I deliberately held off saying anything more about the George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin media event until after the verdict had been reached. Now that Zimmerman has been declared not guilty by the jury—that includes both the second-degree murder and manslaughter charges—here is what I take from the drama that has mesmerized a large number of our citizens for weeks.
First, it appears the jury did its duty. This was no snap decision; the six women that comprised the jury took plenty of time to go over the evidence and be sure of the facts. They didn’t allow the emotionally charged atmosphere to influence their decision. They are to be commended.
Second, this never should have been a national media event. If the media is really concerned about violence toward minorities, it should begin to investigate Chicago, which is on pace to set a record for murders. Ah, but that is a city with a mayor who used to work in the Obama White House, so that’s off limits, I guess.
Third, George Zimmerman was a registered Democrat, who presumably voted for Barack Obama. He has a multiracial extended family, which includes blacks. He also had been serving as a mentor for a young black man, taking him out to play basketball and help raise money for his church.
Fourth, considering Zimmerman’s background and actions on behalf of blacks, there should have been no racial component to this story. This was turned into a racial incident by at least three culprits: the Florida prosecutors; the media; and the habitually outraged crowd led by such worthies as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.
Fifth, President Obama never should have interjected himself into this story. He blatantly played the race card by saying that if he had had a son, he would have looked like Trayvon.
Sixth, America in 2013 is not Selma, Alabama, in 1963. It’s time to get out of the time warp. Things have changed. There are other reasons than racism for the problems in the black communities. I would start with the destruction of marriage, whereby 70% of black children are born out of wedlock and have no father in the home. This is the root of the problems, aided and abetted by a federal government that promotes the obliteration of the family by its policies.
In summary, George Zimmerman was made to look like a monster; Trayvon Martin was continually portrayed as an innocent teen set upon by the monster. Neither image held up under scrutiny. Now it’s time to move on.
But will that happen? Many news outlets are now reporting that the Obama DOJ is preparing to bring Zimmerman up on federal charges. As I’ve noted previously, Eric Holder’s DOJ is operating as anything but a department that seeks justice. Rather, it seeks revenge, and refuses to grow past the 1960s mentality of pervasive racism as the cause of all evil.
But if Obama, Holder, and their ilk are making their decisions based on race, who are the real racists?
George Zimmerman is going to have a hard enough time as it is—if he’s not assassinated first. The threats of violence toward him are real. He will have to live his life always wondering if he and his family are safe. I’m not saying he didn’t make mistakes in his encounter with Trayvon Martin. Yet a jury of his peers reviewed all the evidence and judged that he acted in self-defense. That verdict should stand.
Will our federal government, with its race-based politics, allow it to stand? President Obama’s reaction to the verdict didn’t offer an apology to Zimmerman for pre-judging him. In fact, his statement didn’t even mention Zimmerman’s name. It instead exalted the memory of Martin, and coupled that with a comment about curbing gun violence, which, in Obamaspeak, means greater gun control measures.
For the Obamaites, playing politics is a never-ending game.