Posted by silentpadna on 7/16/2013 11:15:00 AM (view original):
Posted by bad_luck on 7/16/2013 11:10:00 AM (view original):
Posted by tecwrg on 7/16/2013 11:06:00 AM (view original):
Blame the media. Racism makes for a good story, and makes money for the media outlets.
This should NOT have been a national story. If the story was "adult man accused of shooting unarmed teenage boy", it very likely would not have been publicized outside of the community in which it occurred. But once the media decides to embellish it as "white man (actually Hispanic, but white makes for a much better story) shoots unarmed black teenager", it takes on a much different feeling. Emotions are inflamed, sides are taken, and racial divisiveness rules the day. And that is a story that sells.
How does that help to curb racist attitudes in this country? I don't believe it does; it just continues to propagate racial divisiveness, an attitude of "us against them". It's very sad to me that in 2013, we're unable to move forward in combating racism.
Ignoring obvious racism doesn't help us move forward in combating racism.
What actual evidence do you have that is was obvious racism? Unless, of course, you are talking about the media outlets being racist (especially NBC that edited the 911 tape to make it LOOK like racism).
I'm not saying racism wasn't involved, but if is "obvious" to you, how do you know specifically?
Purely my opinion, no evidence.
I think Zimmerman followed Martin because Martin was black. That's racism, whether or not Zimmerman hates black people.
I think the Florida law is terrible. It allowed Zimmerman to (credit John Oliver):
Get a gun. Follow an unarmed minor.
Call the police. Have them explicitly tell you to stop following him.
Then choose to ignore that. Keep following the minor.
Get into a confrontation with him and then, if at any point you get scared, you can shoot the minor to death and the state of Florida will say, "well look, you did what you could."
I think the jury was able to relate to Zimmerman's fear of a black person and had an easier time finding him not guilty. When other juries in Florida have returned guilty verdicts in much clearer cases of self defense, see
Marissa Alexander.
It's not KKK, out-to-lynch-a-black-kid racism. It's systematic, subtle racism and it allowed this trial to be about the fear of an unknown black person instead of the murder of an unarmed teenager.
Again, all just my opinion, no actual evidence.