For me, the whole Martin/Zimmerman case is functionally over – the incident is being investigated, and if there is sufficient evidence to indicate that a murder transpired*, I have every reason to believe that Zimmerman will be charged, and that is exactly the way the system is supposed to work.
On the other hand, the fallout from this case has just begun, and I shudder to think how far the ripples will travel.
For instance, by way of Midwest Chick and Mike W., we learn that Spike Lee has endangered the lives of two innocent people completely and totally unconnected to the Trayvon Martin shooting. Oh, sure, he thought he was tweeting the address of George Zimmerman, but explain to me how that is any better again? Given the various and sundry ways people have wanted to kill Zimmerman, I hardly think providing those people his place of residence (which it was, in fact, not) is all that good of an idea, or even an idea that will help defuse an already nightmarish situation.
Spike has since apologized, but that does a fat lot of good for David and Elaine McClain who are now living in fear for their lives from the threat of the lynch mobs pointed to their front door.
Likewise, there is this wonderful comment from WizardPC:
Something that’s struck me in the last few days is how, despite all the media attention, no one who actually knows George Zimmerman has come forward and said “oh, yeah, that guy is totally a racist jerk!” Not his neighbors (the ones who bothered to meet him), not his coworkers, not even an ex girlfriend. If he really is evil incarnate like he’s being portrayed, I don’t think it’s possible for him to have hidden it so thoroughly.
The overwhelming majority of the mob demanding Zimmerman’s head on a silver platter are absolutely, incontrovertibly convinced that he was and is "racist" (whatever the hell that means any more); fine, where are the people from before the shooting who knew Zimmerman coming forward and saying, "Yeah, this kind of thing was only a matter of time…" or somesuch other stuff. *crickets chirping* Racism is not something that goes from "zero" to "murder" in a single night, so there should be a pattern; where is it?
And then there is this disturbing report from Bob Owens:
More disgusting is the obvious fact that ABC News used a strategically placed chyron (graphic) to cover up the back of Zimmerman’s head for their broadcast, covering up the video that would have disproven their story. View the video at the Daily Caller, and you’ll not that they did not even need a chyron, their was no need to transmit any additional visual data to explain the story.
The only logical reason the chyron exists is to cover-up Zimmerman’s wounds. ABC News doctored the video to sell a false narrative, in a dishonest attempt to brand a man a murderer. I’d be very interested to know if Zimmerman can pursue legal action against ABC for constructing this false narrative.
I know, I know, your first reaction to the media lying through their collective teeth is to whip out your surprised face, but bear with me a moment – ABC intentionally edited the video such that it appeared as though Zimmerman was largely unharmed, and thus, according to that video, completely removes his "self-defense" claim in his shooting of Martin. And, believe you me, it is working; all throughout today, various members of the Lynch Zimmerman Mob were tweeting about how the video does not show any injuries at all on Zimmerman, and how that is conclusive evidence that he unjustifiably shot down Martin in cold blood.
The question, of course, to all of this is "why?" Why is it so very important that Zimmerman be racist, why is it is so important that the shooting be a murder rather than self-defense, and why is it is so important for certain colors of people to flex their "lynch mob" muscles right now?
Unfortunately, I fear the answer is as simple as it appears on the surface – race is simply not that large of an issue any more. More and more, people are realizing that the concept of "race" is nothing more than a fabricated distinction created – and now perpetuated – by small-minded morons who were just looking for a reason to demonize and hate some other segment of humanity. For most people, this realization, and the acceptance of it, is a welcome one, given that it will eventually serve to drastically reduce some pointless and useless strife throughout our societies; however, two types of people still bitterly cling to the notion of "race"… or, rather, two sides of the same coin.
On the one side, we have people who genuinely dislike people of other skin tones or locational backgrounds – this is hardly a phenomena isolated to America, and it is likely one that is going to last for quite some time now. On the other side, though, we have a non-zero part of the population that, even today, needs to be discriminated against because they need to be victims. In our current society, being a victim – even in your own mind (*cough*JoanPeterson*cough*) – grants one special abilities and privileges, not the least of which is the moral high ground, and a rather disturbing number of folks know they would never gain those particular abilities by any other means than through self-exploitation.
Just look at what the term "racist" has become – a cudgel with which to silence opposition, regardless of whether they have any particular feelings regarding the skin tone or geographical ancestry of the person in question.
In the end, the wanna-be victims are almost as bad as the actual, honest-to-God racists, simply because they both are perpetuating the belief that a person’s coloration or genetic heritage has any bearing, whatsoever, on their worth as a human being… and, as this situation shows, neither are above using the threat of physical violence to get their ways.
Which brings us back to the "why"… and the answer: they want race-based riots, they want fear in the streets, and damned if they do not want something verging on a societal war again**. Again, "why?" Because situations like that give the wanna-be victims power.
