Trial experts say its going to be hard to convict George Zimmerman

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

You don't know what happened. Keep in mind.... If you feel that your life is in danger, you are allowed to defend yourself using any means necessary.

Keep in mind, like most normal and rational people, I don't seek to put my life in danger by stalking people walking down the street minding their own business.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

That's different from believing that because TM was black, that blacks will riot if his killer goes free. One is about multi generational marginalization of a certain sect of society, and the other a sweeping, prejudicial generalization of that group based solely on unrelated, past events.

Really. You got to be kidding. So if I say I bet the next NFL draft class of defensive back will be very providentially African American, with that be a sweeping stereotype.

[Darnell 8,478]

What's all this hating on Afro-Peruvians ?

[Teddy B 17,252]

Really. You got to be kidding. So if I say I bet the next NFL draft class of defensive back will be very providentially African American, with that be a sweeping stereotype.

Only if you think they're going to riot if they're not drafted in the 1st round.

[decocker 7,198]

Really. You got to be kidding. So if I say I bet the next NFL draft class of defensive back will be very providentially African American, with that be a sweeping stereotype.

not the same thing. not at all.

[Eric-Pris 1,606]

Keep in mind, like most normal and rational people, I don't seek to put my life in danger by stalking people walking down the street minding their own business.

So now he's stalking? Did you see this?

Nobody but GZ knows what happened. Even if GZ confronted TM, which being some kind of neighborhood watch guy I would expect him to do to anybody who doesnt live there to find out what he's doing there, it doesn't necessarily mean he's the aggressor. What happened next only 1 person knows. In my opinion, here's a possible scenario: he (GZ) confronted the stranger in his neighborhood and asked his intentions there. If TM said I'm staying with xxx and I'm heading back there, it would be all over and done. But if TM started giving him a beatdown and he pulled out a gun and shot him, that's self-defense in my book. But again neither you nor I know what the hell happened there. But lets not hail TM as an altar boy just yet, GZ didn't bust up his own face or cut the back of his own head.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Even if GZ confronted TM, which being some kind of neighborhood watch guy I would expect him to do to anybody who doesnt live there to find out what he's doing there

Why would you expect this?

That's not the Neighborhood Watch's job. Not at all.

Chris Tutko, director of Neighborhood Watch for the National Sheriffs' Association, said Zimmerman broke some cardinal rules.

First, he approached a stranger he suspected of wrongdoing.

"If you see something suspicious, you report it, you step aside and you let law enforcement do their job," Tutko said. "This guy went way beyond the call of duty. At the least, he's overzealous."

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-24/news/os-trayvon-martin-neighborhood-watch-20120321_1_zimmerman-community-ties-neighborhood-watch

Edited June 4, 2013 by Penny Lane

[RGinWA 816]

Keep in mind, like most normal and rational people, I don't seek to put my life in danger by stalking people walking down the street minding their own business.

And GZ should have know that his "activity" came with some inherent risk of bodily injury...so by him claiming his life was now "in danger" he's created his own legal defense; before the act even takes place.

Because face it George, your own substandard brain put your life in danger...not some kid who didn't want you confronting where he should be able to walk in a free Country.

The fact is GZ created a dangerous situation for himself and he bears the responsibility for the outcome of his own actions. Without the confrontation he'd just be GZ the moron who thinks he's a crime fighter, instead of GZ the moron on trail.

They've made too much out of this case when it's fairly cut and dry. It's like the bullfighter suing the bull because of the scar on his @ss.

Don't want a possibly murder charge? Then don't bother people and then shoot them after you get your @ss kicked.

[Darnell 8,478]

I blame all of GZ's thought processes and abnormal behavorior on his mother, Gladys. It's all her fault ....

Edited June 4, 2013 by Darnell

[B_J 2,752]

That's different from believing that because TM was black, that blacks will riot if his killer goes free. One is about multi generational marginalization of a certain sect of society, and the other a sweeping, prejudicial generalization of that group based solely on unrelated, past events.

I don't believe there would be riots because TM was black. It's more complicated than that.

From the beginning, the media exploited this story. In the beginning the story was a white man killed a black teen who was armed with skittles. Of course, there is more to the story than that; but the media made it seem like it was another Amadou Diallo story. An unarmed black teen was gunned down in cold blood. I was outraged at first, until I found out the rest of the story. But so many just view it as a white man killing an unarmed teen. You still see it here on VJ; Zimmerman killed Trayvon because he was black.

