Trayvon Martin's vanished smile
First you cry. Then you scream in anger.
Trayvon Martin's vanished smile
Trayvon Martin’s smile is haunting me. I see it in the photos broadcast on the nightly news programs, in the newspaper, and when I close my eyes. It’s a wide, shy slice of youth and happiness. And now, it’s permanently erased.
The person who guaranteed that the smile would be frozen in photos is a self-styled town-watch volunteer, which in Florida seems to be spelled V-I-G-I-L-A-N-T-E. The laws in that state, like the laws in many others, make it okay to “stand your ground” in self-defense, and a shooter under those circumstances is almost guaranteed a “don’t even get into jail” card. But George Zimmerman, the man who erased Trayvon Martin’s smile, might not be able to cower behind that questionable law, because by his own admission on a 911 tape, he was actively following the victim.
In that strange Floridian lexicon, that seems to be spelled “S-T-A-L-K-I-N-G.”
While I sincerely hope that this does not become a battleground between the NRA and the NAACP, we have to face facts. If Trayvon Martin were white, his shooter would be in custody. If George Zimmerman were black instead of Hispanic (he was adopted by Jewish parents), Trayvon Martin’s shooter would be in custody. You can pretend all you want that this has nothing to do with race. But you can also buy the Brooklyn Bridge at a fire sale.
Still, I hope that the issues of race and the 2nd Amendment don’t turn this death into a polemic over bigotry and gun violence. The more important issue is, how do we stop these ridiculous laws which have nothing whatsoever to do with your fundamental right to own a gun from making our children shooting targets?
Personally, I don’t have a problem with a law that allows you to defend yourself against an armed attacker. I certainly have no problem with one that lets you shoot an intruder in your own home. But this case is a glaring example of where the law can be used as a weapon, one far more deadly than any firearm carried by any Dirty Harry wannabe.
I’m glad the spotlight is shining in George Zimmerman’s face. He needs to be taken into custody. He needs to be asked questions. This is the gun case the Justice Department should be involved in (to perhaps make up for its deadly blunders in Fast and Furious.)
Then, perhaps, someone can answer for Trayvon Martin’s vanished smile.
All the way back on February 27th, the local Orlando Fox station interviewed the witness who dialed 911. Almost none of the thousands of articles since have mentioned any of the details described by the witness. Some, however, have attributed false statements to this witness. On March 16th, the Sanford police department released new details to the Orlando Sentinel. Once again, these details have been ignored or changed by the media.
The witness reports that George Zimmerman was on the ground and Trayvon is on top of him punching him.
The witness says that George Zimmerman was screaming and yelling for help.
Police arrive and find Zimmerman bleeding on his face and the back of his head. He also has had grass stains on his back. All this confirms the story told by Zimmerman and the witness.
Police play the 911 tape for Trayvon Martin's father, who tells police that the voice screaming is not the voice of his son.
The neighborhood this took place in has seen a lot of crime. Would you be surprised to learn that there were eight burglaries, nine thefts, and a shooting just in the past year? In fact, the local homeowners' association reports that George Zimmerman actually caught one thief and aided in the apprehension of other criminals. The Miami Herald wrote about this on March 17th. None of the thousands of articles and cable news segments that came after, thought this was important.
In fact the Miami Herald goes on to interview neighbor, Ibrahim Rashada, who is black. Rashada ​confirms that there has been a lot of crime in the neighborhood and indicates to the reporter that the perpetrators are usually black.
Continue reading on Examiner.com Zimmerman was on the ground being punched when he shot Trayvon Martin - Charleston Charleston Conservative | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/charleston-conservative-in-charleston-sc/zimmerman-was-on-the-ground-being-punched-when-he-shot-trayvon-martin#ixzz1po0G2Lg4— retour- What happened prior to the first fact you list? Understand, I am not asking from a contentious postion. You have listed facts and cite them, things you correctly point out the MSM has ignored (I have not read these in many, many articles), so I am asking what transpired previous to Zimmerman being on the ground because I distrust the "facts" laid out for me in MSM pieces, which are most assuredly pushing an agenda. (CF took such a strong position on the Anthony case, it negates the credibility she gained on her position on the Duke case. And exposed a weakness of hers to fall for 'the puppy position' with particular victims.)
— sadim 
retour, I caution you. You persistence to grace this story with the truth and the facts will surely put the rambunctious Magistra out of business.
Facts that disprove her contentions are fighting words (literally) and will eventually cause her leftward leaning to cause her to topple. One can only lean so far left before gravity does its job.
