Miami Herald Headline: ‘Trayvon Suspended Over Marijuana; Thousands Expected at Rally’

“They killed my son, now they’re trying to kill his reputation”
US News • Views: 26,437

I’m trying to understand how this kind of headline is considered ethical journalism: Trayvon Suspended Over Marijuana; Thousands Expected at Rally.

And it gets worse; the article says George Zimmerman “thought” Trayvon Martin “looked drugged out.” This is not a quote from Zimmerman or anyone else. “Drugged out” are the words of the reporter, Frances Robles.

SANFORD, Fla — . Miami Gardens teenager Trayvon Martin was suspended from school because he was caught with an empty plastic bag with traces of marijuana in it, the boy’s family attorney has confirmed.

Trayvon was killed while serving out the suspension in Sanford Florida, where his father’s girlfriend lives. A community watch volunteer who thought he looked drugged out and suspicious called police and later wound up in a fight with him.

The two scuffled and volunteer George Zimmerman shot Trayvon, killing him. He has not been charged.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to converge on Sanford on Monday for an afternoon rally to protest the killing, which occurred one month ago today.

If smoking pot is now considered a valid reason to be shot in Florida, there are a whole lot of white kids in danger down there too.

Trayvon Martin’s mother said today, “They killed my son, now they’re trying to kill his reputation.” I don’t have anything to add to that.

Jump to bottom

160 comments
1 Schadenfreude 'r' Us  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:25:21pm

If they'd examined his paper money, they'd have found traces of cocaine. At least in the larger bills.

2 Obdicut  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:26:41pm

Reefer madness!

I consider someone who's high on pot to be marginally less dangerous than someone who isn't.

3 erik_t  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:27:11pm

The wingnut-blogosphere seem so very very fond of the word 'irrelevant', yet in this case... silence.

Hmm.

4 dragonath  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:28:45pm

This is what happens when people watch Reefer Madness and and actually believe it. WTF.

5 Obdicut  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:29:10pm

There's a lot of weirdness with the language in that article-- like 'serving out his suspension', and "Volunteer George Zimmerman."

6 allegro  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:29:59pm

re: #2 Obdicut

Reefer madness!

I consider someone who's high on pot to be marginally less dangerous than someone who isn't.

If he was high the only thing it would explain would be his going to the store for skittles. They can really hit the munchie spot.

7 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:30:29pm

My security guard friend would vastly prefer that unruly Texas Tech students were stoned rather than drunk. "we could leave our pepper spray and tazers in the car, and arm ourselves with a bag of Oreos."
'Here, kid, have a cookie and go sit down.'
'Cool, man, thanks.'

8 Gus  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:31:26pm

I smoked pot when I was 17 years old. I also smoke pot on occasion to this date. But I guess since we're talking about a bunch of stupid ignorant rednecks that never left their one-horse town this might be a big deal for them.

9 darthstar  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:32:30pm

They're just making shit up now. This is going to be another Casey Anthony trial. Let's face it...Florida's fucked up.

10 wrenchwench  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:32:51pm

re: #8 Gus

I smoked pot when I was 17 years old. I also smoke pot on occasion to this date. But I guess since we're talking about a bunch of stupid ignorant rednecks that never left their one-horse town this might be a big deal for them.

The stupid ignorant rednecks are just more tightly closeted smokers. And growers.

11 allegro  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:33:15pm

re: #8 Gus

I smoked pot when I was 17 years old. I also smoke pot on occasion to this date. But I guess since we're talking about a bunch of stupid ignorant rednecks that never left their one-horse town this might be a big deal for them.

Some of the biggest pot smokers I've known are rednecks. The stupid and ignorant part is largely a subjective judgement.

12 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:34:48pm

re: #8 Gus

I smoked pot when I was 17 years old. I also smoke pot on occasion to this date. But I guess since we're talking about a bunch of stupid ignorant rednecks that never left their one-horse town this might be a big deal for them.

Movies like Harold and Kumar series are international hits, yet now everybody is supposed to be outraged about pot.

13 dragonath  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:35:52pm

Marihuana makes you drive cars in excess of 50 miles per hour, play the piano funny, and makes you get shot in Florida, too.

14 Gus  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:36:19pm

Insert "jam and preserves festival video" here.

15 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:36:46pm

re: #14 Gus

And a dobro slide.

16 Gus  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:37:06pm

re: #15 'M AFFN FUN

And a dobro slide.

Redneck butthurt. Film at 11.

[Dobro slide.]

17 Stanghazi  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:37:08pm

I'm sure they are digging into his parents finances by now. This is really shameful.

18 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:38:21pm

re: #16 Gus

Redneck butthurt. Film at 11.

[Dobro slide.]

What was that stats about porn consumption decreasing on Sundays? I guess if they found porn in Trayvon's bag, they would call him the Debil hisself.

19 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:38:40pm

re: #2 Obdicut

Reefer madness!

I consider someone who's high on pot to be marginally less dangerous than someone who isn't.

Chill dude. Have a Twinkie.

