Grab yourself a cup of coffee and settle in. This is going to be one angry rant.
This past Monday night I attended a meeting of the North Miami Beach Multicultural Committee, of which I am a member. The topic for the evening was a discussion on “the Trayvon Martin case.” Since the committee is made up of a fairly equal mix of Whites, Blacks, Hispanics and Other (check box), Councilwoman Kramer felt this would be the perfect venue to openly discuss racial issues in a friendly room.
As I’ve stated in this blog a number of times, I have no opinion on the innocence or guilt of the admitted shooter, George Zimmerman. I was not a witness and I have not been privy to the facts of the case or the details of the evidence the Sanford Police Department collected. I do, however, have a major issue with the way the media has handled the reporting of this case, including but not limited to the known fact that NBC edited the 911 call from Mr. Zimmerman to the police in such a way to make him seem like a racist. As PJTV reported:
“NBC News has apologized for its selective editing of the 911 call placed by George Zimmerman on the night he shot and killed Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman claims the shooting was an act of self-defense, but many have accused him — with the aid of NBC’s doctored video — of perpetrating a racially motivated hate crime.”
Other news outlets, including The Miami Herald and our local network affiliate news broadcasts, especially Channel 7, have persisted in portraying this case in a one sided fashion. They have already tried, convicted and executed Mr. Zimmerman without the benefit of a trial.
The most basic premise of the United States justice system is that a suspect, once arrested, is presumed innocent until found guilty by a jury of his peers. Not by a jury of reporters. So-called “leaders of the black community,” such as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, have also jumped on the Fry Zimmerman bandwagon for the sole purpose of being the news, and the media has accommodated their grandstanding to the point that you cannot open a newspaper or turn on the television without it being All Trayvon All the Time. Sharpton, Jackson & Co. have turned this tragic incident into The Racist Crime of the Century, and neither they nor the media are even remotely interested in the actual facts of the case, as long as they can extend their fifteen minutes before the news cameras. And it’s not even Sweeps Month yet!
The discussion at the Multicultural Committee meeting was interesting in that I had a rare, up close and personal glimpse into what a majority of black people think of this whole circus and, even more revealing, what they think of white people in general. What I walked away with was the impression that blacks believe that whites can’t possibly have a clue what it’s like to be black and live through the whole “black experience.”
Okay, maybe they’re right about that. But, I contend that they have no idea what it’s like being a 54 year old woman, with bone spurs in her neck, tendonitis in her wrist, degenerative disk disease in her lower back and a bum knee. In fact, if I woke up one day and nothing hurt, I’d believe I was dead. We all have our own “experience” to deal with. Come to think of it, I’d pay good money for an “out of body experience” on one of those really bad days.
But, I digress.
One black woman at the meeting was so adamant that Mr. Zimmerman shot Mr. Martin in cold blood because he was black that she would never believe in a million years that there was any other version than the one our illustrious congresswoman Frederica Wilson, a/k/a Hat Lady (and, in my opinion, Ms. Drama Queen), painted in several interviews, including The Miami Herald. She stated that:
“Oh, definitely Mr. Zimmerman murdered Trayvon Martin …you can tell from the 911 tapes [NBC’s?], and from the girlfriend’s conversation. You can tell from Mr. Zimmerman’s past.”
“He murdered Trayvon,” Wilson repeated. “He hunted him down like you hunt a rabbit.”
Oh, and Ms. Drama Queen DEFINITELY knows EXACTLY what happened because SHE WAS THERE! Oh, wait! That’s right. She wasn’t there and she knows absolutely nothing of the sort! But the black community bought it hook, line and sinker. With that kind of “leadership,” no wonder the “black community” so easily plays the race card, whether or not race has anything to do with anything. That’s REALLY messed up.
Another black lady at the meeting kept insisting that the Sanford Police Department “didn’t follow protocol.” When I asked her repeatedly what they did that was “against protocol,” all she kept saying was that the police called in the State Attorney and a bunch of other officials to the scene. Okaaaay. But, I asked again (and again) what did they do that was “against protocol.” I got the same answer. Apparently calling the State Attorney to investigate a suspicious death is something this woman actually believes is “against protocol,” when I personally know that the State Attorney is regularly called to many high profile cases to assist the police in their investigations. How this was “against protocol” remains a mystery. As a result, I wrote a letter to the Interim Chief of Police of Sanford, Florida, requesting a copy of their “protocol” so that I can make a determination myself whether or not the department followed it. I will report back his response when I get it, but I prefer to actually do the research and obtain the documentation before I make a blanket accusation. I’m not sure if that’s simply part of the “gadfly experience,” but I’ve always found that examining the facts before forming an opinion works better than merely regurgitating talking points to try to win an argument. I’m just saying.
Yet another comment that I heard from a woman at the meeting was that the reason this case has caused such outrage in the black community was because Trayvon was “somebody’s child.” I’m guessing she thinks George Zimmerman was hatched from an egg or fell off a turnip truck, but apparently he’s “nobody’s child.” I’m sure his parents would take issue with that. This is the same woman who, when I asked her if she doesn’t see the fact that a black man is the President of the United States of America … you know, The Most Powerful Position in the World … is proof positive that blacks can achieve greatness, she responded with, “No, we will never be satisfied.” Really? REALLY? To me, this was an admission that it was their own “victimhood” keeping them in chains, not “the white man.”
