Race in America

Why has it that in America today, everything has become about race? Two weeks ago, an unfortunate incident happened, in that a young black man, Travon Martin was fatally shot by George Zimmerman who was a neighborhood watch captain. Zimmerman claims it was self defense, Travon'ssupporters claim it was a racially biased shooting.

Common George, you felt scared enough for your life that you chose to kill that person, a 14 year old boy? I've seen your pictures, you look like a you could be a pretty intimidating man, I wouldn't take you on, and I'm not a small guy. I'm 6'2" 210, and in reasonably good shape.

I don't know what happened, nor does anyone else in America or the world, but i can give you my take on it. I believe what happened was an unfortunate series of events that lead to the death of one young man, a black man. When George saw a person walking through the neighborhood, he for whatever reason felt he was suspicions. It could have be because he was black, I don't know. It could have been Travon'smannerisms caught Georges attention. It could also have been a person on a power trip, who felt that because he had been given/taken/volunteered, a level of authority he had the right to carry a gun in the execution of that authority, and use that gun in a level consistent with law enforcement. (don't get me wrong, I believe in the right to bear arms, and carry a gun). The problem there, is Zimmerman wasn't a member of law enforcement, he was technically even lower than a totem pole, than a rent a cop or security officer. Travondidn't know who he was. He wasn't wearing a uniform. Zimmerman probably followed him for awhile, then I imagine Travon saw or heard him behind him and knew that "somebody" was following him, and started to walk faster, eventually probably taking off at a run, or even possibly trying to hide. George called to him to stop, probably said something about being in the neighborhood watch, maybe saying he was a cop. Travon continued to run trying to evade George, not necessarilybecause he was guilty of anything, but rather because he didn't know who George was.

That's the key to the whole thing here, we are in a society that doesn't know our neighbors, if we’re lucky we might know the people next door. How many kids have been abducted, murdered, raped, because they trusted a stranger? When I was a kid we were taught to obey adults, and do what they said. We lived in a simpler time. We've taught our kids to run if a stranger approaches them, and to TravonGeorge was a stranger. Eventually George Shot. Do I think you intended to kill him? No I don't.I think you maybe tried to scare him, maybe even shoot him, but not kill, just to stop him from running or walking away from you. But you did kill him so now you had to make up a reason as to why you shot Travon. Self-defense. There it is plain and simple self-defense; it’s now pretty much a dead person’s word against yours as to what happened. You get off, maybe a slap on the wrist, but basically you get off. Do I think you’re a Racist? No, probably not, maybe a little profiling, but I doubt you even knew he was black until sometime into the whole deal.

What’s going to happen here is someone else is going to end up dying before this is all over. George you need to man up and tell us what really happened, take your lumps as they fall, but tell the truth.

Law enforcement needs to get a handle on neighborhood watch groups, most I'm sure are totally law abiding, do as the books and pamphlets say, don't engage a person suspected of something, take notes, don't pursue, be a good observer, and a help to law enforcement. What has happened to a few, is they are self-appointed vigilante's, hiding behind the neighborhood watch. They think there cops. Police departments across the nation have at a time of diminished budgets, created a ticking time bomb, by giving people information, and no power or authority, by helping to establish the neighborhood watch programs. Now in the police department’s defense I'm sure they didn't tell or even encourage George to carry a gun, but he did. I think what needs to happen, when the neighborhood watch programs are set up in a neighborhood, for the life of the program, there needs to be some supervision by the department with jurisdiction, every couple of months, maybe 4 times a year, they need to have a meeting with members of the community, and the ones in charge. Reiterate rules, ask questions, be open to questions, stress the no contact rules.