More Thoughts on Martin and the Zimmerman Verdict

Over the months, I saw mean reactions to Trayvon Martin’s death, such as being glad he was gone and the world is a better place without him. I saw a lot of, ‘he was a thug and deserved what happened to him.’ These reactions do not begin to sit well with me. I read about young Mr. Martin being suspended from his high school, finding jewelry and a burglary tool in his backpack (or school locker). Off course that does not sound good, but I did not read anywhere of him being arrested and charged with burglary or any other crime. Trayvon Martin did not deserve death.

I do believe when the fight ensued between Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman, young Mr. Martin got the best of the fight with the head butting on concrete. Mr. Zimmerman pulled out his gun and shot him when he would not stop. I do not believe George Zimmerman deliberately hunted down and shot young Mr. Martin. But then, what I or you believe does not matter. It’s was the jury’s call. According to the laws of Florida, the testimonies and evidence presented in court, the jury rendered a not guilty verdict on George Zimmerman. They saw the shooting as self-defense.

The emotions are fever pitched from many who feel Mr. Zimmerman got away with murdering Trayvon Martin and should now be in prison. Many do not believe the testimonies or evidence. Some do believe that no fight occurred and that Mr. Zimmerman deliberately stalked and shot to kill the young teen. Others are angry at the jury for rendering a verdict based on Florida law as it relates to self-defense. BTW, the defense team never argued Florida’s specific Stand Your Ground Law in defending George Zimmerman.

As extremely terrible as Trayvon Martin’s death is, too many folks of color are making this the tragedy of the century while ignoring the deaths of young black men, teens and young children that continue to happen in Chicago, Illinois. Arrests go begging there. It is blacks killing blacks and that should at least get equal enragement to the Martin death if not more. We had this argument in my household. Family members shouted me down. They tell me black on black deaths are different. Trayvon Martin’s death is in the worst of the worst category of whites, (and Zimmerman’s so-called whiteness is another debate) getting away with murdering black males. There was a time when I thought like that, but now the enraged anger over white on black murder while mitigating black on black murders does not fly with me.

Look Who Get’s Priority in Voting!

I am for restoring voting rights to most convicted felons after they have served their time and are positively contributing to society in some way. I think of Charles Colson convicted of crimes connected to Watergate back in the 70s and who now presides over a successful prison ministry and is a syndicated columnist as an example. I am against voting rights for all felons while serving prison sentences. The fact that those serving time in Cook County, Illinois prisons received hand delivered voting ballots, while it looks like some of our men and women serving in the armed forces overseas may not receive voting ballots in time for the November 2nd election is unconscionable.