Because of the exploitation of the story, people identified with Trayvon. "I am Trayvon" and all of that. So, now, for some people, if Zimmerman isn't found guilty of murder, then Trayvon didn't get justice. Nothing else will seem fair to them. For those who identify with Trayvon, if they believe that he was gunned down just for being black; what will it mean to them if the court doesn't find GZ guilty? Is it okay to gun down black teens just for walking with skittles?

This is the similarity to the Rodney King riots. So many identified with Rodney King and his treatment by the police. Now, they choose to identify with Trayvon too. It doesn't mean riots will happen, but it isn't racist or "telling" to think it might happen. It's the identifying with the victim and the perceived lack of justice that could lead to riots.

[Teddy B 17,252]

I blame all of GZ's thought processes and abnormal behavorior on his mother, Gladys. It's all her fault ....

I blame moral decay......AYE!!

[decocker 7,198]

even as a white parent of a white kid, i identify with tm's parents first and foremost. black people know what it's like to be profiled on a daily basis. especially black males. in the past couple months i've read marvin attempt to explain what that sort of burden feels like, what it does to your psyche. of course, some vj p&R posters whined that marvin was just misinterpreting his own experiences.

my personal take is that if you don't understand the societal outcomes of racial profiling, or worse, don't accept that this is a prevelant problem to begin with, you can't empathize with tm or his parents. further, if you are of the belief that everyone should be armed and everyone should be policing their neighbors, you're probably an idiot and lack the ability to empathize in the first place.

interesting info that came out today..i wonder why blacks get arrested more often than whites for the same crime?

According to a new study from the American Civil Liberties Union, which tracked marijuana arrests by race and county in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, black and white Americans use marijuana at about the same rate. However, blacks were nearly four times as likely than whites to be arrested on charges of marijuana possession in 2010.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/03/racial-disparity-in-marijuana-arrests_n_3381725.html

maybe it's the difference of, if a young black male has a couple pictures of pot plants on his cell phone, he's a thug. if a young white male has a couple pictures of pot plants on his cell phone, he's a hippie en route to a phish show or possibly an aspiring horticulturalist..

Edited June 4, 2013 by val erie

[Teddy B 17,252]

And GZ should have know that his "activity" came with some inherent risk of bodily injury...so by him claiming his life was now "in danger" he's created his own legal defense; before the act even takes place.

Because face it George, your own substandard brain put your life in danger...not some kid who didn't want you confronting where he should be able to walk in a free Country.

The fact is GZ created a dangerous situation for himself and he bears the responsibility for the outcome of his own actions. Without the confrontation he'd just be GZ the moron who thinks he's a crime fighter, instead of GZ the moron on trail.

They've made too much out of this case when it's fairly cut and dry. It's like the bullfighter suing the bull because of the scar on his @ss.

Don't want a possibly murder charge? Then don't bother people and then shoot them after you get your @ss kicked.

This case is far from cut & dry. I believe GZ was wrong for following TM after being told not to by police dispatch, but nobody except GZ really knows what happened after that. Perhaps it was TM that elevated the dangerous situation by attacking GZ and he beared the responsibility of his actions?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

So now he's stalking? Did you see this?

Nobody but GZ knows what happened. Even if GZ confronted TM, which being some kind of neighborhood watch guy I would expect him to do to anybody who doesnt live there to find out what he's doing there, it doesn't necessarily mean he's the aggressor. What happened next only 1 person knows. In my opinion, here's a possible scenario: he (GZ) confronted the stranger in his neighborhood and asked his intentions there. If TM said I'm staying with xxx and I'm heading back there, it would be all over and done. But if TM started giving him a beatdown and he pulled out a gun and shot him, that's self-defense in my book. But again neither you nor I know what the hell happened there. But lets not hail TM as an altar boy just yet, GZ didn't bust up his own face or cut the back of his own head.

If you are going to plagiarize another poster, at least give him credit for an original work of fiction.

[B_J 2,752]

This case is far from cut & dry. I believe GZ was wrong for following TM after being told not to by police dispatch, but nobody except GZ really knows what happened after that. Perhaps it was TM that elevated the dangerous situation by attacking GZ and he beared the responsibility of his actions?

We don't even know what happened after the police told GZ not to follow TM. He may have ignored the advice or he may have done as he was told. We don't know the whole story and we most likely never will. Does GZ deserve jail time if we're not sure what happened?

I really wouldn't want to be on that jury.