20 Gus  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:39:25pm

I smoked pot when I was 17 years old. I also smoke pot on occasion to this date. But I guess since we're talking about a bunch of stupid ignorant rednecks that never left their one-horse town undefined nebulous people of undefined social order and structure because after all many of them are our own brothers, sisters, and friends this might be a big deal for them.

There. Fixed. Now we can sing Kumbaya.

21 dragonfire1981  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:39:33pm

One of the very first things we learned in journalism studies is that a reporter should never editorialize in a story. Stuff like that is for the opinion pages.

I remember one of my professors ranting at length about how silly it was for a TV news anchor to interview a reporter. How many times do you see a reporter quoted in print media?

22 jamesfirecat  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:40:12pm

Wait last time I checked he was suspended for multiple tradies, has something new come up or is this just talking out of his ass?

23 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:40:38pm

re: #20 Gus

Now tell us what you really think! ;)

24 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:41:15pm

re: #22 jamesfirecat

Those were in the past, this is the specific time period when he went to his father.

25 wrenchwench  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:41:41pm

re: #5 Obdicut

There's a lot of weirdness with the language in that article-- like 'serving out his suspension', and "Volunteer George Zimmerman."

It deserves a fisking:

...called police and later wound up in a fight with him.

...like it was two different occasions. How much later?

26 wrenchwench  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:42:27pm

re: #20 Gus

I smoked pot when I was 17 years old. I also smoke pot on occasion to this date. But I guess since we're talking about a bunch of stupid ignorant rednecks that never left their one-horse town undefined nebulous people of undefined social order and structure because after all many of them are our own brothers, sisters, and friends this might be a big deal for them.

There. Fixed. Now we can sing Kumbaya.

I wasn't defending the rednecks. I was calling them hypocrites.

27 dragonath  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:43:30pm

The Miami Herald is published by McClatchy, although I don't know if that makes a difference.

I know when the Tribune Company took over my local paper it turned to shit. The editorial page became a refuge for Goldberg columns and Glenn McCoy cartoons.

28 Gus  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:43:32pm

re: #26 wrenchwench

I wasn't defending the rednecks. I was calling them hypocrites.

Preemptive defense. //

29 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:43:33pm

Difference between a pothead and a drunk, from the police POV:

A drunk who comes to a stop sign will run it, a pothead who comes to a stop sign will sit there and wait for it to turn green.

30 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:44:06pm

re: #23 'M AFFN FUN

Now tell us what you really think! ;)

Holding it all in that long can't be good for him.

31 dragonfire1981  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:44:24pm

Dan riehl all over this now:

"DanRiehl: talk of a drug buy on his own Facebook page. suspension 4 pot. Zimmerman says he looked "drugged out." had previous fights. do the Math"

32 wrenchwench  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:45:10pm

re: #31 dragonfire1981

Dan riehl all over this now:

"DanRiehl: talk of a drug buy on his own Facebook page. suspension 4 pot. Zimmerman says he looked "drugged out." had previous fights. do the Math"

He can't even do the reading, let alone the math.

33 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:45:54pm

Now, now, let's not over-generalize about rednecks.

///just messing with ya

34 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:45:55pm

re: #28 Gus

Preemptive defense. //

Too many engage in preemptive stupidity, hard to defend against.

35 Obdicut  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:46:01pm

It's not okay to shoot someone if they're beating you up, especially if they're beating you up because you followed them around like a creep.

I guess, legally, it is in Florida, but ethically and morally, it's not.

36 erik_t  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:47:13pm

re: #32 wrenchwench

He can't even do the reading, let alone the math.

I was told there would be no math.

37 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:47:45pm

re: #31 dragonfire1981

If they now claim that somehow drugs caused this, they better have an autopsy report ready.

38 wrenchwench  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:49:42pm

re: #37 'M AFFN FUN

If they now claim that somehow drugs caused this, they better have an autopsy report ready.

And some blood work on Zimmerman. Oh, too late! Actually they could check his hair.

39 Gus  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:50:21pm

This guy looks pretty stoned to me.

40 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:51:04pm

re: #39 Gus

This guy looks pretty stoned to me.

I didn't know Freddie Krueger was a stoner.

41 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:56:08pm

One of my long time friends is a liberal redneck. We smoked tons of pot in high school. He once told me his grandma, most definitely a redneck, would sit on her porch in rural Georgia and smoke the stuff in garbage bag quantities.

42 Charles Johnson  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:56:33pm

Asked the reporter where the words "drugged out" came from:

43 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:57:55pm

re: #42 Charles Johnson

Didn't Zimmerman say that TM was perhaps on drugs during one of his calls?

44 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:58:05pm

re: #42 Charles Johnson

they're the reporter's words. If you listen to the 911 tapes then you hear GZ say "He looks like he's on drugs or something"

45 jhrhv  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:58:27pm

The next story is going to be the kid with the empty bag of pot was a dealer. You know it's coming and it still has nothing to do with Zimmerman shooting him.

46 Kragar  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:58:33pm
‘Trayvon Suspended Over Marijuana'

Which makes killing him okay?

The kid's history has absolutely no bearing no the case, unless they want to argue that Zimmerman knew things about the kid before the shooting.

