From The Wall Street Journal

Last edited by AladdinSane (2013-07-18 15:52:01)

Cadenhead wades in.

http://workbench.cadenhead.org/news/372 … tins-punch

Fled wrote:

For those who support "stand you ground" laws - one question begging for an honest answer.  If you were in the victim's shoes, having been followed first by a car and then by the driver, a guy who is obviously tracking you despite your efforts to get away.  You approach him, and he reaches under his coat for something.  What do you do?  What would you consider reasonable?

So, this guy following me. Is he white or black?

Fled wrote:

For those who support "stand you ground" laws - one question begging for an honest answer.  If you were in the victim's shoes, having been followed first by a car and then by the driver, a guy who is obviously tracking you despite your efforts to get away.  You approach him, and he reaches under his coat for something.  What do you do?  What would you consider reasonable?

Well, my first reaction would not be to turn around and clock the guy, breaking his nose.  I do think that's rather asking for an angry response which I would likely not enjoy.

I'd probably turn around and say "Hi... can I help you?  Are you looking for someone's home?"

BTW you're introducing an assumption for which there is absolutely no evidence... that the person reached under their coat for something.  There is no evidence on anyone's part - including Trayvon's own call to his girlfriend - that Zimmerman reached for anything in his coat or indeed even spoke to him.  He reached into a pants pocket, and folks never keep a pistol in their pants pocket.

Last edited by whosasailorthen (2013-07-19 12:38:10)

whosasailorthen wrote:

Well, my first reaction would not be to turn around and clock the guy, breaking his nose.  I do think that's rather asking for an angry response which I would likely not enjoy.

I'd probably turn around and say "Hi... can I help you?  Are you looking for someone's home?"

BTW you're introducing an assumption for which there is absolutely no evidence... that the person reached under their coat for something.  There is no evidence on anyone's part - including Trayvon's own call to his girlfriend - that Zimmerman reached for anything in his coat or indeed even spoke to him.  He reached into a pants pocket, and folks never keep a pistol in their pants pocket.

Well Zimmerman didn't have a broken nose and the 17 year old probably over-reacted - big surprise there - a teenager losing his cool.  The fact is that Zimmerman lacked any serious physical injuries and Martin is dead.

On the other side of it I don't believe that you are a self-appointed Neighborhood Watch Captain with a loaded pistol, no career and nothing better to do on a stormy night but follow people walking home from the store.

If someone had just introduced Zimmerman to internet porn we could have all been spared this mess...

Last edited by Emmeran (2013-07-19 15:22:18)

whosasailorthen wrote:

How do you get that Zimmerman's nose wasn't broken?  There was considerable testimony that it was indeed broken, and as a former EMT myself (and having had a broken nose as well), looking at the photos, I'd say it was almost assuredly broken.

Post an official medical report and I'll agree with you, I've had mine broken a bit a time or two and I was pissed off about it every single time.  (But mine usually involved copious amounts of alcohol and maybe a friendly bar fight.)

Look Sailor - I think we had a Loser vs. Punk confrontation - one brought Skittles and one brought a gun.  I'm more pissed off that a self-important loser actually did this than anything else.  This wasn't political or racist, this was a loser doing loser bullshit.  Both of these assholes had a right to defend themselves.

I also happen to have three teenaged boys in my house and I know how volatile they can be.  However I do have some concern that popular culture and new laws are spinning this shit out of control.  If you stalk, confront and then shoot an unarmed young man you are a murderer - I don't care if he punched you in the nose, you probably fucking deserved it.  How else would you describe the event?

In my eyes this is common sense from a male point of view; in the words of my sweetheart Melons: "Don't go borrowing trouble".  Zimmerman was obviously seeking to borrow trouble.

whosasailorthen wrote:

How do you get that Zimmerman's nose wasn't broken?  There was considerable testimony that it was indeed broken, and as a former EMT myself (and having had a broken nose as well), looking at the photos, I'd say it was almost assuredly broken.

I, personally, do not give a fuck what the circumstances were.

It's bad enough when Law Enforcement kills an unarmed individual.  Neighborhood Watch should absolutely never place themselves in that position.  He should never be allowed to work NW again.

I see this whole thing as just one more manufactured opportunity for folks like Al "Tawana" Sharpton and Jesse "Hymietown" Jackson to desperately try to make themselves relevant (yet again) when in reality they've long outlived their moment of fame.  They are just relics clinging to anyone they can in order to get themselves in the press. 

They should just do like Jerry Rivers and take a selfie. At least that's amusing.

Or do some more Dr. Suess.  That was entertaining.

AladdinSane wrote:

And hopefully, this will close this thread. (Until someone from MSNBC says something stupid, like noon Monday.)

