By now the news of the unfortunate injustice associated with Trayvon Martin has infiltrated the globe thanks in large part to social media. There has been an outpouring of outrage demanding justice for the 17-year-old's family. We have all seen videos, posts, statuses, recordings, photos, and even people sporting hoodies all to try to send a message.
When I first heard the story I was appalled...I figured there must be some mistake. How could this man's actions be justified? How could following this young man and holding a gun to his head while he was completely defenseless be construed as self defense?
After I listened to the 911 recordings, the girlfriend's cell phone account, and read through some of the other details of the story, I was even more shocked. I learned Trayvon was an A/B student, played football for his high school and was generally loved by all. As I read on, I couldn't help shake the feeling that something like this could really happen anywhere, even here in Summit, NJ.
The story was eating at me so I started to post links, information, sign petitions and whatever else I could do from my computer. I also was making a point to comment on other people's posts and statuses on the topic and I started noticing that most of the people who were so outraged by this story, were black.
I remember in watching videos from various Civil Rights marches and demonstrations back in the 60's and wondering to myself why were there so few people of other races marching too?
And I wonder today, why are there so few people of other races outraged about Trayvon Martin? I've actually seen numerous comments about the incident listing every excuse from what he was wearing, to the corrupt police department, to the "stand your ground" version of the legislation in question.
But in reality...the only thing George Zimmerman knew about Trayvon, was that he was black...and with that information, he made the decision to ignore his pleas for mercy and pull the trigger.
I am outraged as a mother, an American and a Human...the fact that I'm also white never even seemed relevant when I started posting and researching other similar cases, and yes, there are other similar cases. In fact, did you know there are modern day lynchings taking place and being passed off as suicides?
We know fear plus ignorance equals hate...and we seem to be completely surrounded by uncertainties that cause fear these days, so the only way to avoid the perpetuation of more hate is through education. People, ALL PEOPLE, need to wake up and realize that these hate crimes are taking place and rarely make the mainstream media. This means there is a clear social responsibility to speak up and speak out.
But who's responsibility is it? As parents, brothers, sisters, students, teachers, and Americans, isn't it every one's? So here's the call to action. I inserted the link to the petition below...but the real call to action is awareness and it's really not just about Trayvon.
Put down the Groupon and Google some articles. Turn off American Idol and talk to people...doing something is better than nothing...doing nothing says so much.
As the world around us changes, and I think it's clear to see that it is, we need to look at some serious issues. The unknowns politically, economically, the angst surrounding sexism, racism and other isms, and of course the global unrest. How are we as individuals dealing and coping with the fear and stress that comes with turmoil? I will dig in next post to how Summit as a community can hedge against whatever is to come. Comments and thoughts are always welcomed.
LG
Petition - http://www.change.org/petitions/prosecute-the-killer-of-our-son-17-year-old-trayvon-martin
Girlfriend's account of events leading up to the shooting - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/20/trayvon-martin-final-moments_n_1366697.html
Modern Day Lynchings documentary - http://www.tvfirstlook.com/2012/02/review-injustice-files-at-end-of-rope.html
“All things come to he who waits but these days most things suck.”
To compare me to Zimmerman is an ignorant rant. My rage is at a prosecutor who refused to investigate and charge Zimmerman s that judicial due process could move forward. It now appears it is so we can get to the bottom of what occurred. You better tone down you rhetoric, as your hate is very apparent.
Until the black population as a whole rejects the separatist, self-defeating ghetto/gangsta culture promoted by its "leaders" and "celebrities", every promising black person can expect to have to swim upstream. That form of self-inflicted racial discrimination is the real problem. No one is enslaving or holding back blacks more so than blacks.
The truth hurts, John. Do you have any comment on the murder of the hispanic man by "children of color" or is your outrage racially selective? The "children of color" can't even claim they killed him in self-defense. Michele characterizes you quite accurately.
I understand why you cannot directly respond to my comments to defend your blog post. You have neither the facts or the skill to defend the indefensible statements and points you make. Unbelievably many of your comments are even worse ("...protect them from our neighbors like those up here who will only ever see them as thugs"). That's a pretty broad stereotype! And even though you pat yourself on the back throughout the comments for what an enlightening force you are for racial conversation and understanding you have done nothing of the sort. You are kidding yourself. Writing a poorly researched, ill informed piece based on your feelings does nothing to advance the discussion of race. In fact it has been harmful as your media platform establishes a welcome embrace for people like John Lee and Concerned and SP who look at this tragedy as some sort of opportunity to make racial hay. As time has gone on in the last week Lori Golden you and the people you gave high 5s to in the comments have been systematically exposed as gullible fools that believed the original racist liberal media meme. Perhaps even proved to be racist yourself as you assumed the worst about George Zimmerman. More to follow in next comment....
You Lori Golden, the mother of a black child who's ancestors were well aware of the lynchings of blacks, were perfectly happy to stir those same emotions in people that wanted to lynch Zimmerman...something you continue to think and do now today even though evidence piles up that refutes every one of your "feelings." We now know that ABC and NBC both selectively edited video and audio tape (in other words lied) to put Zimmerman in the worst light possible. Bought hook line and sinker by you and your ilk in this thread. These lies were passed on by others in the liberal media including the New York Times who apparently had not caught up to the fact that NBC's own internal investigation concluded that they had made an error and apologized. Much like you, Lori Golden except you cannot admit that you were wrong, you rushed to judgment and wrote something too quickly before the facts had been widely distributed and understood in full context. More to follow in next comment....
I'd also like to help you with your ignorance of American history. The Irish and Chinese were treated like garbage when they first came to America. While they were not slaves they still had to work and bootstrap and fight for recognition as Americans in the post Civil War era. Somehow the Irish and the Chinese have done well enough that they don't need Sharptons and Jacksons to represent their nationality or race. It is tiresome to hear from people like you that racism is holding people back. With the election of President Obama that dog hunts no more. You kid yourself that you have added anything to the discussion. In fact you and your intolerant ilk that write inflammatory stories and that sign despicable petitions to prosecute based on your "feelings" of racial victimization are the real problem in America today.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2012/04/03/win-newsbusters-nbc-apologizes-shoddy-editing-zimmerman-call
While it's great to see 145 comments in this stream, people have been pushing it with the personal attacks. Please keep the discussion to the general topic and avoid any attacks on commenters. We want this to be a free and open commenting space. Let's respect each other, please.
The absurdity of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton is that they want to make a movement out of an anomaly. Black teenagers today are afraid of other black teenagers, not whites. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303302504577323691134926300.html#articleTabs%3Darticle
We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops,” Barry said in remarks first reported by WRC-TV. “They ought to go. I’m going to say that right now. But we need African-American businesspeople to be able to take their places, too.” And in other news: "The White House’s spokesman said Thursday that the president believes that a golf club in Augusta, Ga., 551 miles from the White House, should change its membership rules and admit women as members. "... Obama is trying to bolster support with feminist groups, partly because he’s trying to maximize favorable turnout among women in the November election." I guess once a community agitator, always a community agitator. So much for the rights of individuals and private organizations and churches and ....
Word of advice too...read the article in my link because your deleted comment made it clear you hadn't. I wouldn't want you to be embarrassed again.