Based on the discussions in that room that night, I got the distinct impression that as a whole blacks resent whites for not understanding “the black experience,” yet they have absolutely no desire to figure out, or even inquire about, what makes white people tick. They seem to have us all pegged as wanna be slave owners and racists, and those who suffer from white guilt buy into it without question. They try to bend over backwards to appease the black community for the horrible collective suffering they’ve all endured at the collective hand of white people, and they want to punish all of us for the shameful history of slavery. Which, by the way, ended over a hundred and fifty years ago. Oh, and, by the way, I never owned a slave. I don’t know anyone who has.
Fortunately, not all blacks are of the opinion that white people are evil. One of my favorite columnists, a black man by the name of Dr. Walter E. Williams, (whose bio reads: “Dr. Williams serves on the faculty of George Mason University as John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics and is the author of ‘Race and Economics: How Much Can Be Blamed on Discrimination?’ and ‘Up from the Projects: An Autobiography,'”) published a column just today called Media Dishonesty and Race Hustlers.
“Let’s look at some non-news cases. On March 14 in Tulsa, Okla., a white couple suffered a home invasion by Tyrone Woodfork, a 20-year-old black man. Ninety-year-old Bob Strait suffered a broken jaw and broken ribs in the attack. His 85-year-old wife, Nancy, was sexually assaulted and battered to death, ending their 65-year marriage. On March 4, two black Kansas City, Mo., youths doused a 13-year-old boy in gasoline and set him on fire, telling him, “You get what you deserve, white boy.” Last summer, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel ordered an emergency shutdown of the beaches in Chicago because mobs of blacks were terrorizing white families. Several years ago, in Knoxville, Tenn., a young white couple was kidnapped by four blacks. The girl was forced to witness her boyfriend’s rape, torture and subsequent murder before she was raped, tortured and murdered. Before disposing of her body, the three men and one woman poured bleach or some other cleaning agent down her throat in an effort to destroy DNA evidence. A jury found the four guilty, and they were sentenced, but because of the judge’s drug use, a retrial is being considered. None of those black-on-white atrocities made anywhere near the news that the Trayvon Martin case made, and it’s deliberate.”
When I left that Multicultural Committee meeting, I was mad as hell. But when I came across Dr. Williams’ column, my sanity was restored. I will not judge the entire black community for the intolerance of a few, but I would like to give some insight how white people feel about all this rampant “racism” going on.
Let me first say for the record that there will always be racists. No matter how enlightened and educated people become, there will always be that small segment of society who will hate someone because of the color of his skin. You will not change that person, no matter how much “diversity training” you force him to attend. He is who he is. BUT, the racist is not representative of all whites or all blacks or all anything. The Racist is but a single human being devoid of the ability to look beyond the color of anyone else. You will never wipe out all racism from the face of the earth, but you can call out The Racist for the evil in his heart. We will stop trying to pretend racism doesn’t exist if you stop thinking that ALL people different from you are racists.
That being said, there can be absolutely no denying the fact that as a whole, racism in our society has been greatly diminished over the years. A perfect example is that in the 1950s, at least 90% of all Americans opposed interracial marriage. Today, practically no one blinks when they see an interracial couple. If you blinked, shame on you!
So now that we’ve been thoroughly entrenched in why the black community feels as it does, maybe some folks from the black community can help me with a few of the questions white people have been struggling with of late. Here’s my Top Ten list for you to ponder:
1. White people want to know how is it that dozens of people attended a funeral where fourteen people were shot and two were killed, yet not one person saw a damn thing, but for some reason thousands of people know exactly what happened that night between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin, yet none of them were there.
2. White people want to know why a jury of nine blacks, one Hispanic and two whites acquitted O. J. Simpson of killing his white wife because of jury nullification, yet you didn’t see hordes of white people rioting in the street screaming for “Justice for Nicole.”
3. White people want to know why George Zimmerman is white because he’s only half Hispanic, yet Barack Obama is black when he’s actually half white.
4. Speaking of Obama, white people want to know why blacks still feel they’re being kept down by “the white man” when there is a black man in the White House.
5. White people want to know why blacks were given the right to vote before women were and why we have a black president, yet we’ve never had a woman or a Jewish or a gay president. Maybe “the white man” is keeping all of us down, too, huh? PUH-LEEZE!
6. White people want to know why their kids’ college applications are rejected by the very same school that accepted a black student who had a lower SAT score and Grade Point Average.
7. White people want to know why the Black Miss America Pageant now accepts all “women of color” to vie for the title, to the exclusion of only white women, but the plain old Miss America Pageant accepts all “women of any color,” including whites.
8. White people want to know why it’s acceptable to have Black Entertainment Television, Black History Month and a Black Congressional Caucus, but that White Entertainment Television, White History Month and a White Congressional Caucus would be racist.
9. White people want to know why we all agree that using the N word is disgusting and unacceptable, but it’s okay for black people to call us crackers, honkies and whitey.
And, finally, burning question number ten:
10. White people want to know why it’s acceptable for black people to call each other the N word. I just don’t get that.
The fact is that blacks are no longer held back from anything that whites can achieve (see: Item 4 above regarding black man/White House). They are actually only held back by their own inability to believe they can achieve. If you doubt that, shame on you!
Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”
If I did not know better I would think I wrote the entire blog myself. Every thing you said I have always believed for my entire 85 years and yes my Dad did tell me the same things when I was only a baby. I read you because you are great and I am never disapointed.
Another issue that I have is that when election time comes around, and they hold the community / town meetings, the Washington Park community only asks “what are you going to give me” or “whats in it for me” instead of focusing on the issues to better the City and their neighborhood.
