Sunday, July 14, 2013

SERIOUS SUNDAY: "Guilty" Or "Not Guilty" ... Who Knows?


The trial is over.

George Zimmerman has been 
acquitted of all charges.

Half the country is in mourning 
and the other half relieved.  

All of the country is waiting 
to see if rioting commences.

Sad, isn't it?

Personally, I don't know if 
Zimmerman was guilty or not.

Neither do you!

What I do know is that there were several things that bothered me from the beginning.  I don't know if you were too wrapped up in the emotional aspects of the case to see them.  Many were.  But, they were present from the start for those that observed.


Photo Initially Released
1)  Why did the Martin family provide the media with a photo of Trayvon that was several years old?  Was depicting him to be younger than he was a desire to get people on their side and draw media coverage?  Obviously, they had many other photos of him available.  Yet, they chose to portray him in a more "innocent age" photo.  Drawing upon the sympathy of the masses could work in their favor.  Obviously, many prominent speakers (I hate to use the word leaders as most don't lead, only seek out media attention.) saw this photo and saw the chance for media coverage.  They played this photo up continuously, many knowing that it was not the way Trayvon appeared in recent years.  

Photo From Video
{{subst: image permission|File:Trayvon Martin Gangbanger4.jpg}} ~~~~ 
What really bothers me is that even after his "gansta video" shots were released (only by someone finding a video he'd made and posted on the Internet) the media still refused to show the young man as he appeared in real life.  What was there to hide?  Isn't the truth more important than false sensationalism?  If someone is truly innocent, why did they have to resort to hiding the truth about his appearance?


Al Sharpton (self proclaimed "Activist")

2)  The media made this out to be a racially motivated crime ... Black vs. White ... if you will.  Zimmerman isn't a White.  Of course, by creating sensationalism, the news media recognized that they would draw viewers, thusly, providing them ratings.  More people would be interested if racially motivated reasoning was brought into the picture, as it then became bigger than just one person killing another.  The media, Al Sharpton, and others ran with this as they recognized they, too, would gain some of the spotlight coverage.  


"Those who fail to remember the past are doomed to repeat it."
3)  Why did our President have to become involved in this?  Not since Richard Nixon's mistake of proclaiming Charles Manson guilty prior to the court's verdict has such an error in judgment been made.  Oh, many believe that he was truly emotional over the situation.  Please, let me sell you some ocean front property in Arizona if that be the case.  True, he made public statement concerning the mass shooting's that took place in a theater and in a school before, but for a single individual?  There are numerous violent deaths in the United States every day.  Some by shooting, some by stabbing, and some by design.  He doesn't get involved in any of those, regardless of how innocent the victims may have been.  

Yet, here, in a single individual death, he's making a statement.  Could it have been politically motivated?  Could he have wanted to provide the media with a statement only because it was being projected as "racially motivated?"  Could he have been talked into making the statement because of all the media attention it was receiving, which provided him with a larger audience?  Could it be because his popularity polls were dropping?  Could it have been because there was a gun control bill in Congress that needed votes to pass, and this was another way of getting more public support for the bill?  I don't know.  You tell me.  It does seem very suspicious though.


Faked Injuries?
4)  Every time Zimmerman photos were displayed showing wounds sustained in the incident, there were always statements included that questioned if they were true photos, or Photo Shop creations.  The media insinuated many times that there were fakes being released by Zimmerman's defense lawyers to assist them in their case.  Even the statements by the paramedics that treated Zimmerman on the scene were questioned for their truthfulness and accuracy.  Was the media so afraid that their ratings would suffer if people saw the other side of the story that they did their best to push people away from possible truths?

These were the major reasons I questioned the case from the start.  Things just didn't add up.  There was no reason that the media would hide, re-direct, and take sides in the matter besides the fact that if the case was proven to have two sides, their coverage (and ratings) would suffer.  


Isn't it always about money?

No, I don't know if George Zimmerman was guilty or not.  The prosecutors built their case  greatly around speculation.  When it came to the facts, they failed miserably in presenting them.

One cannot blame the jury.  They were selected by both the defense and the prosecution.  If they were incompetent, biased, or motivated in any way besides deciding what the truth was, they shouldn't have been selected.  Obviously, the defense and prosecution thought they were qualified.

There were only two people there on that terrible evening.  One is alive and, unfortunately,  one is not.