Zimmerman followed a random citizen and shot him under questionable circumstances. It doesn't matter how the random citizen lived his life before he crossed paths with Zimmerman.

47 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 12:59:52pm

re: #45 jhrhv

They already claim so based on someone's comment in TM's facebook.

48 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:00:59pm

It gives me no pleasure to say so, but I think Zimmermann will walk. The prosecutor is already making noises in that direction. We have to be ready for the consequences. Will there be riots, ala Rodney King, or have we moved beyond that in 20 years? In most respects, this is much worse than the King episode, since King at least survived. If there are riots, how will the right wing respond after years of incitement and a level of public bigotry that was undreamed of in 1992? Much worse indeed.

49 Kragar  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:01:17pm

According to wingnut logic, Jason Vorhees would be the hero of the Friday the 13th series because he took out drug users who engaged in premarital sex.

50 Charles Johnson  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:02:20pm

re: #44 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

they're the reporter's words. If you listen to the 911 tapes then you hear GZ say "He looks like he's on drugs or something"

Right - but "drugged out" is an amazingly irresponsible thing to write, based on that.

51 Obdicut  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:02:42pm

re: #48 Shiplord Kirel

I think the law, as written-- especially in that, as Sergey pointed out, the cops couldn't actually even detain him over the shooting, they'd have to have come up with a different reason to detain him-- will wind up with him not even being charged.

52 Stanghazi  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:03:28pm

Well we know that Zimmerman assaulted the police, but in today's law & order hypocrisy, that doesnt matter.

53 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:03:28pm

re: #50 Charles Johnson

Right - but "drugged out" is an amazingly irresponsible thing to write, based on that.

It sounds like the reporter is trying to poison the well.

54 jhrhv  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:06:17pm

re: #48 Shiplord Kirel

I posted a link in the pages of a story from the Orlando Sentinel where the police say Martin punched Zimmerman in the nose and smashed his head on the sidewalk several times I think. If it's true in Florida it will probably mean Zimmerman won't get charged. That's my guess.

55 Obdicut  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:06:26pm

re: #52 Hoodies for Justice. T

Well we know that Zimmerman assaulted the police, but in today's law & order hypocrisy, that doesnt matter.

Well, he was accused of assaulting the police, and the charges were dropped.

56 Batman  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:06:35pm

re: #48 Shiplord Kirel

"The stand-your-ground law is one portion of justifiable use of deadly force," veteran State Attorney Angela Corey said. "And what that means is that the state must go forward and be able to prove it's case beyond a reasonable doubt… So it makes the case in general more difficult than a normal criminal case."

One of them had a gun and was 250 pounds. The other didn't and was 150 pounds. One had a history of looking for trouble, the other was buying candy. What the fuck world do we live in?

57 justaminute  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:06:48pm

Zimmerman could be charged with a hate crime by the Federal Government if he is not charged by the State. I think that was the very reason why we have them.

Zimmerman's past 911 call could show a proclivity of calling in suspicious activity with the supposed perpetrator was a member of the Black race.

58 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:07:21pm

Wingnut Rule #23: It's required you poison the well, preferably with a red herring, as long as you are defending a law and an image that buttresses your ideology.

59 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:07:38pm

I know there are thousands of nutburgers itching to use those masses of ammo they've been hoarding since Obama took office. They are disappointed that ACORN gun confiscators haven't swarmed into their neighborhoods to be met by a righteous fusilade of Second Amendment solution. Any "disturbance" is likely to bring them out, especially if it is nationwide.

60 Kragar  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:08:06pm

Wingnut Movie Remakes:

Friday the 13th; watch homeschooled Jason Vorhees defend his property rights to Camp Crystal Lake from liberal camp counselors, dope fiends, sex addicts, and socialists.

With special appearance by Bryan Fischer as Crazy Ralph, "You're doomed! You're all doomed!"

61 What, me worry?  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:08:42pm

re: #50 Charles Johnson

Right - but "drugged out" is an amazingly irresponsible thing to write, based on that.

The Herald has been in deep trouble for a long time. They just sold the building and surrounding area for some $200+ million to a Malaysian resort developer. The Herald will vacate in 2013. The paper is dying due to this kind of reporting. They still have a decent editorial page, but it's a glut of advertising and entertainment and arts news. I'd say it's very very sad, but I haven't read a newspaper in 10-15 years. It's sad for the nostalgia of it, I guess.

62 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:08:45pm

re: #60 Kragar

OWS. You forgot OWS.

63 Kragar  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:10:11pm

re: #62 'M AFFN FUN

OWS. You forgot OWS.

Thats what the sequels were for:

Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan

64 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:10:22pm

re: #61 Madge

The Herald has been in deep trouble for a long time. They just sold the building and surrounding area for some $200+ million to a Malaysian resort developer. The Herald will vacate in 2013. The paper is dying due to this kind of reporting. They still have a decent editorial page, but it's a glut of advertising and entertainment and arts news. I'd say it's very very sad, but I haven't read a newspaper in 10-15 years. It's sad for the nostalgia of it, I guess.

The world is going digital, there's no time for sad nostalgia.