To be fair, the Sanford PD did botch procedure, especially with regards to evidence collection on the night of the incident. Evidence is neutral, they didn’t do Zimmerman any favors either.
To your questions, and in no particular order:
1. It’s maaagic.
3. Serious scientists are trying to figure a way to crossbreed George Zimmerman with Barrack Obama and produce a whole “white” from the two halves. Said white will then be available to clearly blame for any faults of the current administration.
5. Please supply the name of an appropriate Gay Jewish Woman to the Romney campaign as a Vice Presidential choice.
7. Clearly, white woman are colourless, not coloured. Avon should apply for a government grant to research and develop a remedy for this situation. Help is on the way!
Welcome aboard, Captain. You’ve solved a huge dilemma for me. I’ve always wondered why I’m considered to be white when clearly I’m not actually white per se. Apparently, the reason I could never figure out what color my skin is really called is because I’m colorless. You are brilliant! That still won’t qualify me to apply for admission into the Miss Black/Of Color America Pageant. As for Item #5, I’ve got the Jewish and the Woman parts down already, but not the Gay part. Guess I can’t apply for that job, either. Am I being discriminated against? Should I call the ACLU in? Gloria Allred? What’s a Colorless, Jewish, Heterosexual Woman to do?
Punt
In 1993 my white, intelligent, well educated, Navy veteran nephew was shot and killed (murdered) by three black teenagers in Atlanta when they tried to rob him just two doors from his apartment building. His family mourned, privately, though our grief was as huge as the Martin’s must be. We did not burn cars, break into buildings, destroy stores.
The teens were caught and tried. However, being white (I’m sure that must be the reason) we allowed the law to take it’s course. The press did not try the boys, a jury did. The encouraging thing that happened is that the mother of two of the boys heard them talking and she turned them in. The black mother turned in her two black sons. Now there is a woman of substance, character, honesty and a true citizen of justice and the system that my nephew had fought for.
Like so many others, blacks as well as whites, we wonder did this get out of hand because the press has no other scandels to report? Those fourteen people who were shot just two blocks from my house last week must feel a little hurt and negilected by not receiving the same treatment.
Suzanne
PS. In case you want ot research my nephew’s murder his name is Alan Stallo.
S.
Suzanne, I am so sorry for your loss. It’s even sadder when our brave and courageous troops survive a war only to come home and become victims of senseless murder. The mother who turned her own children in for committing that horrific crime is also a true hero in my eyes. What a heart wrenching decision to make. She ultimately did the right thing. It makes you wonder sometimes how no amount of good parenting can prevent bad seeds from sprouting.
If im not mistaken Suzanne and I am 40 yrs old btw I have only seen the African Americans riot in this country(“We did not burn cars, break into buildings, destroy stores” your quote) when there was a murder or beating by police officers(ArthurMcDuffie,Rodney King ,etc……as of yet nobody has started a riot over this over zealous watch man who could not follow the instuctions given to him by police dispatch.By the way I am sure you are not the only “white “people who let the law take its course and I am sure she is not the only “black” mother who turned in her kid or kids if they were wanted for a heinous crime.
Mike, I do take issue with your comment, “over zealous watch man who could not follow the instructions given to him by police dispatch.” If you care to read the actual transcript (which can be found here: http://phoebe53.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/zimmerman-911-call-transcript-trayvon-martin/) of the 911 call, it states:
911 dispatcher: Are you following him? [2:24]
Zimmerman: Yeah. [2:25]
911 dispatcher: OK. We don’t need you to do that. [2:26]
Zimmerman: OK. [2:28]
Based on that exchange, you have automatically ASSUMED that Zimmerman “did not follow the instructions.” REALLY? You gleaned that from the actual transcript?
This is exactly what I’m talking about. It really irks me when people make broad assumptions BEFORE examining the facts. You just proved my point.
Stephanie lets be realistic here the dispatcher told him he did not need to follow him and its obvious he continued….So I did not assume anything nor did i glean from the transcript link you posted after my comment(how could I have done that anyway )
Actually, Mike, it’s not obvious to me that Zimmerman followed him based on the transcript. I read through the entire thing several times and there is no indication to me that he did just that. Of course, the same could be said that there’s no indication that he didn’t follow him. Zimmerman continued talking to the dispatcher for several minutes after he was told not to follow Martin, yet according to the entire conversation, no mention was made as to whether or not Zimmerman went back to his car or not. My point, and I am being realistic here, is that based on the 911 transcript, neither the prosecution nor the defense has irrefutable proof of what action Mr. Zimmerman took from the moment he was told to return to his car until the end of the conversation. If either side has evidence to produce, it will be done at trial and the outcome will be decided by a jury. This is the crux of the entire incident. I cannot say whether or not Mr. Zimmerman disobeyed a direct order from the police, but neither can you. If you say you KNOW EXACTLY what he did, then this would be your OPINION.
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson does not know, either. But that didn’t stop her from ranting to the press that “Trayvon was hunted down like a rabbit.” Her OPINION is not FACT!
Stephanie I did not glean that from the actual transcript.Its common sense Zimmerman was still pursuing him.Over zealous watchman is proably an understatement .How else could he assume he was on drugs or he was suspicious looking or better yet look like he is up to no good…Oh wait you are proably capable of doing that as well.
