Lake .... I agree totally with your post No. 178 wherein you discuss the fundamental causes of the problems endured by the black community ... oppressive and discriminatory conditions which have been around since the civil war. The U. S. has come a certain way toward resolving these economic, social, and political pressures which have perpetuated the lack of real opportunities for the black population, but anyone observing the continued problems will know that there is much to be done.
Societal momentums and habits, along with the continued existence of enough individuals prone to racist behavior and decisions, ensure that times will continue to be bleak, even desperate, for the majority of black men and boys. Hopefully, as more individuals become schooled in the subtle causes of discrimination, the American population will have a greater percentage of movers and shakers who will have a genuine desire to make solid changes favoring the minorities who've suffered for many decades. The black man has endured over many decades what we might call institutional racism, which originates in the operation of established and respected forces in our society, and thus receives little public condemnation. Shame on American whites, the comfortable and complacent, for allowing continued discrimination and oppression, however subtle it may be.
As for Zimmerman and Martin ... without clear evidence as to what happened, I don't see how Zimmerman can be found guilty of anything close to manslaughter or murder. He certainly should not have initiated a scenario with the potential to escalate to violence, which he did by following Martin too close, and for too long. If it was murder .... and if there is enough evidence to it, then by all means we should convict and punish. But given the lack of clear evidence, how does one convict on a murder or manslaughter charge?
What jury is going to put a man in jail based on assumptions of what actually happened? Martin's death is a tragedy, but that doesn't change the fact that there is too little evidence for conviction.
It reminds me of the O.J. Simpson case. Surely O. J. was guilty of the killings. But the jury process did not convict. Ridiculous. Thank goodness he was made to suffer via other means. Although Zimmerman's actions are not so clear as that of Simpson's, perhaps further evidence will allow for proper punishment for Zimmerman via the federal or civil actions.
