misterearl wrote:“I'm a father,” (DWade, who has two sons, said Friday in Detroit). “It's support of the tragic thing that has taken place. No matter what color, race, we're all fathers.

“When you think about what that family's going through, it hits you hard and it hurts your heart to think about it. Just anything you can do, obviously we can't bring him back, but anything you can do to get behind and support is what we're doing.”

amen sir

I got 3 kids of my own so for a family to bury their own before their own lives life is sad & i cant imagine the emotions

VCoug wrote:

Andrew wrote:

MSG3 wrote:Jord....the last part you cut out from my comment wasn't meant to say it was a good reason to follow the kid. What I'm saying is that Zimmerman followed the kid because he was black and wearing a hoodie. That was HIS reason, not a good reason. Sorry if you took it the wrong way.

but this isn't even correct by all accounts. Zimmerman initially didn't know the race of the young man. I don't even know why race has been made a critical part of this case

How do you know this?

I listened to the 911 tapes

Andrew wrote:

VCoug wrote:

Andrew wrote:

MSG3 wrote:Jord....the last part you cut out from my comment wasn't meant to say it was a good reason to follow the kid. What I'm saying is that Zimmerman followed the kid because he was black and wearing a hoodie. That was HIS reason, not a good reason. Sorry if you took it the wrong way.

but this isn't even correct by all accounts. Zimmerman initially didn't know the race of the young man. I don't even know why race has been made a critical part of this case

How do you know this?

I listened to the 911 tapes

Could have swore Zimmerman called Martin a 'coon' while talking to the 911 operator. Will relisten to clarify.

mrKnickShot wrote:

Andrew wrote:

VCoug wrote:

Andrew wrote:

MSG3 wrote:Jord....the last part you cut out from my comment wasn't meant to say it was a good reason to follow the kid. What I'm saying is that Zimmerman followed the kid because he was black and wearing a hoodie. That was HIS reason, not a good reason. Sorry if you took it the wrong way.

but this isn't even correct by all accounts. Zimmerman initially didn't know the race of the young man. I don't even know why race has been made a critical part of this case

How do you know this?

I listened to the 911 tapes

Hhhmm ... Is it possible that he would not admit that he was following him because he was black?

Sure, but listen yourself and I don't think you'd be convinced he knew. Either that or that guy is a pretty good actor. But answer this, why is race big part of this case? The suspect didn't bring race into the conversation. Why is the media saying this is a racially charged case? Because it sells?

BasketballJones wrote:http://www.orlandosentinel.com/videogallery/68871920/News/George-Zimmerman-911-call-reporting-Trayvon-Martin

"He looks black" at 29 seconds in.

Yup, which IMO is an indication he is unsure. He later repeated with a more assured description.

Andrew wrote:

mrKnickShot wrote:

Andrew wrote:

VCoug wrote:

Andrew wrote:

MSG3 wrote:Jord....the last part you cut out from my comment wasn't meant to say it was a good reason to follow the kid. What I'm saying is that Zimmerman followed the kid because he was black and wearing a hoodie. That was HIS reason, not a good reason. Sorry if you took it the wrong way.

but this isn't even correct by all accounts. Zimmerman initially didn't know the race of the young man. I don't even know why race has been made a critical part of this case

How do you know this?

I listened to the 911 tapes

Hhhmm ... Is it possible that he would not admit that he was following him because he was black?

Sure, but listen yourself and I don't think you'd be convinced he knew. Either that or that guy is a pretty good actor. But answer this, why is race big part of this case? The suspect didn't bring race into the conversation. Why is the media saying this is a racially charged case? Because it sells?

I listened to it and (unfortunately), I still think he knew that he was black. Sadly, in america, when someone sees a young black man in their neighborhood it automatically rouses fear and suspicion. It is unfortunate but true.

As Jesse Jackson stated that he felt relieved when a young man walking behind him on a dark street turned out to be white, this is the way it is sometimes. Is it the media? Maybe.
But it is a fear that is shared by many whites and non whites.

I live in a predominantly white neighborhood, live there all my life. We also have a neighborhood watch program, however we do not carry guns. If someone on watch saw a young black man walking through, they would be suspicious? Is that racist? I don't think so. Just being honest. I don't even consider these people racist - they just perhaps have an instilled fear passed down by parents or molded by the media. These same people have many friends that are black, go out drinking together all the time and play in a basketball league together for many years. It's the fear of the unknown and perhaps racial profiling that is an issue.

As far as Zimmerman, don't think he shoulda been carrying and he put himself in a negligent position, and for that alone, he is libel. I still want to wait to make a judgement if this was premeditated.