Mike, please do not make the mistake of assuming you know what I am or am not capable of. That was an unnecessary and uncivil attack on my character, and you don’t even know me. I have simply rebutted your comment with either fact or my opinion, but I did not make any judgement about you personally whatsoever. Even if I disagree with your opinion, I did not assume why you feel the way you do or attempt to predict how you would react to any given situation. If you would like to debate me, please do so fairly and without character assassination. Otherwise, it is an unproductive debate, and one in which I will not engage. Thank you.
If he had been following instructions then how did he end up in a different location where he engaged in an altercation with T. Martin which ended with Mr. Martin dead.
I cannot explain Mr. Zimmerman’s actions, as I wasn’t there. I never said that he did or did not follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Based on what you said, however, it could be assumed either way. For example, IF he followed the directions and walked in another direction, he would necessarily end up at a different location, right? Or, if he did not follow instructions, wouldn’t he end up in the same location as Mr. Martin? I’m not sure I understand your question. Can you please explain it in more detail? Thanks.
And one more question:
How can a group so willing to call out discrimination be so discriminating themselves?
Seven out of every ten African American voters voted in favor of Proposition 8 in California; the same voters who turned out strongest for Barack Obama also drove a stake through the heart of equality for another minority. And even at this level, African Americans are their own worse enemy. To date, over 230,000 African Americans have died of AIDS, nearly 40% of total deaths, and of more than one million people living with AIDS in the US today, almost half are black. And yet as a racial group, African Americans represent just 13% of the US population. While African Americans are busy blaming and hating others for all of their problems, they are dying from a lot more than bullets. The answer to all of this and more is summed up in one little word: Respect. Respect for one-self and respect for others will go a long way toward healing any community.
Stephanie I was going to Apologize to you for the “Character Assassination” but once you mentioned Fredrica Wilson I thought to my self (we were discussing Zimmerman and Martin what does Wilson have to do with this )I dont know much about her except that she seems to fancy’s head wear I only see women at church with,but thats besides the point maybe in your rebuttal youll mention the Reverend Al or Jesse Jackson it seems like your reaching a bit to defend the “Watchman” yeah thats right the “Over Zealous”one but hey its your opinon I guess just like it is their’s but to have a navie opinon that Zimmerman obeyed the dispatcher is quite absurd matter of fact it comical.Have a nice day!:)
Mike, you don’t have to agree with my opinion, nor was I expecting an apology. If you carefully read what I wrote, you will note that I did not claim I that I believed Zimmerman obeyed the police. I did point out that I have yet to see irrefutable proof that he did or did not do so. My entire “opinion” of this case is that I will not form an opinion on the innocence or guilt of Mr. Zimmerman until the evidence from both the prosecution and the defense are presented. That’s my entire opinion about that.
As for the Hat Lady, I DO have an opinion because she is unfortunately MY representative. I tend to have very pointed opinions about elected officials, especially my own, and public figures, such as Sharpton and Jackson, who put themselves out there in the public realm and open themselves up to public scrutiny. Especially when they, to use a phrase made famous by Mr. Obama himself, “behave stupidly.” Except, in this instance, these three actually did and do behave stupidly. That’s my OPINION, of course, lest you think I’m stating an actual fact.
Which, by the way, actually is the entire reason for this blog. DUH! If it weren’t for public officials and figures making complete and total asses of themselves, I probably wouldn’t have this column in the first place. As it stands, though, I’m happy so many politicians and media hounds are corrupt, inept, dirty and just plain stupid for the sole reason that I have so much damn fun smacking them. Virtually, of course. I love this job!
You are entitled to your opinion about Mr. Zimmerman or anyone else, but please keep in mind that opinions are not facts. That’s all I’m saying.
I asked a group of people, black,white and hispanics if they thought that race relations in America were better or worse since Pres. Obama has become president and they all said”WORSE”! I was not there when the young man was shot. I do know this though; If someone follows me at night and I finally confront them they can pull a gun and point it at me. If I lunge for the gun and during the fight I overpower them and have them on their back they can shoot me dead and claim self defense because they were loosing the fight that they started. Since I was on top and the gun wielding instigator was on the bottom and now screaming for help I can end up dead and he can get away with it because a witness saw me on top slammimg his head into the ground. Trayvon was walking and minding his own buisness talking to his girl friend. He was not only being persued, he was being persued at night in the rain by a man with a gun. Trayvon decided to “Stand his Ground” and his persuer was loosing the fight he started and now is claimimg self defense. Total BS. Had someone persued me without warrent in the dark of a rainy night I would have pulled my gun on them. If they then pulled a gun I would have shot them dead. End of story.
The perfect murder; A person wants to murder you. The have a license to carry a gun. They have been screwing your wife and want you dead. They walk up to you in a Walmart parking lot and tell you they have been screwing your wife, know all the intimate things and tell you that is where she is when she says she is out shopping late. He provokes you, then when you react he falls on his back and starts screaming for help and shoots you dead in front of 20 witnesses.
Trayvon was provoked by a man with a gun. Zimmerman could not fight like MAN so he shot a boy. Guilty
Thank you for your opinion. Now that Mr. Zimmerman has been arrested, is in custody, and will go to trial, we will all find out the actual facts in due course. Until such time as the jury has deliberated and made a determination based on the actual facts, I will reserve my opinion.
Thomas, I agree with you. The problem with this law is it allows almost anyone to commit murder and get away with it. It should be abolished immediately. We do not need any laws on self-defense. Self-defense is a legitimate defense in all 50 states and one is always acquitted if self-defense is proven. And my opinion is that true fear for your life is a reasonable reason for using deadly force for self-defense. I also believe that no jury would convict on fear for lose of life, as it has to be unanimous. So worst case scenario, mistrial.