In this country, if it isn't streamlined through mainstream media and pop culture, it doesn't seem to warrant national debate. Our "government" continues to wreak havoc on our civil liberties and there is little to no protest from the black community because of media diversion tactics that keep such pertinent issues out of mainstream media. But if Jay-Z or Rihanna were to make mention of it, we'd suddenly be jolted out of our sugar comas and protesting on freeways.

[...]

Addressing Trayvon without first addressing the absence of critical thinking in our schools, the lack of introspection, the reasons for our low tolerance and our country's skewed value system does nothing more than create a sounding board for the ignorant.

[...]

I believe we lost that trial for Trayvon long before he was killed. Trayvon was doomed the moment ignorance became synonymous with young black America . We lost that case by using media outlets (music, movies, social media, etc.) as vehicles to perpetuate the same negative images and social issues that destroyed the black community in the first place. When we went on record glorifying violent crime and when we voted for a president we never thought to hold accountable. When we signed on to do reality shows that fed into the media's stereotypes of black men, we ingrained an image of Trayvon Martin so overwhelming that who he actually may have been didn't matter anymore.

[...]

If we really wanted to ensure Trayvon Martin's killing was not in vain, we'd stop perpetuating negative images that are now synonymous with black men in America. We'd stop rapping about selling drugs and killing niggas. The next time we saw a man beating a woman, we'd call for help or break it up, but one thing we would not do is stand by with our cellphones out -- yelling WORLDSTAR! Instead of rewarding kids for memorization, we'd reward them for independent and critical thinking.

We'd spend less time subconsciously repeating lyrics about death and murder and more time understanding why we are so willing to twerk to songs that bemean women and boast of having things we cannot afford. We'd set examples of self-love for our youth by honoring our own hair, skin and eye color. We'd stop spending money on designer gear that we should be spending on our physical and psychological health. We'd seek information outside the corporate owned-media that manipulates us. We'd stop letting television babysit our kids and we'd quit regurgitating pundits we haven't come up with on our own.

Education, introspection, self-love and excellence are the only ways to overcome the wrath of ignorance. So before going back to popping molly and getting Turnt Up, I urge you to consider the implications of your actions. Your child's life may depend on it.

But, of course, nigger thugs like Shawn Carter, Kanye West, and rappers with names like "Li'l" and "Shawty" will ignore this; and sadly, so will their audiences (nigglets and wiggers), instead, talking about NBA and NFL "balluhs".

Excellent article.  Thanks!

Let me spout an age old quote:  Stupid is as stupid does.
(yes I know a movie made it more popular but it's been around forever)

One of these guys was stupid and a wannabe whilst the other was young and foolish.  This is an age old, well proven recipe for disaster.

phreddy wrote:

Add to the recipe this admonition:  Don't fuck with someone unless you absolutely have to.  You never know if he is armed and willing to kill you to protect himself.

Bingo.  We have a winner.

Emmeran wrote:

Yep - it could be some maniac stalking you with a gun and a desire to be a hero.

Apparently, GZ is a hero. He just rescued a family from an overturned vehicle.  Honest.

Fortunately for them he didn't stay in his truck.

Last edited by phreddy (2013-07-22 16:09:02)

phreddy wrote:

Emmeran wrote:

Yep - it could be some maniac stalking you with a gun and a desire to be a hero.

Apparently, GZ is a hero. He just rescued a family from an overturned vehicle.  Honest.

Fortunately for them he didn't stay in his truck.

The 'news' report of the completely unstaged 'incident' was paired with anecdotal 'stories' about death threats to our latest superhero Zimmer Man. Gee thanks Phred, I love the smell of transparent propaganda in the morning.

phreddy wrote:

Emmeran wrote:

Yep - it could be some maniac stalking you with a gun and a desire to be a hero.

Apparently, GZ is a hero. He just rescued a family from an overturned vehicle.  Honest.

Fortunately for them he didn't stay in his truck.

Really? A hero? I don't think so. I've pulled several people from wrecked cars and I'm an asshole. It's something you'll do if you live and drive long enough. I give him props
for doing this though. Of course, cop fantasist that he is, maybe he's been sitting around listening to the police scanner for a chance just like this to help repair his image. But like I said,
I'm an asshole, and a cynical one at that.

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/scarborough- … -game-too/

I agree, Hannity is a sock puppet.

Jurors felt he had committed murder, but by law...  http://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmerm … d=19770659

AladdinSane wrote:

And now, the "arts" crowd weighs in.

It's an ugly mural.  Were it not for the trendy subject, I'm sure it would be panned by the arts community and wind up in a landfill.

Oh, please, give it a rest already...

Last edited by AladdinSane (2013-12-26 21:06:03)

AladdinSane wrote:

And now, the "arts" crowd weighs in.

The message of the mural, created by Miami artist Huong, is "We are all Trayvon Martin."

Hmm...that reminds me. I need to pick up some more Skittles.