I don't care about George Zimmerman!!!

I just clicked on the "new posts" link, and 10 of the 25 threads that have been posts in most recently deal with the EXACT SAME ISSUE!! Every one is obsessed with what is ultimately isn't all that important!! Why is everyone obsessed with this story? I am starting the least productive thread I can remember starting in a very long time, just to ask that question. I can't say I don't care in one of those threads, because it is against the rule. So I will ask all of you, since you all seem obsessed(both left and right wingers seem equally obsessed). With multiple wars across the globe, stagnation in the economy, 2 corporatist parties, institutional racism, a broken immigration system, imperialistic foreign policy, an absurd drug policy, extreme concentration of wealth, etc, etc, etc, etc why does this issue get so much attention? Am I supposed to believe that this issue is not only important, but important enough to take up more than 1/3 of this forum, with all the other more serious problems this country faces!! Even if you accept this is an injustice, there are multiple injustices every day that deserve as much if not more attention. This issue has become nothing more than a way of distracting people from more important issues, by keeping their focus fixed on this ultimately marginally important story!! I simply don't care, and will not post in this thread or any other thread on this issue again at this forum!!

 

I have no idea why I wrote George Martin and not Zimmerman, but it doesn't matter. Same point still holds.

PS. I think it might be because I just watched the new episode of game of thrones right before posting this.

 

The Zimmerman/Martin case was like the straw that broke the camels back regarding the status of race relations in the United States. The threads you are seeing are not merely about this case. It is much deeper than that.

 

I agree with you Frodly, this country is broke and broken and there are certain elements in the media stirring up racial tension.

 

Race relations (or the lack thereof) is a centrally important issue - no doubt about it. But the predictably speculative partisan rants is starting to resemble the fingernails across the blackboard SCREEEEEECH.

 

What camel? What are you talking about? The US just elected a black president, we have very serious problems in regards to race still, but it is hardly on a precipice waiting to be pushed over the edge. Yes, dealing with institutional racism is very important, but what happened in this case is NOT an example of institutional racism. It is an example of many things wrong with our country, but none of them are among our most pressing needs. Elite interests in this country just like to stoke the flames of race hatred, because it keeps ignorant people occupied on invented issues, instead of concentrating on the fact that those elite interests are currently raping this country.

 

See I think class is far more important, and most of the issues of race are really class issues. It is not just poor black people who are disadvantaged in America, so are poor rural white people, so are poor hispanics, etc. We have to deal desperately with those class issues, and we also have to deal with issues of institutional racism. This issue is possibly one where prejudice led to tragedy. Very sad yes, but something that is not indicative of a major problem facing this country!!

 

Whites are beginning to push back. Slowly.

 

Against what? Their extraordinary privilege? That privilege really has been tough for us!!

 

Leave it to a liberal to walk over a people and demand gratitude.

 

???????? Go look up some racial economic statistics sometime, and you will understand how truly absurd your position is. Actually start with this one, it is fun.

http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2011...record-highs-between-whites-blacks-hispanics/

Ya, it really seems like whites need to push back really hard!! They only have about 23 times as much wealth on average, that number is pathetically low!!

 

Leave it to the liberal racists to categorize everything by race. You people just can't help it. For the record I'm hispanic and I do fine. Stop importing mestizos.

 

So no intelligent response?? I am white by the way, and I am quite pleased with my privilege and cannot imagine what it is I need to push back against!!

 

Why would you push back against people politically allied with you? Push back, you? No. All you need to do is mix up a martini, sit back and watch the invasion transform the political landscape to your benefit.

 

Perhaps those millionaire/billionaire black Americans oughta start sharing their wealth with these underpriviledged black people. Sharpton and Jackson might actually start doing something for their house slaves of the demo party.

 

Because what is the point of fighting all of those things you mentioned if you can't walk innocently down the street without ending up dead and your possible killer strolling calmly out of a police station after a travesty of an "investigation."

There are numerous big complicated challenges that will take years for this country to work through. But this case isn't one of them. Before ANY police agency closes the books on an unarmed teenager with a gaping gunshot wound to the chest they must provide a proper explanation. That is the least the government can do.

