Untinted Lense.

There is a growing undercurrent that suggests calls for the prosecution of George Zimmerman are race related. In an effort to provide clarity why not retell the details, withholding race?

An armed volunteer member of a neighborhood watch in Sanford, FL spots a stranger in his subdivision. The watch member reports the stranger to 911. The watch member follows the stranger. The watch member is driving his truck while the stranger is on foot. Despite the 911 operator's direction to stand down, the watch member continues to follow the stranger. Fearing for his own safety, the watch member shoots and kills the stranger. The stranger, as it turns out is 17 years old and unarmed, carrying only Skittles, an iced tea and a cell phone. After a cursory police examination the watch member is sent home and the stranger is sent to the morgue.

I'm always disturbed when someone armed injures (kills?) someone that has no weapons.  Your thoughts?

Sufficient Tragedy.

The death of Trayvon Martin has provided the USA with tragedies galore. I would like to offer my thoughts on just 3 of the tragedies:

source: abc News

The Killed.

Trayvon Martin goes out to the local convenience store to buy some Skittles and an iced tea. Trayvon Martin never comes home again. Compounding this simple tragedy, Trayvon Martin was killed by a bullet. The bullet that killed Trayvon Martin was intended for Trayvon Martin even though all Tryavon Martin was carrying were Skittles, an iced tea and a cell phone. His family will not be able to eventually take solace that his death was an unlucky random occurrence. The nature of Trayvon Martin's death does not allow his friends or family to grieve and (hopefully) heal in private.

source: The Miami Herald

The Shooter.

George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin. (I am not neutral about Mr. Zimmerman. I am pleased Mr. Zimmerman lives in another neighborhood, in a different state. I wouldn't want him to watch a dead rat, let alone my neighborhood. Still, the purpose of this post is not to talk about Mr. Zimmerman's actions.) Whenever the "stand your ground" law, Trayvon Martin or a confrontation with a neighborhood watch are mentioned, George Zimmerman will be mentioned next. Should an investigation determine Mr. Zimmerman could and should have avoided the shooting, the effect on his life and his family's life is no less tragic.

source: Yahoo! News

The Journalist?

I haven't considered Geraldo Rivera much of a journalist since Al Capone's vault. As someone with over 30 years of experience, Riveria should be beyond embarrassed for suggesting that Trayvon Martin's wardrobe (hoodie)  led to Trayvon Martin being shot. No matter Rivera's belief about the efficacy of "stand your ground" or Zimmerman's innocence, blaming a 17 year old for dressing like a 17 year old contributes to the dumbing down of the public. Rivera's subsequent apology can't stuff the genie back in the bottle. The tragedy here? Someone somewhere agreed Riveria: Trayvon Martin contributed to his own shooting by wearing a hoodie.

Yesterday.

Little Suzy and I were sitting in my car, waiting for the school bus. As usual, I was listening to the news. When the news conversation turned to hoodies, shootings and dead kids, I turned off the radio. Suzy asked, "Daddy what was so bad that your turned off the radio"? It wasn't a tragedy that I couldn't offer a good explanation, but it still made me sad.