65 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:11:35pm

re: #63 Kragar

Thats what the sequels were for:

Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan

When does he defend Tokyo from Gojira?

66 What, me worry?  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:12:23pm

re: #64 Bondo

The world is going digital, there's no time for sad nostalgia.

True, but the integrity of the Herald's reporting is crap. It's been crap for... I don't know... very long time. If I read the "newspaper", it's online and it's the Sun Sentinel which is Fort Lauderdale's main paper.

67 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:12:46pm

re: #65 Bondo

When does he defend Tokyo from Gojira?

He drops a couple of atomic bombs on it, then fights off PETA.

68 jhrhv  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:13:33pm

re: #59 Shiplord Kirel

It is always somewhat entertaining if not scary how many of those nut jobs are always sending each other posts about stocking up on beans and ammo for the coming Armageddon. You only ever see those sorts of posts from the most right wing nuts. Far too often they are considered the smart ones on the sites where you see these comments.

69 jhrhv  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:14:40pm

What's OWS?

70 Obdicut  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:15:02pm

re: #69 jhrhv

What's OWS?

Don't press the button!

71 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:15:09pm

In the distance, we hear the echos of bone, freshly stripped of meat, meeting well worn tin.

72 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:15:16pm

re: #68 jhrhv

It is always somewhat entertaining if not scary how many of those nut jobs are always sending each other posts about stocking up on beans and ammo for the coming Armageddon. You only ever see those sorts of posts from the most right wing nuts. Far too often they are considered the smart ones on the sites where you see these comments.

If surviving Armageddon means eating beans for years on end, I'd rather be standing right where the bomb drops and get out of it all.

73 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:15:40pm

re: #69 jhrhv

What's OWS?

Original Wine Sauce.

74 Kragar  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:16:03pm

Barton: Secular Law Leads to Sharia

I was really struck with a passage that Jesus has in Matthew 12. Matthew 12 he talks about how an unclean spirit had gone out of a man and in verse 43 it says it goes through dry places seeking rest and finds none, verse 44, then he says, ‘The unclean spirit says, ‘I will return to the house from which I came.’ When he comes, he finds it empty, swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself.’ I thought, that’s that principle, if you don’t fill it with good stuff, bad stuff is going to find its way in and it will be a lot worse. So we had it filled with kind of a God-fearing system and then we made it a secular system, so now we made it seven times worse by saying, let’s take Sharia law, not only do we not want biblical stuff we don’t even want secular stuff, we want seven times worse than secular. The vacuum is going to get filled with something, and if we’re going to refuse to have some Judeo-Christian principles in there on which the founders built everything and that’s what they had as the undergirding , if we’re not going to do that, then what are we going to fill it with? Right now it appears that it is going to be Sharia.

75 Kragar  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:16:50pm

re: #70 Obdicut

Don't press the button!

If you say OWS 5 times in a thread, Kilgore appears...

76 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:17:05pm

re: #70 Obdicut

Don't press the button!

Octopuses' White Shoes

77 bluecheese  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:17:37pm

I can't help but wonder if the gun manufacturers are absolutely smug about all this.

Basically, you have to pack heat if you're in any of these fucked up states if you want to live.

Who wrote the "stand your ground" law again?

78 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:17:57pm

re: #76 Mostly sane, most of the time.

Octopuses' White Shoes

Octogonally Wholesome Sharia.

79 jhrhv  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:18:15pm

re: #72 Mostly sane, most of the time.

Too crazy for me to imagine. I don't know what they are expecting that when you live in the freest richest nation in the world that you're going to end up living on beans and needing a stockpile of ammo.

I imagine them living in a survival camp waiting for something that will never happen. I just wish someone would disconnect them from their ISP.

80 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:19:12pm

re: #66 Madge

True, but the integrity of the Herald's reporting is crap. It's been crap for... I don't know... very long time. If I read the "newspaper", it's online and it's the Sun Sentinel which is Fort Lauderdale's main paper.

You need to start reading a famous blog, well known for its fairness and balance and named for a fur bearing canid.

81 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:19:56pm

Overly Watery Soup

82 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:20:38pm

re: #81 Mostly sane, most of the time.

Overly Watery Soup

Operatic Woolly Sticker

83 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:21:25pm

re: #82 'M AFFN FUN

Operatic Woolly Sticker

Oviviparous Wax Shark

84 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:22:23pm

re: #83 Mostly sane, most of the time.

Oviviparous Wax Shark

Obama Will Succeed

85 jhrhv  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:22:34pm

Whatever OWS is it's making me laugh. Where's Kilgore?

86 efuseakay  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:23:15pm

What gets me about this whole thing... The wingers fully believes that Martin didn't have the right to stand HIS ground after being stalked and threatened.

87 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:23:15pm

re: #85 jhrhv

Whatever OWS is it's making me laugh. Where's Kilgore?

He don't care.

88 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:23:17pm

Oregon Will Secede

89 Kragar  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:23:39pm

Overtly Wanton Strumpets.

90 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:23:49pm

re: #88 Mostly sane, most of the time.

Oregon Will Secede

Oh, We'll See

91 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:24:30pm

re: #73 'M AFFN FUN

Original Wine Sauce.