There is a reason the battle cry is "I am Trayvon Martin." I put myself in that boys shows. I don't think wearing a hoodie in the rain should get you killed. I specifically bought a waterproof hooded jacket to wear in the rain. I got sick of losing umbrellas. Now I've got Geraldo telling me that by expensive waterproof rain jacket makes me a "gangster." Honestly I was in England looking at high end Barbour wax jackets when I finally settled on something a little more modestly priced from America. That makes me a thug?!

Unlike the DonGlock pointless crime threads I could actually see what happened to Trayvon happening to me.

 

That is very true. Well said.

 

I don't think so. I just think a lot of people assumed we wouldn't see things like this anymore. This case goes far beyond race. The guy that got killed as an unarmed teenager. Had the trigger man just minded his own business every indication is that this event probably wouldn't have occurred. It's a senseless death which is bad enough but the seeming reluctance by the authorities to dig deep for some answers is what really set things off. The alleged racial angle always brings out the usual suspects. I don't know if the racial angle is real or imagined. It is unfortunate because it sort of overshadows the core issue. An unarmed teenager died for no reason and the authorities failed to properly investigate the death. That is unacceptable.

 

I don't agree with the number of threads, but I also don't agree with the suggestion that it's not an important issue.

To be clear, I don't care about the racially motivated assertions being thrown around. People, no matter how hard we try, can and will always let their weaker logic get the best of them at some point, meaning the conclusion that racial background plays an important role in assessing whether or not to find someone suspicious. I'd rather turn attention to a law that appears ripe with error... and leaves cases like these in the powerful hands of the surviving member's account (even without witness).

 

two great posts...glad you two can see that it has nothing to do with race and if not for the usual suspects this case would simply be about an apparent unjust shooting of an unarmed teen and nothing more.

But instead we have a race war brewing for no real reason as the likelihood of GZ being motivated by a desire to kill darkies is super slim to none...but alas...now that's what everyone thinks it's about.

Now you can't even say "A teenager should not be killed for simply walking home from the store." without someone saying "well 10 black kids just killed a white guy in California last week, where's the outrage?!?!" as if that is a) relevant and b) their article points out that the suspects are arrested and being tried....

 

If race did play a role in the actual shooting then it could be a hate crime and that has very serious consequences in America... life in prison. The alleged "f**king coons" thing on the audio tape is not good. The numerous 911 calls about suspicious black people doesn't help either. I mean really, a suspicious black 7-9 year child?! Really?!

You really need a gun for that?

Secondly what happened is totally senseless. People are looking for a reason. They want to know why an unarmed teenager walking home from a store is dead. They also want to know why the authorities aren't as curious as them about this unfortunate situation. Now I have no idea whether race played a role in the authorities initial decision not to be more aggressive about the investigation. That will be pretty hard to prove... if it's true. Having said that the Sanford Police department has had problems with race in the past. It is natural for people to look for simple answers when a tragedy occurs. There should be a cooling off period now while we wait for more objective information though. Discussing it calmly is fine, but 10 new threads a day is a bit much.

 

I would not say that any "race war" is brewing... but given the history of this nation, that the authorities DID NOT seek to answer questions which virtually ANYONE would ask (if they knew about the boy's death)... is unforgivable.

In essence, African Americans have more than valid reasons distrust law enforcement; and the manner in which the killing of Martin was handled only serves to bolster that very same distrust.

 

What is astonishing to me is if you have an unarmed teenager with no criminal record gunned down walking home from the store you better do a dam good investigation before declaring there is no one to prosecute. How could they not have seen this (*)(*)(*)(*) storm coming?!

 

Not likely. This stuff just gets people riled up on venues like this one. Tomorrow, people will go to work and have a good conversation with someone of another race like it's nothing.

 

I get that... and anyone who knows me knows I'm a proponent of hate crime legislation. What I'm saying is I'd rather not focus on the unknown, even if there are valid signs that point to the suggestion. I'd rather place greater attention on what we do know... which is a law that I feel deserves a second thought.