I also agree with Stephanie. The only facts we have are Zimmerman was following Trayvon, Zimmerman had a gun, Trayvon did not, and Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon. But we have absolutely no idea what happened after the 911 operator told Zimmerman to stop pursuit.
End of story, until the trial.
The “Stand Your Ground” Bill (http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=15498&SessionId=38), otherwise known as SB 436 (and a substitute for House Bill 249 CS), was presented to the Governor on April 20, 2005, and signed by the Governor on April 26, 2005. It passed in the House by a vote of 94 to 20. It passed in the Senate with a unanimous vote of 39 to 0. The Senate Bill was sponsored by two black Senators, Bullard and Lawson. Frederica Wilson, who is now in the U.S. Congress, was a State Senator when she voted IN FAVOR of this Bill.
Ironically, seven years later, almost to the day, Rep. Wilson and the Congressional Black Caucus (as opposed to the non-existent, hypothetically racist White Congressional Black Caucus) is now calling for a repeal of all “Stand Your Ground” bills, WHEN SHE VOTED FOR IT! Apparently, she didn’t count on it being used as a defense for a white person. On April 5th, 2012, “Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), who represents Martin’s district, said Congress should pass the resolution because his death “speaks to the reality that racial profiling still exists in America.” (http://www.conservativecommune.com/2012/04/congressional-black-caucus-calls-for-repeal-of-stand-your-ground-legislation-everywhere/).
So, which is it, Hat Lady? Did you vote FOR it before you voted AGAINST it? CAN YOU SPELL H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E?
A rapist has a license to carry a gun. On a dark rainy night he drags a teenage girl into an alley to rape her at gunpoint on South Beach. The girl happens to be a kick boxer. She flips him and starts punching him repeatedly in the face and he is screamng for her to stop and screaming for help. Passerbys run to help and witness the girl leaning over him and punching him and he then shoots her dead! Self Defense. He claims she solicted him for prostitution then tried to rob him and he was fighting for his life. The girl had a hoodie on as it was raining. Turns out she had just been suspended from school for having a bag with traces of marijuana on it. The girl is black and the man is an attorney. Case closed. Self Defense.
You missed your calling, Thomas. You should be a screenwriter.
To be followed by a stranger is frightening. I made a wrong turn off an exit in Georgia and ended up in a small town at 3am, not a soul stirred. Before I turned around a car began following me. They made a U turn as I did and continued to follow. Near the gas station I pulled over to study the map. The car stopped and asked if I needed directions. I asked for them and the car then pulled over. I put the car in drive as the man jumped out , walked briskley towards my car then reached behind him and pulled a pistol that was tucked in the back of his waist band and I damn near ran him over. If a woman is shopping in the Aventura Mall at Xmas time and she is being followed inside the mall by a strange man she would be frightened. If she was parked far out and a car stopped and the SAME man approached her as she was loading her goods what should she do? Wait till he pulls a gun or knife, perhaps shoves her into the car and takes off? People are followed home from the mall, school,the bank, their business,etc then robbed, raped or murdered. When you are innocently minding your own business and are being followed by a stranger instinct tells you that your pursuer wants something from you. It turns out that a paranoid fool with a gun playing Texas Ranger is a very dangerous person to be followed by.
If Martin was afraid of Zimmerman, he had a cell phone and could have called the cops OR, he could have quickly gotten to the house where he was supposedly staying, inside of 30 seconds. And its not a lonely desolate area; its a complex of townhouses, as I understand it.
Let me know when the movie comes out.
Stephanie,
I found your blog from your comment on the Miami Herald. I like your take on things and agree that the big revelation is how much resentment and spite black people feel towards white people. But why is it such a revelation? For the past 20 years the media and politicians have been telling us that the nation needs a “dialogue about race” and that dialogue us supposed to be just scolding white people for how terrible they are, and never, never dealing with the huge, disproportionate black crime rate. Yes, of course, I am not going to attempt much more than a superficial friendship with my black co-workers, Mr. Holder, because I do not want to be in the uncomfortable position of being invited to their homes in black neighborhoods where I am not safe.
As to the Zimmerman-Martin case, a site called wagist.com did schematics of the neighborhood vs the timing of the phone calls and it became clear that Martin must have been the one to “stalk” Zimmerman. There is too much time from when Zimmerman first sees Martin until the incident. Martin could have easily made it to the house he was supposedly staying in within 30 seconds but instead, he is BACK to where Zimmerman was about 3 minutes later. Was he really staying at that house? How come the father didn’t notice him missing until the next day? How did the father and Ms. Green not see the police activity in the neighborhood when they returned from dinner or the basketball game (2 stories are out there).?
KarenFrances, You read an article from the wagist and took it as gospel truth. What other articles did you read on this case?
It was raining on the night in question. Is it possible Trayvon Martin had been hiding out from the rain? The rain was why he had his hoodie up and it is why the first time GZ saw him he had been sheltering under the porch of the clubhouse. Why is it so surprising to you that TM did not run straight home, yet not surprising to you that three minutes after his call to 911 ended GZ had still not returned to his truck but had apparently still been outside looking for the child he had assumed to be a criminal and had in fact murdered that child?? GZ had plenty of time to return to his truck too instead of playing big man cop with a gun. How long could could it have taken him to walk back to his vehicle as he claimed he was doing?? He did not “stop following” as he and his supporters have claimed. If he had he would have been home with his family right now instead of in a jail cell at the Seminole County Jail, where he should have been incarcerated 45 days ago if the Sanford Police Department had done it’s job.
