Monday, March 26, 2012

The Same Old Story

The case of Trayvon Martin has been all over the news. I highly suggest you guys read the following news story and forward it down the line:
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-26/news/os-trayvon-martin-zimmerman-account-20120326_1_miami-schools-punch-unarmed-black-teenager

Here's the background: the boy's family, civil rights groups, and the usual exploitative suspects (Al Sharpton, Jessee Jackson) are portraying this event as a hate crime, of a young black male being racially targeted and assassinated in cold blood.

Here are the facts: The shooter George Zimmerman did not directly engage Trayvon in any fashion - not aggressively nor physically. It was Trayvon who came up to Zimmerman and PUNCHED him first, and then continued to attack the guy while he was on the ground.

I don't know about you, but if I'm getting beaten senseless I'm going to resort to any method at my disposal to end that crisis. It was at this stage that Zimmerman used his firearm.

Hence when the authorities investigated the incident, and no charges were brought forth. Zimmerman was bloodied when they arrived on the scene. A case of self-defense.

So why is their such a profound uproar over this case? Even President Obama has spoken out, stating that "if he had a son he would look like Trayvon"; a shrewd nod to establish/maintain his 'credit' with the African-American establishment, in my view.

No question hate crimes occur in this country. Discrimination permeates in subtle and obvious forms. I do not believe this case falls in either category. It was a tragic, but for it to be used as political football is highly counterproductive.

There are real problems in the black community: high unemployment, subpar academic scores, high crime rates. For the black leaders to trumpet the Trayvon Martin incident as example of black suffrage may end up being the real tragedy.