Even though they are the ones calling for violence, quietly (or loudly) directing it, and generally doing everything they possibly can to rile up the masses, they are doing it For The Right Reasons (TM), so they are above reproach and questioning. And yet people listen to these professional victims, which only serves to inflate their egos and fulfill a long-seated desire for power they never would have sated any other way. They are not leaders; they are inciters, but, regardless, they need that jolt of, "People really care about me!" like a crack addict needs a hit.
In other words, I am of the opinion that this entire situation has been drastically blown out of proportions simply because some narcissistic assholes wanted to feel important. Yes, the Zimmerman/Martin shooting probably should have been better investigated by the police than it was, but that failing of the police department (not the Stand Your Ground law) does not warrant marches, threats against completely unrelated individuals, and non-stop playing of the race card. Once we start going down that path, motivations become suspect, and things have a tendency of getting rapidly out of control.
(* – Honestly, I am starting to doubt there is, but that should have no bearing on whether or not there actually is.
** – Note to self: never watch another thing with Roseanne Barr in it. Not that that would be hard.)
Don’t know about anyone else, but I have truthfully stopped caring about this whole thing, and I won’t until the trial is over. I know that’s a little harsh on Mr. Zimmerman, but caring on my part won’t change any of the situation…
[...] over at The Walls of the City, has an excellent post about the Martin/Zimmerman affair. One point he makes ties in nicely with my “Folk Marxism” and Anti-Gun Sentiment post. [...]
I’ve had some thoughts on your discussion of Joan Peterson and her wallowing in second-hand victim status. Your post tied in well with one of my earlier posts….
@ bluesun: And that is the clincher, is it not? None of this wailing, gnashing of teeth, and rending of clothes should have any bearing on the outcome of the case. None of it. And yet we have people petitioning for the arrest / charging / prosecution / conviction of a potentially innocent man, and more people fomenting race wars over the actions of the same.
This really concerns me on a very basic level.
@ AuricTech: Thanks for the linkage and the heads-up… I have been sucking at keeping up with my RSS feeds recently. Your second link appears to be pointing to the wrong location, though…
” . . .situations like that give the wanna-be victims power.”
Which they are perfectly happy to invoke and enforce by the use of . . .?
Now, let’s not always see the same hands.
I wonder if you are right that the racism angle is being pursued with the goal of riots in time for the elections. Hmm…don’t let a good crisis go to waste.
POTUS: “Sorry, I need to impose martial law and suspend the elections for now…”
My disdain is for all of those dumb people putting on hoodies, marching, and screaming for “justice” when they know little about the case. They were not there, they do not have any special investigation information, and they are not on a grand jury. Their ignorant rush to judgment is pathetic.
I’m smart enough to know I do not have the facts and will await a trial, if there is one.
My comment is along the lines of Bradens – sounds like a crisis is being whipped up so it can be put to use in the near future.
It is the Chicago Way, after all.
@ kfg: …by the use of the government, of course. Much though these “victims” claim otherwise, they actually enjoy violence and the use of force… so long as someone else is doing it for them (and not even then, in all cases). They like keeping their hands clean, supposedly secure in the belief that it retains them the moral high ground, but they never had that to begin with…
@ Braden Lynch: Honestly, I am loathe to pursue the “martial law” angle… the anti-rights cultists did that to us back during the last election, and it was stupid then, and it probably will turn out to be stupid now. To be sure, I have absolutely no doubt Obama would do it if he thought he could get away with it, but the secret to the “Progressive” agenda is a slow, gradual decline, and that would be pushing Americans too far too fast.
At least for now.
As for the rest of the idiots, we have turned into a society of bread and circuses, and, damnit, the citizens want to see the social pariah cast to the lions. If the grand jury decides to press no charges, I would not want to be in Florida…
@ Rustmeister: I can see him using this incident… I cannot see him going that drastic about it.
@ Linoge:
You are quite right. It was a dumb comment about martial law. I was somewhat joking. I’m just in awe at how he flaunts the Constitution, Congress, the will of the people, and think, what’s next?
Fortunately, it is unlikely for any POTUS to impose martial law and declare himself “President for Life” because the military would not go along and we have millions of armed citizens willing to oppose it. Now I sound like an insurrectionist per Ladd!
I agree with your assessment of the Left using a gradual encroachment approach on our liberties. I also think that at a minimum, racial strife is useful for them to get their base to go vote.
I think you might have hit upon the nail, intentionally or no – Our Glorious President has to use our military, whether he likes it or not (and he does not) as the metric for how far he can push and how quickly. While our servicemembers are sworn to obey the lawful orders of those in power over them, the key word is “lawful”, and, more importantly, those servicemembers were also sworn to “defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic“. They were not sworn to the President… or Congress… or even America. They were sworn to the Constitution.
And damned if I do not see more and more of them making noises about that.