If he had stopped following there is no way he would have come in contact with TM.
Just remember that no matter what else TM did, he did not have a history of violence, but GZ did. GZ assaulted a police officer going about his rightful duties. he was charged twice with domestic violence so why you would prefer to believe his side of events over that of a dead child is a mystery to me (or maybe not).
As to “not going to attempt much more than a superficial friendship with my black co-workers, Mr. Holder, because I do not want to be in the uncomfortable position of being invited to their homes in black neighborhoods where I am not safe.” that is essentially a racist comment. This is 2012, lots of black people DO NOT live in “black neighborhoods” as you put it. The fact that you don’t even notice that many of your neighbors are probably black is not surprising to me. Or maybe you live in a “white enclave”? Finding out that that is true considering your comment above would not be surprising to me either. As to your implication that all “black neighborhoods” are unsafe to white people, obviously you believe that is true or you wouldn’t imply it. I will just say that you are wrong and hope that one day you will wake up from your cloud of “white privilege” and realize how racist some of your assumptions are. You might not be racist but you sure do talk like someone who is.
Deborah, I do agree with your comment about “black neighborhoods.” Where I live, the population is about 50% black, 35% Hispanic, and the rest white. Our local high school is at least 85 to 90 percent black. I’ve never had a problem in my community. Which is actually my point – blacks are no longer relegated to “the back of the bus.” It’s time to get out of that “plantation” mentality and just be human beings like everyone else.
Deb,
I kind of discount what you write as soon as I see you referring to Trayvon Martin as “the child.” He was 17; the state of Florida prosecutes 12 year olds as adults.
You probably didn’t bother to look at the maps on the wagist.com site, of course. Martin could have made it to Brandy Green’s house within 30 seconds of when Zimmerman said Martin stared at him but he didn’t do that; he stayed outside in the rain. Zimmerman lost sight of him because Martin doubled back around the other side of the complex to attack Zimmerman.
Zimmerman was inside his own gated community and he had called for police to stop by. He was waiting for the police to give them some information about where the suspicious-looking person went.
As for not going to black neighborhoods, I stand by what I said. White people are not safe in black neighborhoods. Black people aren’t that safe in black neighborhoods either. Look at the black crime rates. But my point was about this case and how it reveals the hostile attitudes of black people. Ye gods, are they hostile to whites. All this talk of how we might kill black kids! How dangerous we are to black kids. Bulls**t.
Ms. Kienzle, who do you think you are! “White People want to know…”. Speak for yourself — Jewish, Rupublican, Country Music lover! I am white, an Irish Catholic, Democrat, Classical Music lover. Unless you have a crystal ball — how do you know what white people want to know.
When Zimmerman said on the call to the police department (not to a 911 dispatcher) “THESE ASSHOLES THEY ALWAYS GET AWAY” it certainly set the stage! When Zimmerman did not stay at the mailboxes to wait for the police to arrive — it certainly set the stage. When Zimmerman was afraid to give his full address because he did not know where the kid was — let’s see — perhaps Martin was afraid to go home with Zimmerman following him. If you look at the map of the area and what information is available –Martin was closer to his home than Zimmerman was to his vehicle or the mailboxes.
Good day to you, Irish Catholic, Democrat, Classical Music lover. I don’t just think, but I know exactly who I am. I’m the award winning (look over there to the side bar) Gadfly. DUH!
I also know beyond all reasonable doubt that I was not in Sanford, Florida the night of the fateful shooting of Trayvon Martin. Unless you were actually there in the flesh (which would then mean you’re one of the six witnesses that the police interviewed), I guarantee you don’t know any more than I do what happened. Lots of people are taking the liberties of assuming what happened, but I choose to base my opinion on actual facts (yeah, it’s a Gadfly thing), which will not be fully revealed until the trial commences.
Now, since you are obviously not one of my regular readers, and you are obviously not accustomed to my writing style, you obviously know even less about me than you do about the Sanford shooting. Therefore, I will grant you a pardon for your ignorance. Just this one time, though.
Now that we both know exactly who I am, I’ll clue you in on a well known secret. In my snarky way, I tend to make broad, sweeping generalities to get my point across. It’s called literary license. I obviously know that not all white people feel the same way. But, the vast majority of white people that I speak to do feel the way I do. They just don’t have the nerve to say it publicly for fear of being branded a “racist.” I happen not to give a crap since I know I’m not a racist, just a realist. I also know plenty of black people who agree with me. If blacks and whites would ever have the courage to engage in an honest discussion about race relations, I’m sure this is the stuff we’d be talking about instead of sweeping it under the rug. I may suffer from age related aches and pains, but liberal white guilt is an affliction I’ve thankfully escaped.
As this is for the most part a non-partisan blog, I won’t delve too deeply into those issues. But, since you brought up my Twitter description, i.e., Jewish, Republican, Country Music lover, I’ll leave you with a couple parting partisan thoughts. (An apology in advance to my Democrat friends, who do know me and love me anyway.)
1. How’s all that Hope and Change working out for you? I kinda miss paying $1.83 a gallon for gas instead of $4.19. I’m just saying.
2. If you voted for Obama to prove you’re not a racist, then vote him out to prove you’re not an idiot. I’m just saying.
Next…
There seems to be a lot a racial comments being made by people who claim they are not racist and that race should not play a role in this trial. Can you spell H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E?! That makes no sense to me…if someone could enlighten me on that matter, it would be greatly appreciated.
