Trayvon Martin...another case lacking common sense

Trayvon Martin… another case lacking common sense

Summary of Incident

The fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman took place on the night of February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida. Martin was an unarmed 17-year-old African American, Zimmerman, a 28-year-old multi-racial Hispanic American appointed neighborhood watch coordinator for the gated community where Martin was temporarily staying and where the shooting took place.

While in his vehicle on a personal errand, Zimmerman noticed Martin walking inside the community. Zimmerman called the Sanford Police Department to report Martin's behavior as suspicious, stating "This guy looks like he's up to no good, or he's on drugs or something. It's raining and he's just walking around, looking about" and "looking at all the houses". According to a police report, "there is no indication that Trayvon Martin was involved in any criminal activity at the time of the encounter". While still on the phone with the police dispatcher, Zimmerman left his vehicle (I guess he felt pretty safe having a gun and all). The dispatcher tells Zimmerman not to follow Martin, he responds “okay” but continues.  The dispatcher then tries to coordinate a meeting spot in the parking lot with the police en route but Zimmerman refuses because he knew he would not be at the agreed upon location because he was in hot pursuit of Martin. After the phone call concluded, there was a violent encounter between Martin and Zimmerman. The encounter ended with Zimmerman fatally shooting Martin once in the chest at close range. Zimmerman did not try to call EMT’s for the wounded Martin but instead tells the first person he saw not to call the police.

When police arrived on the scene, Zimmerman told them that Martin had attacked him and that he had shot Martin in self defense. Zimmerman was bleeding from the nose and from two vertical lacerations on the back of his head. EMT’s treated Zimmerman at the scene, after which he was taken to the Sanford Police Department. Zimmerman was detained and questioned for approximately five hours. He was then released without being charged; at the time, police said they found no evidence to contradict Zimmerman's claim of self-defense. I guess the Sanford Police always believes the one that’s living when investigating a quarrel since one comment was that “Zimmerman should not be at the station too long”

The circumstances of Martin's death, the initial decision not to charge Zimmerman, and questions about Florida's “Stand Your Ground” law received national and international attention. Allegations of racist motivation for both the shooting and police conduct, along with intense media reporting that was sometimes inaccurate, contributed to public demands for Zimmerman's arrest. On March 22, 2012, a Special Prosecutor was appointed to take over the investigation. On April 11, 2012, the Special Prosecutor filed a charge of murder in the second degree against Zimmerman, who then turned himself in and was placed in custody. The prosecution's account of what they allege happened on the night of the shooting is largely contained in the Affidavit of Probable Cause. Zimmerman pleaded not guilty to the charge and was out on a $1 million bond while awaiting the results of the trial.

In February 2013, Judge Debra S. Nelson set Zimmerman's jury selection to begin on June 10, with 500 potential jurors being summoned. Zimmerman had requested a "stand your ground" hearing, but in March 2013, his defense elected to bypass the hearing so that his case would be tried before a jury. (Summary from Wikipedia)

Cognitive Behavior Analysis

Trayvon Martin was your average African American 17 year old child.  Unfortunately, because of his untimely death, his accusers have labeled him a drug addict, gang member, vulgar and aggressive. Juxtapose to their opinions, Martin comes from a close knit family with strong morals and values demonstrated through his love for his brothers mother/father/grandparents and the drive to be a productive member of society. It is very easy to relate this incident to be discriminatory and racist however, the facts and evidence clearly will exonerate and absolve Martin without trying to convict Mr. Zimmerman on the bases of prejudice.  This young man was killed for the following reasons: Fear (not fear from Martin, but fear from the stigma of what the African man represents), Ignorance, Hatred, Low Self Esteem, Stereotyping and Racial Profiling.

George Zimmerman grew up an overweight, picked on minority with issues of low self worth. He was not only unpopular with girls he didn’t have too many guy friends.  The majority of his time was spent envying others and watching his peers live the life he wished he had.  This type of person typically struggles with relating to others his age, they begin to develop a dislike for others that achieve the lifestyle they wish they had and they usually lack in competing in team sports and academically.

As this type of lifestyle continues, common to those with similar cognitive behavior, being overweight, sensation seeking, rebelliousness, and superabundant daily TV time are each independently associated with lower self-esteem. Remember, this does not apply to all.  It’s just those that try to project a squalid image upon those that are threatening. What can a young adult that does not get that sycophant attention that he seeks, that overwhelming need to be noticed and that secretly thrives on praise from his peers?  Zimmerman says why not go for a position of authority like a police officer? Here is an occupation that satisfies all of his self serving needs.  It’s a way to demand respect from other citizens in his community.  People will finally look to him for help, assistance or just simply just attention.  So, Zimmerman applies for the local police department and surprise, surprise, he fails the test.  I wonder why? Some say credit issues, psychology or just not having what it takes.