Orthogonally Wanton Shakira.

92 Interesting Times  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:24:47pm

re: #89 Kragar

Overtly Wanton Strumpets.

What is, "The language Mitt Romney would have used"?

93 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:25:29pm

re: #81 Mostly sane, most of the time.

Overly Watery Soup

Overtly Wicked Stripper.

94 A Mom Anon  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:25:32pm

Obviously Weird Shit
Octopi With Shoes
Ornery When Shitfaced

95 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:27:32pm

re: #89 Kragar

Overtly Wanton Strumpets.

Do you play that instrument with your mouth or your fingers?

96 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:27:42pm

re: #89 Kragar

Overtly Wanton Strumpets.

Orly Wants Sertifikit

97 Gus  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:27:50pm

This weirdo responded to me:

98 Charles Johnson  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:28:03pm

If we assume Zimmerman's story was true, and Trayvon did punch him in the nose, why is that not "self-defense?" Trayvon was being followed at night by a creepy white guy with a gun, even after the guy was told by 911 NOT to follow; doesn't TM have the right to defend himself against someone looking for trouble?

99 Kragar  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:28:14pm

re: #95 Bondo

Don you play that instrument with your mouth or your fingers?

Neither...

100 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:28:58pm

I've had an interest in preparedness and disaster survival issues for quite some time, ever since I was involved in municipal government in California some years ago. (The words "survival" and "survivalism" are tainted by right wing fantasy, but there is a real, and rational, version of these concerns.) Among other things, the minimum group size for long term survival without outside assistance is much larger than gun culture survivalists typically think, at least 30-40 households in or fairly close to an urban area, instead of 2 or 3, let alone an individual bunker, in the outer fringes. This size is manageable in terms of trust and social interaction, but allows a good cross section of skills. It should also include enough diversity of opinion and values to help suppress dangerous or fallacious ideas.

101 jhrhv  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:29:07pm

I'm only coming up with old wonton soup. I missed lunch today.

102 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:30:12pm

re: #98 Charles Johnson

If we assume Zimmerman's story was true, and Trayvon did punch him in the nose, why is that not "self-defense?" Trayvon was being followed at night by a creepy white guy with a gun, even after the guy was told by 911 NOT to follow; doesn't TM have the right to defend himself against someone looking for trouble?

The evidence is against him, he was wearing a hoodie, is black, had marijuana and was armed with not just Skittles, but 'Iced Tea'.

It may even have been,... GREEN Tea!!

103 What, me worry?  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:30:13pm

re: #77 bluecheese

I can't help but wonder if the gun manufacturers are absolutely smug about all this.

Basically, you have to pack heat if you're in any of these fucked up states if you want to live.

Who wrote the "stand your ground" law again?

Well here's the really funny thing about it. Not so much ha-ha funny.

All of the Florida legislature, Dem and Rep together, passed this insane law. My rep was on local news this weekend talking about it. Apparently one of the law makers (she mentioned who, but I didn't catch the name) had been twice burglarized in her home and convinced them all to pass it.

I had no idea this is how it was passed. They are the law makers and not one of them realized how open and vague it is?

If you can find the video, it's somewhere at [Link: www.local10.com....] The Rep's name is Frederica Wilson, but she was in the Florida senate at the time of the vote.

104 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:30:59pm

re: #98 Charles Johnson

It is, but the vaguely written law seems to imply that both had a right to defend themselves, since both would have a perception of danger at different times. I.e., the survivor is in the right (and the survivor tends to be the guy with the gun). Spooky.

105 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:32:53pm

re: #102 Bondo

The evidence is against him, he was wearing a hoodie, is black, had marijuana and was armed with not just Skittles, but 'Iced Tea'.

It may even have been,... GREEN Tea!!

Obvious paraphernalia!

106 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:34:28pm

re: #105 'M AFFN FUN

Obvious paraphernalia!

Zimmerman needed a toke.

108 What, me worry?  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:35:46pm

re: #98 Charles Johnson

If we assume Zimmerman's story was true, and Trayvon did punch him in the nose, why is that not "self-defense?" Trayvon was being followed at night by a creepy white guy with a gun, even after the guy was told by 911 NOT to follow; doesn't TM have the right to defend himself against someone looking for trouble?

I think it depends on who hit who first. If Zimmerman physically attacked him, then yes, Tray was defending himself. If Tray just hauled off and jumped Zimmerman, than maybe no.

But hey, maybe if they arrested the man, they could get to the bottom of it.

109 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:36:53pm

re: #107 'M AFFN FUN

Image: OReilly_Hoodies.jpg

So Geraldo sees the world through rose coloured glasses?

110 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:37:09pm

re: #107 'M AFFN FUN

Image: OReilly_Hoodies.jpg

That deserves some attention.