The big picture is that this case goes far beyond Zimmerman and Martin. It has everything to do with corruption of government officials, which was put in the forefront by the media because the police department DID NOT sufficiently do their jobs. The question to be had is why was Zimmerman allowed to leave the scene of a crime with evidence that is crucial to his defense or conviction (whichever the case may be). When officials arrived on the scene, without properly analyzing the crime scene, Zimmerman was released without question because they had already ruled it as self defense, despite the conflicting details that existed at the time.
Rebecca, I’m not sure what racial comments you are referring to or who is making them, but I sure hope you’re not judging me.
As for your other statements, I would like to know what facts you are relying on when you state that “the police department DID NOT sufficiently do their jobs,” or that “officials arrived on the scene, without properly analyzing the crime scene.” Please submit documented evidence to prove these statements so that we can all examine this together. You are also stating that the police “already ruled it as self defense, despite the conflicting details that existed at the time.” What conflicting details are you referring to? Please provide links.
As I’ve stated quite a few times here, I will withhold my opinion on this case until all the facts have been presented. Mr. Zimmerman is in custody will now face a trial, at which time the truth will come out, and he will be judged accordingly. Once there is a final verdict, I only hope that the public at large will accept it, whether or not they agree with said verdict, and move on. I know I will, whether or not I like the outcome. Our justice system is not perfect, but it is THE best in the world. At least here they don’t cut your hands off for stealing or stone women to death for the “crime” of being raped. We should ALL be very grateful for that!
I don’t think you are as fair minded as you claim to be. You most definitely are partisan and it come across in many of the comments you make. I don’t think you are racist but some of your comments do have that tinge. Racist attitudes are also obvious in some of the comments on this page in support of Zimmerman’s actions. I am not surprised that those might be hard for you to see as well. I too have spoken to several white people about Trayvon Martin’s murder and while most like you also have a “wait and see” attitude, they are mostly appalled at the behavior of the Sanford Police Department and the fact that GZ was not charged for his actions on the night of March 26th. Sanford PD DID NOT do a good job with this investigation and in fact they do have a history of not doing a good job when it comes to African American victims of crime in their town. I am surprised that someone with the power to reach others that you possess, has not done her due diligence and actually researched the practices of the Sanford Police Department. Maybe it would help if, as a journalist you actually went up to Sanford and interviewed its residents. I think THAT would be quite an eye opener for you and may make your opinions more worthy.
Deborah, I am absolutely partisan and I make no bones about it. I am a die hard fiscal conservative. If you would like to know what makes me tick, please see my column In Defense of GOP Principles, by a Common Sense Republican (https://www.votersopinion.com/?p=453). My ideology, if you will, is that I espouse smaller government, lower taxes and more personal freedom. That personal freedom extends to keeping the government out of our bedrooms and off our bodies. To me, some of the worst hypocrites, for example, are Republicans who claim they want the government out of their lives but turn around and dictate to others “morality.”
When I said this is a non-partisan blog, that’s because I mostly write about local politics in North Miami Beach and North Miami. Municipal elections in our county are non-partisan. If I were to go all Republican on this blog, I’d lose most of my readers, the majority of which are Democrats and liberals. In fact, some of my best friends are Democrats! By the way, some of my best friends are blacks, Hispanics and gays. Hey, I just described my own family! (I’m actually NOT kidding.)
I venture out into national politics with caution. And even then, I TRY not to inject my partisan beliefs out of respect for my peeps.
Lastly, I honestly didn’t realize I was “someone with the power to reach others.” I’m just a cranky 54 year old Jewish yenta, who abhors corruption and fraud in government, and especially despicable mayors and council people. I’m well versed in the English language and I’ve been told I have a bit of a writing talent, so here I am. I am NOT a journalist and could never be one because I’m so damn opinionated. I also recognize that other people have opinions, which are equally as valid even if I disagree. Okay, maybe not AS valid, but they’re entitled to them. (I’m mostly kidding here. 🙂
If you don’t think my opinion “worthy,” you’re entitled to your opinion on that, too. But, the way I see it, if you think my opinions are “racially tinged” (which I personally don’t believe they are), try reading Leonard Pitts and see if mine are as “racially tinged” as his. He never met a black person he didn’t defend or a white person he’d invite to dinner. I’m just saying.
Deb,
You most definitely are not fair minded! Hostile, hostile, hostile to anyone who doesn’t see the world the way you do. It was a “murder!” Nonsense.
People like you think “civil rights” means bowing and scraping to black people seeing themselves as victims of white racism. No, it doesn’t mean that. Civil rights are for all of us. George Zimmerman has civil rights, including the right to defend himself from a black teenager who is trying to bash his skull in.
And Stephanie has the right to her opinions and free expression on a blog. God bless the internet that we can all do that, whether narrowminded people like you like it or not.
I’m confused…… Mr. Zimmerman is most certainly hispanic, with previous run-ins with these same policemen. Don’t racists hate all ethnic groups equally? Why would the racist police department give up this opportunity to “stick” it to Mr. Zimmerman, too?
If you really want to know, I suggest you Google “Tim Wise White Privilege.” Watch some of the videos that come up and hopefully it will give you the answers that you claim to seek or perhaps not. Also check out his website if you dare.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dishonest Media
Dishonest Media has attempted to try, convict and execute Zimmerman without the benefit of a trial.