George Zimmerman Support Fund

Another point that needs to have attention brought to is George Zimmerman’s “Support Fund” It has been recorded that this fund of which individuals or groups may donate to, has skyrocketed averaging $30,000 a month. Initially, when he was arrested, in order to get a low bond, he transferred money into his wife’s and brother’s name. He perjured himself to the court claiming he had no money so courts would find him indigent in order for the state of Florida to pick up his tab for defense. Here is clearly a situation of one mans deception to surreptitiously get out of murdering another and of course, the victim is an African American.  Whenever its to his benefit, it doesn’t matter who, the judge, the police, or Sean Hannity, if it serves him, he will lie. Even though he’s a known liar, why do so many blindly accept his story as fact. Zimmerman supports are so quick to align themselves with anything anti black, that they’ll fall prey to his story, hook line and sinker.  Soliciting financial support from wealthy individuals is not uncommon for these hate groups like neo-Nazi skinheads, Aryan Nations, and other white supremist groups. Efforts to revitalize things under new organizations are always being created since the founder of the Aryan Nation group died. This huge amount of money being collected may be just what these religious fanatics need to be set up to draw less media and law enforcement attention.  It’s the perfect cover. Who would look for money being collected in support of a Hispanic?  Last I heard, Hispanics and niggers pose a threat to the pure white race.

Not to get off topic but, power and influence in the white supremacy movement, and attracting members is an ongoing threat to the safety of us all.  Neo-Nazis, racist skinheads, Klansmen and other white nationalists convene regularly. In the latter part of the 2000s, Aryan Nations splintered into a handful of groups with several people vying for leadership of the various factions. I reiterate, these points are not meant to be termagant, incite hate,  H8, 88, White Power, but rather I choose to be a logician of validity.

Thank God for the judge overseeing this trial. She has been impartial, reasonable and most of all, expressing common sense.  It’s actually funny when the judge rules with reason, something that defense attorneys West and O’Mara are conflicted with when they disrespect, object and abdicate whatever point they’re trying to make. Maybe at the end of the day we should tweet, “Hooray, stupidity beats ignorance” as we eat our celebratory ice cream cones.

The Verdict

On July 14, 2013, the jury returned with a verdict of “Not Guilty”.  I would be fallacious if I said I support the decision because it is our justice system.  I respect our country’s judicial institution with great reverence however, it’s also a system plagued with many loopholes and convoluted instructions that allow common sense to fall prey to ‘the system’.  As I hear the two day conclusion of the jury’s deliberation, I am reminded of similar cases like the Casey Anthony trial and the O.J. Simpson debacle - two unfortunate times in recent history where I feel the legal system has completely failed.  The ill-fated death of a child due to the negligence and immature conduct of a mother showed promise of a conviction until irrelevant facts camouflaged an otherwise slam - dunk case for the state of Florida.  And because a jury refused to use their God – given common sense, a killer walked free and the debt for a little girl’s death will be forever be unpaid. The latter case, another sad and well known loss for justice and common sense involved the gruesome murder of two people by a celebrated football star and actor.  The OJ Simpson case was a prosecutor’s wet dream complete with irrefutable evidence and the kind of brutality that would leave any jury screaming for penance, right?  Well…. Not so fast.  Sadly, through a systemic dismantling of the judicial system by his high paid attorneys and an unlimited budget, Simpson all but purchased his freedom.  Those well paid attorneys were able to manipulate the system to the extent that a double murderer walked free. The response from both sides is another discussion in itself because the satisfaction from one side will always be misunderstood by the other… one man’s justice is another man’s nightmare.

‘Innocent until proven guilty’ is a motto that the court system is based on.  But when attorneys fail to do their job, investigators at the scene of a crime drop the ball on crime procedure and important witnesses fail to report facts able to withstand validation then an accurate and truthful outcome is practically impossible.  Justice is about verdicts that speak the truth and punishment that fits the crime.  Period.  So why then is a concept that seems so very simple so very difficult to attain?  Our system is one that relies on people… those lawyers, investigators, witnesses and jurors who determine whether or not true justice prevails.  And here we are back again relying on people – fallible, unreliable and sometimes manipulative.  Whether it is laziness, dishonesty or just flat out opportunism, people can fail the justice system… so it isn’t the system that fails the people after all.   But here’s the good news: there is hope for true justice.  God is the only “Sure thing” that we can depend on for true righteousness and justice.

The Declaration of Independence was established by God-fearing men who believed that we are all created equal regardless of where we live, what we look like or how big our bank accounts are.  The words, “In God We Trust” are the very words our country, government and justice system were built upon and they hold real truth.  When we fail, our God prevails.  When we fail to deliver true justice, He picks up the tab for our lacking because after all, vengeance belongs to Him.  Remember as a child when we began each day with the following: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.  And to the republic, for which it stands ONE NATION UNDER GOD.  Indivisible with liberty and JUSTICE FOR ALL.”  Does it not seem as though we are slowly but surely moving further away from the basics?  Further from truth?  Further from an idea born out of necessity for a united nation of people - all very different yet very much the same in the eyes of our God and our courts?  Or have we become a divided nation of ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’?  That is, those who have common sense and those who do not…