111 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:38:42pm

re: #100 Shiplord Kirel

To follow up, my research has convinced me that racism, and little else, is behind the common survivalist assumption that any refuge or survival "retreat" must be as far as possible from any kind of urban center. They foresee hordes of crazed blacks going on an orgy of looting, rape, and murder as soon as the law is unable to restrain them, with lurid (and often exaggerated) tales from Hurricane Katrina as evidence. This assumption is deeply embedded in the whole narrative.
In fact, the urban environment offers many opportunities for shelter, mutual protection, and networking, as well as resources that can be salvaged. This assumes of course, that the environment hasn't been blasted by a nuclear bomb, but even then total, indefinite, isolation after the fact is neither necessary nor desirable.

112 Gus  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:39:28pm

Think I need a break here soon. This country is populated with idiots.

113 Kragar  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:39:35pm

re: #107 'M AFFN FUN

Image: OReilly_Hoodies.jpg

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THEIR PARENTS?!

114 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:40:12pm

re: #113 Kragar

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THEIR PARENTS?!

Yes, the mustache is atrocious.

115 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:40:33pm

re: #112 Gus

Think I need a break here soon. This country is populated with idiots.

Come to Canada, where the Loonies live.

116 Decatur Deb  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:40:37pm

re: #111 Shiplord Kirel

To follow up, my research has convinced me that racism, and little else, is behind the common survivalist assumption that any refuge or survival "retreat" must be as far as possible from any kind of urban center. They foresee hordes of crazed blacks going on an orgy of looting, rape, and murder as soon as the law is unable to restrain them, with lurid (and often exaggerated) tales from Hurricane Katrina as evidence. This assumption is deeply embedded in the whole narrative.
In fact, the urban environment offers many opportunities for shelter, mutual protection, and networking, as well as resources that can be salvaged. This assumes of course, that the environment hasn't been blasted by a nuclear bomb, but even then total, indefinite, isolation after the fact is neither necessary nor desirable.

The survivalists have adopted a new identity--now they're "preppers". Freep has a recurring thread, and I think there is a TV reality show.

117 Gus  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:40:46pm

Derp.

118 jhrhv  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:41:33pm

re: #100 Shiplord Kirel

I worked in municipal government as well. We never did any planning for a big disaster. It was always about getting people to have enough supplies to get them through 3 to 7 days until normal distribution could be restored.

Have some cash if the ATM is down. Have I think it was 10 gallons of water, battery operated radio and food. With things like solar and wind energy are becoming more popular I think the chances of a big outage go down as each year passes.

119 Eventual Carrion  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:42:28pm

[comment revoked by me. Steam coming out of my ears from this whole stupid situation]

120 What, me worry?  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:42:53pm

re: #103 Madge

For what it's worth, here is the link to Local 10's videos.

[Link: www.local10.com...]

The bad news is that none of March's videos are up there. Yes, this IS Miami, but it is also Florida where everything is ass-backwards.

Anyway, the show "This Week in South Florida" is quite good. It's hosted by a great journalist, Michael Putney.

121 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:43:11pm

re: #117 Gus

Derp.

That twitpic account is just full of damning evidence Trayvon was just a typical teenager.

122 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:43:19pm

re: #117 Gus

Which one do you mean? The one with the grill is real. The one with the middle fingers is not. IIRC this guy used the one with the grill.

123 What, me worry?  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:44:22pm

re: #113 Kragar

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THEIR PARENTS?!

Dude, if I saw O'Reilly walking down the street, hoodie or no hoodie, you can betcha I'd be screaming bloody murder!

124 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:47:54pm

re: #123 Madge

Dude, if I saw O'Reilly walking down the street, hoodie or no hoodie, you can betcha I'd be screaming bloody murder!

I wouldn't. I'd be laughing way too hard.

125 What, me worry?  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:47:58pm

re: #80 Bondo

You need to start reading a famous blog, well known for its fairness and balance and named for a fur bearing canid.

You got me totally stumped.

126 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:48:13pm

re: #41 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks

One of my long time friends is a liberal redneck. We smoked tons of pot in high school. He once told me his grandma, most definitely a redneck, would sit on her porch in rural Georgia and smoke the stuff in garbage bag quantities.

All the rednecks I've ever known are pot-smokers. Or teetotalers, but the ones who will drink beer also like weed. The idea that it's solely a sophisticated city or suburban vice dates back to before I was born, and is long since defunct.

127 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:48:47pm

The guy is a patronizing POS.

128 ReamWorks SKG  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:48:57pm

I absolutely think what Zimmerman did was disgusting, whether or not Martin had beat him up. Zimmerman was looking for a confrontation. That being said, I'm not sure "Federal Hate Crime" prosecution is the right thing here. While I'm not naive enough to think that race didn't play an issue here, there are other factors, like a neighborhood watchman with a gun who thinks he's been deputized.

What I'd like to see happen is Florida "Stand Your Ground" be re-written to exclude altercations on public streets. It only makes sense in your own home, when confronted by an intruder. I wouldn't want someone to get in trouble for shooting an intruder in his home (AFTER a thorough investigation) whether or not the intruder was armed, etc.

129 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:50:30pm

re: #98 Charles Johnson

If we assume Zimmerman's story was true, and Trayvon did punch him in the nose, why is that not "self-defense?" Trayvon was being followed at night by a creepy white guy with a gun, even after the guy was told by 911 NOT to follow; doesn't TM have the right to defend himself against someone looking for trouble?

