I am.

I'm sorry you perceive me as something I'm not. I have no control over your perceptions. But even if you don't like me, which that's a touch evident, you might want to ask some questions and get to know someone before you lay down the KKK charges. And that "racist!!!" knee-jerk stuff you have dished out is precisely what harms your cause to build tolerance. People are tired of knee-jerk racism. It's ill-considered and shows a passionate response devoid of consideration or analysis, just full-on emotion without thinking.

Orthodox huh? Look around your church and tell me how many black faces do you see?

And the black people that you see rioting are .00001% of the black population. So you decide to use that small amount and use it as an excuse to paint us all with a broad brush? Most of the black people I know, which is a lot, are praying.

Oh, and I happen to live in the state of Florida, so I know how this goes.

Also, I never said that you were a "lunatic" or "wack-job." I stated my opinion. I never called you anything.

However, your comments are extremely offensive to me. And you come off, to me, semi-racist. It is what it is.

By the way, black-on-black crime is not racially motivated. And regardless of Zimmerman's motivation, he should be doing time on manslaughter charges because somewhere along the way, nobody cared about Trayvon's right to "Stand His Ground" when Zimmerman got out of his car.

 

[AvilaSurfer]

To be fair, I also don't remember white people being slaves and then subject to Jim Crow laws either.

And exactly what does that have to do with anything?

 

[Miss Shelby]

Has anyone here ever heard of John White?

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Not a lot!

And exactly what does that have to do with anything?

 

[Brooklyn Knight]

Has anyone here ever heard of John White?

The guy out on LI?

 

[MikeK]

And exactly what does that have to do with anything?

It has everything to do with relations between blacks and whites in the US. "Sorry my great-grandparents owned yours and actively prevented them from acquiring property or education while they pursued both. Why can't you be like us?"

 

[AMDG]

Originally Posted by MikeK

How often have you offered ex black teenaged strangers rides after dark, AMDG?



Don't drive at all after dark, so your statement is not applicable. However I have offered daytime rides home or to church. Have stopped to ask folks if things are all right or have offered help then as well.

Honestly in all this talk about what Zimmerman did or did not do to prevent this tragedy has anyone even thought what Trayvon could have done? He could have gone home instead of circling back to accost Zimmerman. He could have called 911--he had a cell phone evidently if he was talking to his girlfriend. He could have waited for the police to come--Zimmerman had already called even if Trayvon didn't.

Sad that it happened. A real tragedy. However, Zimmerman did nothing criminal.

BTW inciting a riot is a crime. The folks who are doing it, IMO, need to be reminded of that.
​

 

[MikeK]

...but you would have offered the "suspicious" black teen a ride had you seen him after dark, right? You said any of us would have, I want to make sure you aren't lying again. Frankly, I wouldn't offer a walking stranger a ride after dark, and I don't advise that anyone else would. That's a really bad idea.

Originally Posted by MikeK

How often have you offered ex black teenaged strangers rides after dark, AMDG?



Don't drive at all after dark, so your statement is not applicable. However I have offered daytime rides home or to church. Have stopped to ask folks if things are all right or have offered help then as well.

Honestly in all this talk about what Zimmerman did or did not do to prevent this tragedy has anyone even thought what Trayvon could have done? He could have gone home instead of circling back to accost Zimmerman. He could have called 911--he had a cell phone evidently if he was talking to his girlfriend. He could have waited for the police to come--Zimmerman had already called even if Trayvon didn't.

Sad that it happened. A real tragedy. However, Zimmerman did nothing criminal.

BTW inciting a riot is a crime. The folks who are doing it, IMO, need to be reminded of that.
​

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I wasn't aware of AMDG ever lying before anyway? :o

 

[LoAmmi]

And exactly what does that have to do with anything?

Those with a very long history of privilege have a lot less to be angry about. It doesn't justify the behavior, but to forget that these people have grandparents and great-grandparents who were subject to horrible injustice is whitewashing things.

 

[catholicbybirth]

What in the heck makes you think that WE don't get upset over black-on-black crime??? I can't believe that you even typed that - but then again, yes I can.

The difference is that no one outside the black community cares about it, so most of (white) america doesn't care about it. The media doesn't care about it either. All you know of black crime is when the random black face comes across your news station but I guarantee that the white face is oblivious to you.

And I'm sick and tired of the argument that "Zimmerman was Hispanic so it can't be racial." NEWSFLASH - Black people are the lowest on the totem pole - Latinos, Asians, Indian, Native Americans, not one of them values black life as a whole.

Oh, and another news flash for you - Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson speak for themselves - NOT ALL BLACK PEOPLE!!! Heck, for that matter, neither do I.

I am so surprised, but not shocked, that I am reading comments like this on a Christian website. People like you are the reason why some black Catholics do not like going to predominately Caucasian parishes.

When I saw that verdict, I cried, prayed, and hugged my BLACK son so tight because I know that Trayvon's mom would give anything to do the same.

Has anyone been asked or answered the question: "Why didn't Mr. Martin hang up with his friend and call the cops if he were frightened, or at least call his dad?"

Seems to me as if he weren't afraid, that he wanted to jump the "racial slur" who was following him.

