Originally Posted by
yodajazz
I respectfully disagree with your opinion, that race was a non issue, in the causes of this incident. I say it is the major factor. While Zimmerman's accounts may possibly be true, one has to make a major assumption, that a youth with no history of violence, attacked Zimmerman with no provocation. What reason would Martin have had to attemped to kill Zimmerman, with no provaction? Oh yeah, I forgot that Martin was photographed rasing his index finger. So one has to make the assumption then that anyone who makes that gesture, is surely likely to attemp murder. Or, if he was in reality, looking at a house, then his only motive for looking at a house, was to burglerize it. Dont humans admire nice material things? If you go down the list of things Martin has been accused of doing, the key factor that would make a person believe that a person, doing those things is likely of attempted murder, without any provacation, is racial stereotypes. If your major contact with a minority, is seeing them on the news, your views of them will likely be shaped by what you see. Some people believe that Zimmerman's story is so credible, they sent him over $100,000 in donations.
But there is more than direct racism involved here. The great divide in humanity, is how much we see others, as being like ourselves. Jesus, recognized this, as one of his two, commandments was, "to love thy neighbor as thyself". People often respect the members of their own ethnic group. It is much easier to believe that others who we interact with are 'reasonable people', like we view ourselves. We then see crime, by those of other ethnic groups, some people see that as a characteristic of the group, rather than bad seeds.
So the bottom line is that in the Martin case, whether it is direct racism or indirect, Racial stereotypes is the the major factor in making people believe Zimmerman's story is true, without question. The public outcry for a trial, is simply about answering questions. The case was considered closed, until Martins parents got the public's attention. I, personlly have lots of questions, and understand that his parents have many questions also.
In my youth, when I got my first car, sometimes I would drive through the richest neighborhoods and dream of one day having a home like those. I, in no way thought about burglarizing any of those homes. Zimmerman's thought patterns are symptoms of a disburbed mind, or a sick society, if many people believe the same thing. But perhaps Zimmerman was entirely right, in assuming that Martin was going to burglarize that house. But I would personally give it a small percentage chance of being likely, reasonable assmumption, or true.
Amy, though I disagree with your statement, I still consider you to be a reasonable person, as I think of myself as such. And this is what Jesus commanded, not following you around with a loaded weapon. (In response to Zimmerman's tv interview).