The trolls on ABL have been quite clear about that--it was bad of Trayvon to attack Zimmerman with his fists, he should have been cool about being stalked by a strange man.

130 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:52:10pm

re: #116 Decatur Deb

The survivalists have adopted a new identity--now they're "preppers". Freep has a recurring thread, and I think there is a TV reality show.

There is.

My husband wants to be a prepper now. I foresee many boxes of things being stored in the garage until the end of time.

131 Kragar  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:55:47pm

re: #130 SanFranciscoZionist

There is.

My husband wants to be a prepper now. I foresee many boxes of things being stored in the garage until the end of time.

Does knowing who in your area is a prepper and having plans to take their shit when the apocalypse hits count as being a prepper?

132 Political Atheist  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:59:07pm

re: #98 Charles Johnson

It never seemed likely that Treyvor initiated the combat. Other than just walking while black. What does "drugged out" look like at night from some distance anyway? That's bullcrap to justify the call.

My guess? Sounds like Zimmerman approached, started it and got his ass beat until he pulled the gun and shot.

133 Political Atheist  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:00:38pm

re: #129 SanFranciscoZionist

What's too bad and really indicative of police & racial relations, is Trayvor never thought to call the cops himself and report being stalked by a suspicious looking man.

134 allegro  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:05:20pm

re: #133 Daniel Ballard

What's too bad and really indicative of police & racial relations, is Trayvor never thought to call the cops himself and report being stalked by a suspicious looking man.

Do we know that? Where's his phone?

135 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:06:46pm

re: #131 Kragar

Does knowing who in your area is a prepper and having plans to take their shit when the apocalypse hits count as being a prepper?

That's like, being a meta-prepper.

136 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:07:23pm

re: #134 allegro

Do we know that? Where's his phone?

Point taken. Oh shit, that would be really bad.

137 Eventual Carrion  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:10:03pm

re: #135 SanFranciscoZionist

That's like, being a meta-prepper.

If you could go to college and get a Ph.D. in it you could be a Dr. Prepper.

138 Political Atheist  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:11:32pm

re: #134 allegro

911 tape.

139 Achilles Tang  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:12:29pm

re: #128 ReamWorks

I think the issue here, using the term "your ground" and as has been said; Zimmerman took the ground to the fight. He did not stand his ground.

140 b_sharp  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:13:30pm

re: #131 Kragar

Does knowing who in your area is a prepper and having plans to take their shit when the apocalypse hits count as being a prepper?

Steal Fluffy the cat and become a Fluffer.

141 allegro  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:13:38pm

re: #138 Daniel Ballard

911 tape.

911 tape has been released of Zimmerman's calls. Do we know for certain that Trayvon didn't make one as well? I dunno. Just I haven't seen the question asked or answered and as far as I know his phone hasn't yet been produced.

142 What, me worry?  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:15:14pm

re: #128 ReamWorks

I absolutely think what Zimmerman did was disgusting, whether or not Martin had beat him up. Zimmerman was looking for a confrontation. That being said, I'm not sure "Federal Hate Crime" prosecution is the right thing here. While I'm not naive enough to think that race didn't play an issue here, there are other factors, like a neighborhood watchman with a gun who thinks he's been deputized.

What I'd like to see happen is Florida "Stand Your Ground" be re-written to exclude altercations on public streets. It only makes sense in your own home, when confronted by an intruder. I wouldn't want someone to get in trouble for shooting an intruder in his home (AFTER a thorough investigation) whether or not the intruder was armed, etc.

It's already legal to shoot an intruder in your home. Stand Your Ground is different. I personally feel it should be nixed entirely.

[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

A stand-your-ground law states that a person may use deadly force in self-defense when there is reasonable belief of a threat, without an obligation to retreat first. In some cases, a person may use deadly force in public areas without a duty to retreat. Under these legal concepts, a person is justified in using deadly force in certain situations and the "stand your ground" law would be a defense or immunity to criminal charges and civil suit. The difference between immunity and a defense is that an immunity bars suit, charges, detention and arrest. A defense permits a plaintiff or the state to seek civil damages or a criminal conviction. More than half of the states in the United States have adopted the Castle doctrine, stating that a person has no duty to retreat when their home is attacked. Some states go a step further, removing the duty of retreat from any location. "Stand Your Ground", "Line In The Sand" or "No Duty To Retreat" laws thus state that a person has no duty or other requirement to abandon a place in which he has a right to be, or to give up ground to an assailant. Under such laws, there is no duty to retreat from anywhere the defender may legally be.[1] Other restrictions may still exist; when in public, a person must be carrying the firearm in a legal manner, whether concealed or openly.

There is another law, and I'm not sure what it is exactly, but it's in every state, that says you may respond to a threat in like kind. So if someone punches you in the face and bruises you, you're allowed to punch them back, even if you break their nose - meaning they get the worst of the battle, even if they started it.

However, if someone punches you in the face and you respond with a knife or gun - and they get the worst of the battle - then you are in the wrong even if they did hit you first.

You're not allowed to put your hands on other people. Period. You can only do so in self-defense and then there's some limits. Stand Your Ground pretty much bypasses all that.