None of us really know what transpired that night.  It was a horrendous occurrence that should never take place, but is repeated too often in our society.  A young man died.  It should have never have happened.

However, regardless of what your emotions lead you to believe, you really don't know what did take place.  Like I've already said, "Neither do I!"

Is the innocent living or dead?  Is the guilty living or dead?


George Zimmerman knows.

So does God.

The guilty always pay in the end and the innocent will get their rewards.  At least, if you believe in God that's the way it occurs.


The only question is, 

"When will it happen?"


DISCLAIMER:  I don't wish to be known as standing up for either Trayvon Martin or George Zimmerman.  My sympathies and condolences go out to all involved.  I only present the above as questions to ask yourself.  I honestly can't say what happened that evening, and have questions that still need to be answered.  Perhaps, one day, if the truth hasn't been told, it will be.  Perhaps, if the truth has been told, we'll better understand it with future police report releases.  Until then, I am really at a loss to even guess.  It is a real shame, either way, and is a tragic event that never should have taken place.

16 comments:

  1. ...and thus onto a FAR bigger hook than any here.

    Thanks for the unbiased round-up of this. Here in the UK I've heard nothing of it (but then I'm not terribly 'plugged in' to news at the best of times.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lizzi - This is one of those stories that holds little international attention, but has been a steady income earner for the news channels. People have become so emotionally involved with this that there are even groups set up to petition higher courts to continue persecuting the shooter, George Zimmerman. It just seems too "set up" for me to give my emotions room for either party. I hate seeing kids killed, but if an attack did take place, and if the attacker was truly 5 or six inches taller than me, then I really don't think I'd be asking him for his proof of age. Regardless of what they say, no one would. Still, the entire incident is somewhat strange. The guilty will indeed suffer at the hands of God, regardless of who it is. Many Thanks!

      Delete
  2. Richard- are we twins? I've posted early (today) my Monday rantings on just this. Please join me in the obvious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheryl - My sister from a different mother!!! lol You know what they say about great minds! I'm still trying to figure out how I fit into that picture, but anyway ... I'm on my way over to your blog to read it now. Many Thanks!

      Delete
  3. Rich, you did good compiling all that has been rolling around in my mind. This whole case stunk like a gut pile on a hot day. I do think it was politically motivated.

    There is a murder every week, at least, in Phoenix; black on white, black on mexican, white on black, white on mexican, etc. Are all of those racist? I don't know. I wasn't there. All I know is that it was a murder. And less than half involved guns, so it's not a gun issue either.

    I saw a sign the other day: If we took the time to teach the value of human life, maybe some of these issues would no longer be an issue.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terrye - So good of you to visit. When I first heard of the case, I wondered why all of the attention. Atrocities take place every day in every city. I couldn't understand what made this one so different. Drive by shootings, where innocent children are killed, barely make headlines, so what made this one so special? I seriously believe the Gun Control Bill was a major influence as the press gave full attention to seemingly having it pass. Florida's "self defense" law was questioned time and time again by the news networks, and the "mind doctors" spread their venom without mercy. Trayvon was made into a martyr and Zimmerman a scapegoat. And, you're definitely right, people have lost sight of the value of human life. The "Me" Generation is only concerned if it serves their purpose. Yet, how can children giving birth to children pass on what they never themselves learned? Unfortunately, as America continues to seek excuses and blame inanimate objects for the acts of criminals, I don't see it getting any better. Many Thanks!

      Delete
  4. I feel the most comfortable with this objective review of the sad case. Thumbs up, Rick!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Martie - Thanks so much for reading this. News media has stopped reporting the news and has gotten good at manufacturing the news. It's all for ratings points, which means the almighty dollar. They prey upon emotions to keep an audience. There are those that look for an excuse to protest and riot, never caring what the facts were. We live in a sad state when emotions rule and common sense is tossed aside. Yet, this is exactly what the news agencies wish to occur. Why? Because the longer they can draw something out, the more viewers they have! This was not a "race" case, rather a man going overboard in his duties to protect the neighborhood in which he resided. If my neighborhood has been sustaining break-in's and robberies, and I was assigned to protect it, I might have questioned a person walking around after dark also. Who wouldn't? However, the NAACP needs some new energy, and Obama needs higher popularity ratings, so both are pushing for more and more investigations. Like I stated, there's only one person alive that knows the truth. Anyone else is just fooling themselves if they think they do. Many Thanks!