Trayvon was kicked out of school in October for graffiti after he was allegedly caught with a 'burglary tool' and a bag full of women's jewelry

The site says Trayvon went by the Twitter handle NO_LIMIT_N***A.

A few of the messages make reference to using drugs including one that says: 'Finna (I'm fixing to) smoke 1 wit my dawg wayne.'

But most are simply a take on daily life -- the same as most social media accounts.

'PLZZ EXERCISE YO RIGHT 2 REMAIN SILENT.. DAM,' he says.

Another says: '2 glock 40's... b**** you got 80 problems.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2120504/Trayvon-Martin-case-He-suspended-times-caught-burglary-tool.html#ixzz1qVnBD4pN

Andrew wrote:

BasketballJones wrote:

Andrew wrote:

BasketballJones wrote:http://www.orlandosentinel.com/videogallery/68871920/News/George-Zimmerman-911-call-reporting-Trayvon-Martin

"He looks black" at 29 seconds in.

Yup, which IMO is an indication he is unsure. He later repeated with a more assured description.

It sounds to me like he was more sure than unsure. Otherwise, he'd have said "I don't know." As to people assuming it's racially motivated, maybe its because a light skinned person shot a dark skinned person for no known good reason, and there's a history to suggest that these things tend to be racially motivated, or that race plays a role of some kind. However, I don't personally know enough about this case to say one way or the other.

this is the core of the entire issue. Racial profiling is based on that same principal, and while we know that it should not be done, it creeps into our thinking no matter what.

You don't just snap your fingers and leave 400 years of history behind.

If we decide to leave race out of it for just a moment, many people might be inclined to "profile" George Zimmerman as someone who put himself in a position to take a human life unnecessarily. We might say that we should let the legal system run its course, but for some reason, that almost didn't happen in this case. We are left to ponder why that might be.

mrKnickShot wrote:

jrodmc wrote:

MSG3 wrote:No way this guy should have been carrying a gun on a neighborhood watch. I don't know much about the neighborhood but it doesn't sound like Compton circa 1992. And a life was taken.

Right, first it's racial, then it's a gun rights issue. Ever hear of Lakewood, NJ? Largest Hasidic neighborhoods on the planet. It's not exactly Compton circa 1992 either. Know what? The bad guys have guns, and they unload them all the time. I had bloodtrails around my home and heard shots going off all the time. Please don't make this about gun rights. If Zimmerman killed Martin with a broken candle, would that make things any better?

MSG3 wrote:This thing is indescribably tragic.

MSG3 wrote: But no one knows what went down at the point of the shooting.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Two things everyone can agree on; YET:

MSG3 wrote:The race aspect of this is undeniable though and anyone who says otherwise is being naive. From what has been reported, Zimmerman had no reason to floow the kid, other than the fact that he was a black person wearing a hoodie.

What does this have to do with Lakewood NJ and an hassidic community? Do hassidics carry guns? Do they not?

Not sure what your point was ...

My point is this is America, we have the right to carry weapons without first ensuring we live in Compton, circa 1992. Bad people will do bad things. Whether it's with a gun or a baseball bat or a broken milk carton. Maybe you'd like to try controlling all blunt objects? Or anything pointy?

BasketballJones wrote:

Andrew wrote:

BasketballJones wrote:http://www.orlandosentinel.com/videogallery/68871920/News/George-Zimmerman-911-call-reporting-Trayvon-Martin

"He looks black" at 29 seconds in.

Yup, which IMO is an indication he is unsure. He later repeated with a more assured description.

It sounds to me like he was more sure than unsure. Otherwise, he'd have said "I don't know." As to people assuming it's racially motivated, maybe its because a light skinned person shot a dark skinned person for no known good reason, and there's a history to suggest that these things tend to be racially motivated, or that race plays a role of some kind. However, I don't personally know enough about this case to say one way or the other.

"He looks thin" would obviously be a comment meant to point out that all people wearing hoodies are undernourished and should therefore be shot.

If a 911 operator is asking YOU for a description of someone, what are you supposed to say?

"He looks like he's well-groomed"
"He looks like he's well-intentioned"
"He looks like he might need a good meal"
"He looks like he can't go to his left"

REMEMBER: THIS HAS TO BE ABOUT RACE. THEN IT HAS TO BE ABOUT GUN CONTROL.

Anybody care about how Martin felt about non-black people?

Nalod wrote:Shame on Spike!

He tweeted what he thought was Zimmermans address and was wrong. The elderly couple who lives there has been under threat.

If someone fire bombed the elderly couple blood would be on Spikes hands! Might not be his intent but that would have been the net effect.

I hope we get the truth over time.

Spike Lee == "HUGE RACIST"!!