Dishonest Media is desperately grasping at anything that will help excite & energize base vote for Obama.
Dishonest Media is desperately grasping at anything that will help divert voters attention from $16 trillion debt, dismal economy, no jobs, $4 gas & 47 million Americans on food stamps.
=========================
Zimmerman had two lacerations on the back of his head. A picture purportedly showing blood
running down the back of Zimmerman’s head was published by ABC News this morning.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/20/george-zimmerman-bail-hearing_n_1440175.html?clear&icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D153766
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From: GrandparentsSay@aol.com
To: Oreilly@foxnews.com
Sent: 4/18/2012 1:28:58 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: MEDIA DISHONESTY……RACIST CRIME of CENTURY
FYI…interesting reads….
Media + Sharpton & Jackson turn tragic incident into
Racist Crime of the Century
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Media Dishonesty & Race Hustlers
http://townhall.com/columnists/walterewilliams/2012/04/11/media_dishonesty_and_race_hustlers/page/full/
Walter E. Williams Apr 11, 2012 ~excerpt~ …… Even if the president and his liberal allies in the media and assorted civil rights hustlers don’t care much about blacks murdering whites, what about blacks murdering blacks? During a mid-March weekend in Chicago, 49 people were shot, 10 fatally, including a 6-year-old black girl, making for more than 100 murders this year. Philadelphia isn’t far behind, with murder clipping along at one a day since the beginning of 2012.
Have we heard Obama make a statement about this carnage or that most homicide victims are black and that their murderers are black? No, and we won’t, because black-on-black crime, like black-on-white crime, does not fit the liberal narrative of the continuing problem of white racism
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BUCHANAN TO OBAMA By Patrick J. Buchanan
https://getsatisfaction.com/orlando_sentinel/topics/buchanan_to_obama_by_patrick_j_buchanan ~excerpt~Barack says we need to have a conversation about race in America . Fair enough. But this time, it has to be a two-way conversation. White America needs to be heard from, not just lectured to. This time, the Silent Majority needs to have its convictions, grievances & demands heard. And among them are ……. …
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Obama’s Zimmerman Problem ..
4/13/120By Patrick J. Buchanan http://buchanan.org/blog/obamas-zimmerman-problem-5058 ~ excerpt~~ Obama foolishly inserted himself into this volatile case weeks ago, and injected the issue of race. Expressing empathy with the family of Trayvon Martin, Obama flashed a signal of racial solidarity: Bloomberg seems about to lead a crusade against the National Rifle Association and for repeal of stand-your-ground laws in the two dozen states that have enacted them. ….Given their huge emotional investment in this case, how will black leaders and black America react if Zimmerman walks? And how will the rest of America react to that reaction? And if Zimmerman, Trayvon, race, guns and stand-your-ground– become voting issues this fall, how good is that for Barack Obama?
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Firefighter under investigation for Trayvon Martin Facebook rant http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/15/2750666/miami-dade-firefighter-under-investigation.html 04.16.12 ~~excerpts~~ Miami-Dade firefighter Captian blasted “urban youth” and “ignorant, pathetic” parents in a PRIVATE facebook post regarding the Trayvon Martin case. … . I and my coworkers could rewrite the book on whether our urban youths are victims of racist profiling or products of their failed, sh*tbag, ignorant, pathetic, welfare dependent excuses for parents, ..
“They’re just misunderstood little (6’3″) church going angels and the ghetto gangster hoodie look doesn’t have anything to do with why people wonder if they’re about to get jacked by a thug,”
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Multiple suspensions paint complicated portrait of Trayvon http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/26/v-fullstory/2714778/thousands-expected-at-trayvon.html 3/16/12 The Miami Herald ~excerpts~ The Miami Gardens teen … was suspended three times, and had a spotty school record. …In October, a school police investigator said he saw Trayvon on the school surveillance camera in an unauthorized area “hiding and being suspicious.” Then he said he saw Trayvon mark up a door with “W.T.F” — an acronym for “what the f—.” The officer said he found Trayvon the next day and went through his book bag in search of the graffiti marker. …..Instead the officer reported he found women’s jewelry and a screwdriver that he described as a “burglary tool,” ….Trayvon’s backpack contained 12 pieces of jewelry, in addition to a watch and a large flathead screwdriver, according to the report, which described silver wedding bands and earrings with diamonds. Trayvon was not disciplined because of the discovery, but was instead suspended for graffiti, according to the report. School police impounded the jewelry and sent photos of the items to detectives at Miami-Dade police for further investigation. That suspension was followed four months later by another one in February, in which Trayvon was caught with an empty plastic bag with traces of marijuana in it…. and a “marijuana pipe.”
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Zimmerman First Court Appearance 4/12/12 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/12/trayvon-martin-prosecution-faces-hurdles_n_1421270.html
SANFORD, Fla. — George Zimmerman, center, stands 5’9″ with his attorney Mark O’Mara, right, and a Seminole County Deputy during a court hearing Thursday April 12, 2012 . Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Miami 17-year-old, 6’3″ football player Trayvon Martin. (AP Photo/Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel, Pool)
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White People Want to Know
4/11/12| By Stephanie Kienzle https://www.votersopinion.com/?p=4503 ~excerpts~
George Zimmerman was an altar boy for 10 years, then worked in the rectory
He has a really good heart and has black ancestors & many black friends
Zimmerman Bought Gun for Pit Bull problem. 4/25/12 http://www.newsmax.com/US/zimmerman-trayvon-shooting-gun/2012/04/25/id/437099