      Delete
  5. You did this really well, reporting the facts fairly. I would not have been so generous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Randib - Thank you for visiting my humble abode. I have no intentions of creating any controversy or maligning anyone. If I were there, and a witness to the occurrence, I could state the facts as they occurred. Unfortunately, I was not. I don't know if Trayvon was innocent, or if he attacked Zimmerman. If he was innocent, it is a travesty. If he attacked Zimmerman, was he provoked, or was he not the innocent youth so many would want us to believe? Did Zimmerman overstep his boundaries? Why? Did he feel he had a reason to do so? Did he think he could save someone either grief or injury by continuing? Or, did he just see himself as a vigilante hero? None of those questions have answers. There are two sides to everything. We can only hear the one side. To determine the facts from one point of view is like allowing the news networks, social activists, and politicians hunting ratings points to tell us what to think. I refuse to follow those with ulterior motives, as all mentioned are included. I can't understand those who do, nor why they allow themselves to become cattle to be herded. God gave us all minds to use. We all just have to do the best we can instead of allowing it to be useless. I appreciate you stopping in and commenting. Many Thanks!

      Delete
  6. Were you in my house last evening? This is almost the exact conversation we had, including why the President got involved in this crime, but not others. We actually thought that the media was encouraging the protesting, in some ways.

    Also it was the first time I ever remember the phrase white Hispanic.

    I am with you. I was not there and do not know what happened that night. However I believe if the news media would go back to investigating rather than sensationalizing current events we would all be more informed.

    This was probably your greatest post, Rich. It was so thought provoking and honest. Even in your disclaimer about not having the answers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kerri - You now know my secret. I have spying transmitters in the homes of all fellow bloggers so that I can get ideas for my blog! lol (Actually, this was published yesterday morning.) I think the media was disappointed that there was no rioting. Think of how many stories could have come out of that ... injury, shock, damage, innocent victims, rebuilding, etc ... but, alas, it just wasn't to be. So, they'll now have to work extra hard manufacturing the next iconic story to stir up the public. Political agendas and money seem to be the primary reasons for the bullseye placed on this story. There was just too many questions that didn't add up from the start for me. I'm amazed so many people know exactly what happened but weren't called as witnesses. At least, you don't protest unless you know something for sure, do you? Thanks so much for your kind words. But, it's back to humor during the week. I may make Serious Sunday a weekly feature. With as few of views and comments it received, it couldn't hurt my comedic reputation much! lol Many Thanks!

      Delete
  7. Really, really great points, Rich. This case was beyond bizarre and I don't even have an opinion because it's just too hard to figure out what really happened in order to have one. I don't get it. And you're right - it's weird that the president spoke about it...like Terrye said, murders happen every day. A life is lost. How this case ended up getting so sensationalized, I don't suppose we'll ever know. Great work, friend. Truly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kristi - When did you slip in here? Damn, who knows where we'll find you next! So now, you've seen my serious side. Scary, isn't it? lol Actually, there have been just too many things wrong with this whole thing from the beginning. Even now that it's been over a week since the verdict was rendered, accusation after accusation are being thrown about. Obama can't keep his mouth shut as he seems to be doing his best to make this a black / white thing, even though Zimmerman wasn't white. I remember a few years back when a black security guard killed a 17 year old white youth, and was found to be in self defense, it was over once the verdict was read. Makes one wonder if justice only exists when it pleases people, instead of being served. Many Thanks!

      Delete
  8. Right on Rich. I have found so many aspects of this case disturbing. The sad thing is that the way the media stirred up the racial issues has caused a fall-out, now after the verdict, that was completely predictable. They knew better but didn't care, in a perfect world we could prosecute them as accessories to the crimes committed in the name of Trayvon Martin.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jen - Ah, I see you've found my serious side. Like you, I didn't like this case from the start. It really seemed somewhat manufactured to stir up emotions without getting to the facts. I guess it was a slow news day the day the story broke and they wanted something that would grab attention. Obama's input, both at the beginning and since then, is highly uncalled for. He's doing nothing more that stirring the pot to get his popularity points back up. It's shameless, to say the least. We live in a world of sensationalized news. We need to turn our attention to what's going on in Washington during this. You can't deny there's no better smokescreen that this to slip something by. Many Thanks!

      Delete