I will give Christine a pass and simply presume she got out of the bed on the wrong side today. If and only if she is woman enough to admit to her mistakes.— PlumberJoe- I too rushed to judgment. My excuse is that I was defending the law. Thank you, retour for your due diligence, which is what any good lawyer does.
Of course pundits and commenters are exempt from the truth and the governing facts.
And are permitted to scream racist and bigot at the drop of the hat.— PlumberJoe - The first tell is that Hamblin agrees. That surely is the caution flag bright and shiny. — PlumberJoe
- I wholeheartedly agree with you, and at one point today was tempted to say that directly to Chris, i.e., look who agrees "this is your best article ever." If you watch the video connected to the yahoo link I posted below, you will see that the police took statements and gathered evidence from several witnesses. They reached the conclusion that, in light of the evidence they gathered, they could not even prove manslaughter. That is why they released the shooter. Importantly, Trayvon is no longer the sweet little kid with the "haunting smile" depicted in the pictures his parents have given to the MSM. He is 6'2" and was the aggressor in the incident that led to his shooting. Zimmerman will be acquitted of any charges, but unfortunately CF fell for this MSM lie hook line and sinker. Magistra was just totally lost. They both need to read the Examiner article I attached below. Holder will work the race angle to help fire up BHO's black base. I presume you have read the articles I attached and goodnight. — retour
- My dear Chris, thank you also for making perfect sense. I had to step outside for a while and get some fresh air. I left the board to others to do the "bloviating".
Here is the synthesis of your argument:
"You do not have a fear of something that you are actively pursuing. The evidence, now a month after the crime, shows by at least a clear and convincing standard if not yet beyond a reasonable doubt, that this young man with no weapon, was stalked by this wannabee block captain."
Exactly. It seems that Martin's girlfriend urged him to run away when he told her he was being followed. He knew he was in danger and tried to hide from his vigilante stalker. Zimmerman found him and despite his pleas, shot him dead. It is all on tape, not some made up story.
Zimmerman was never in danger from an unarmed youth who weighed 100 lbs. less than he did, and had to know that. Even if he suspected that the kid was a wannabe robber, he had already called 911 and all he had to do was wait for the police and point in the direction he saw the boy walking. We are talking about a housing development not a huge metropolis.
Of course this made the national news because Zimmerman was never arrested and is using the Florida law as a cover for his willful murder of a young man.
— Magistra - I checked out the tapes by the police and the report that Martin's father said the voice on the tape calling for help was not his son's.
There is always the possibility that the voice calling for help was a bystander.
Meanwhile, even if there had been a physical altercation it was Zimmerman who started it by stalking the boy. If someone is coming after you with murder on his mind, who would not fight back?
All Zimmerman had to do was stop running after Martin and nothing would have happened. He provoked the incident from start to finish, just as I said earlier.— Magistra - Magistra, were you there on the scene? Your "eye witness" account is about as credible as your detailed account of how medicare works, which was wrong.— PlumberJoe
- Fascinating. The obnoxious @retour and the despicable Dumber just won't let this go in their determination to make this unwarranted shooting seem, um, warranted. No shootings are warranted. Guns are for police or soldiers, not for regular people. Take your second amendment and rip it to shreds; I don't want lunatic Freepers with assault rifles stalking my children.— sophistry
Comment removed.- Here is the irony-
sophy complains about stalking.
Hamlin, the grave dancer, talks about decency.
And Magistra has a trance and witnesses the entire tragic event.
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I listened to the entire set of 911 tapes. There is no clue, none, about what actually happened.
Magistra, remember Duke. How quickly and conveniently you forget.
I've had my say. I will wait until the facts are in to convict.— PlumberJoe - PJ, I do not have to be "at the scene" and for that matter neither were you. The facts of the case are being revealed more an more. We know that the dead teenager had every right to be where he was and should have been free to walk unmolested.
We know that the self appointed vigilante overreacted and overreached. He was TOLD to stand down not stand his ground. From that point on, he became a stalker and killer of an innocent citizen who was not bothering him or anyone else.
If the altercation that led to the shooting got physical between the two men, who the h*ll started it?
This case should be investigated and tried so that the law can be clarified and justice served.
— Magistra - Richard, at no time is it ever acceptable to wish harm to anyone on these boards. I thought we already had this out.
We all have loved ones we want to protect. And we do not know each other's histories and how they shape our world view. But we should always err on the side of charity, as I have repeatedly stated.
That goes for all of you.
I know I am pompous sometimes, but on this issue I will not change my position.
Be well all. Ciao per ora a tutti. A te pure Cristina.— Magistra - Comment removed.
Email Christine M. at cflowers1961@yahoo.com Reach Christine M. at cflowers1961@yahoo.com.