Janice

 

[Michie]

Racism was not motivating factor in Trayvon Martin shooting, FBI says

 

[Memento Mori]

If you told ANY of my students, kids' parents at school, my friends, or acquaintances that I'm a racist, you'd either get laughed at or your face slapped.

Personally, I find the charge offensive and I deserve an apology.

Gurney, she didn't make "KKK charges" against you, she said you (read: your tone) come off as semi-racist. There's a world of difference. Good people like yourself can have bad ideas about race without being monsters. Try not to be so sensitive, because there's a lot to learn when we stop plugging our ears to the black experience and start listening and learning.

 

[Needing_Grace]

Racism was not motivating factor in Trayvon Martin shooting, FBI says

I think Zimmerman was overzealous, not racist.

What some on the Right have said in order to minimize the humanity of Martin IS racist and it's a scandal that any Catholic would participate in such sin.

 

[LoAmmi]

Has anyone been asked or answered the question: "Why didn't Mr. Martin hang up with his friend and call the cops if he were frightened, or at least call his dad?"

Seems to me as if he weren't afraid, that he wanted to jump the "racial slur" who was following him.

I'm amazed at how many telepaths exist on this planet and yet they never step forward to present such evidence in court.

I joke, of course, but you can't possibly know his motive for any of his actions because he is dead.

 

[catholicbybirth]

I'm amazed at how many telepaths exist on this planet and yet they never step forward to present such evidence in court.

I joke, of course, but you can't possibly know his motive for any of his actions because he is dead.

Of course, I can't. But don't you think the girl with whom he was on the phone with could???? Sure, she was his friend, so anything she said should be taken with a grain of salt.

However, actions speak loudly. VERY loudly. One does not have to talk to someone to know why something was or was not done.

Of course, I am not now, nor will I ever be a young black man. Still, if a person has a cell phone, and they are talking to someone one it, and remarks that someone is following him, then why oh why did he not call 911 before the fight started? I mean, is it not incumbent upon people to not get in a fight if they can at all help it? Unless of course a fight is what a person wants.

No, I don't know Mr. Martin. Nor do I know Mr. Zimmerman. However, that was a fight that didn't need to happen.

Janice

 

[Cosmic Charlie]

Has anyone been asked or answered the question: "Why didn't Mr. Martin hang up with his friend and call the cops if he were frightened, or at least call his dad?"

Seems to me as if he weren't afraid, that he wanted to jump the "racial slur" who was following him.

Janice

Let's assume, sake of argument here, that this is what happened.

Let's further assume, sake of argument, that thing when down pretty much like Mr. Z said.

He was afraid for his life because of the beating he was taking, having his head beaten against a concrete sidewalk.

Where's the bruising on his head ? The swelling ?

The concussion ?

The whiplash ?

The subdural hemotoma ?

The neck trauma ? The torn ligaments in the upper back ?

The hospital stay that head trauma cause by the sudden, repeated smacking of a human head against a sidewalk would require just for observation ?

Look I saw the injuries, he did have some but in truth, I, personally, have been hurt worse falling off a bar stool.

This may be the gentlest live threatening beating every received by anyone in history.

I'm I saying that things didn't go down the way Mr. Z said ?

No, I am not.

But I will say this: If Mr Z considered the injuries he had to be so terrible that they required deadly force, well, then Mr. Z is a biggest wuss in Florida.

 

[LoAmmi]

Of course, I can't. But don't you think the girl with whom he was on the phone with could???? Sure, she was his friend, so anything she said should be taken with a grain of salt.

However, actions speak loudly. VERY loudly. One does not have to talk to someone to know why something was or was not done.

Of course, I am not now, nor will I ever be a young black man. Still, if a person has a cell phone, and they are talking to someone one it, and remarks that someone is following him, then why oh why did he not call 911 before the fight started? I mean, is it not incumbent upon people to not get in a fight if they can at all help it? Unless of course a fight is what a person wants.

No, I don't know Mr. Martin. Nor do I know Mr. Zimmerman. However, that was a fight that didn't need to happen.

Janice

I'm 6'3" and over 250 lbs. I am very strong and am generally unafraid of people. If someone were following me at night, my inclination would be to confront them and not call the police. Once the confrontation begins, calling the police might not be possible.

 

[MikeK]

If I were on the phone and someone were following me, I think I'd be inclined to stay on the phone rather than hang up to call the police, running the risk that I wouldn't get through and nobody would know what became of me.

Hopefully the black youth of Florida have learned from Martins error. Always go armed, always shoot first.

 

[AMDG]

Where's the bruising on his head ? The swelling ?

The concussion ?

The whiplash ?

The subdural hemotoma ?

The neck trauma ? The torn ligaments in the upper back ?

The hospital stay that head trauma cause by the sudden, repeated smacking of a human head against a sidewalk would require just for observation ?

For self-defense, there doesn't need to be any injuries. Just the fear. And if Zimmerman was getting beaten up and his head banged on the sidewalk, and no one was coming to stop it even though he was screaming for help--who is to say that he didn't fear that the next blow would be his final--or a least result in the torn ligaments and the hematoma (and that "shaken baby syndrome" where the brain is all bruised up.)