143 Political Atheist  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:16:04pm

re: #141 allegro

H spoke to his mom right? He should have called the cops. "Should' as in a less racial less hostile place, not "should" as in he screwed up.

144 kirkspencer  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:16:41pm

I decided yesterday to really dig into this whole shooting mess, try and listen to all the evidence and do it without preconceptions. I'm not sure you're going to like my conclusions, but I'll state them anyway.

Zimmerman didn't shoot Martin because Martin was black. Zimmerman shot Martin because he was in a fight and got scared/panicked. Notice I'm not saying "self defense". I think the offense listed on the original police report was correct: negligent homicide; manslaughter -- unnecessary killing to prevent unlawful act. Because of the way the Florida law is worded, this is self-defense. There is no such thing as an unnecessary killing if it was to prevent an unlawful act.

Was race a factor? Probably. Zimmerman's past 911 calls were predominately race-triggered. That is, of 41 calls for 911 approximately 30 were because a black individual was doing something. But the shooting itself was not due to racism.

Zimmerman, driving home, enters his community and sees a black male walking in the rain. He knows due to his neighborhood watch briefings that there have been several recent burglaries, and he wonders if this person is scouting new targets. And Martin walks up to the car - my guess is trying to see if the person inside is someone he knows - and when he sees he isn't turns around to leave.

At this point Martin does something stupid. Instead of walking down the sidewalk toward his father's house, he cuts behind the clubhouse to try to lose the guy following him. He got scared and panicked. Understandable, but one of the "don'ts" for young black males.

Zimmerman follows him for a little bit, then loses him. This is where he commits minor stupidity. Instead of meeting the police at a recognizable location he decides to cruise around to look for the suspect and asks them to call him when they're in the community so he can give them his location.

We don't know if Martin committed a larger stupidity by ducking between houses or if he was just hidden by the clubhouse, but we do know Zimmerman committed gross stupidity. He got out of the car.

I'm inclined to believe he did indeed get out to check the street name. He'd already told the police he didn't know, he knew they were going to call to ask his location, it makes sense. HOWEVER, at the same time there was this suspect around, this person about whom he'd complained, who was acting strange, who'd had his hand to his waist and then was holding something. He was primed to be scared - not yet afraid, but in a state where fear was a short step away.

At that point Martin came out from behind the clubhouse and found he was right near the vehicle he'd intended to escape. And the guy from the vehicle was outside it.

Enter Martin's next mistake. Instead of just going on, he confronted Zimmerman. "Why are you following me?" according to Martin's girlfriend. "What are you doing here?" came the reply. And then came the sound of a fight beginning. There's no way to tell, really, if Martin charged while yelling or if it opened after. There's no way to tell who struck the first blow. We know Zimmerman says Martin was the attacker, but he also says Martin attacked him from behind.

They wrestled, and even though Zimmerman had 11 years and 110 pounds on Martin he was getting hurt. We know at one point Martin was on top. We don't know if he was on top when Zimmerman drew, or if Zimmerman had thrown him off or rolled him over before pulling his pistol. The next any of the eyewitnesses see, after the gunshot is heard, is Zimmerman standing over Martin's body.

A series of actions driven by fear and stupidity led to Martin's death. In the absence of the SYG law Zimmerman massively over-responded, using lethal force to deal with an unarmed fist-fight. Had he been a law enforcement officer - a goal of his - it would have resulted in disciplinary and possible criminal charges. His good fortune is that he was still a civilian and so protected by this aspect of the law

145 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:19:11pm

re: #144 kirkspencer

Zimmerman didn't shoot Martin because Martin was black. Zimmerman shot Martin because he was in a fight and got scared/panicked.

I don't know, maybe in the heat of a discussion some people said that he was shot for the direct reason of being black, but I don't think that was ever a consensus here. What is being said - and is correct - is that GZ's prejudice likely led to TM's death.

146 Obdicut  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:19:42pm

re: #144 kirkspencer

I'm not sure we 'know' everything you say we know, but I think that's one credible version.

Zimmerman's desire to play cop-- to follow Martin-- is what set the stage for this. As was, of course, him being armed.

147 wrenchwench  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:26:49pm

re: #134 allegro

Do we know that? Where's his phone?

...

148 What, me worry?  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:29:24pm

re: #144 kirkspencer

No offense, but this is why this is why Zimmerman is never going to get a fair trial and we're never going to know what happened.

We have no idea if we've heard from all the witnesses. We don't even know if the "facts we know" are true. There has been a bucket load of misinformation that can only be vetted out in a court.

They are still reporting that Zimmerman was given his gun back even though the Orlando paper says the cops still have it. I heard it Sunday on local MIAMI newstation.

I'm still reading that Trayvon was shot in the back.

149 Obdicut  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:30:11pm

re: #147 wrenchwench

I think that they're confusing the call with the girlfriend with a 911 call.

150 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:30:34pm

re: #147 wrenchwench

This has been around for some time. Seems like a rumor based on some mistake.

151 abolitionist  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:32:12pm

In theory, the outcome could have been worse:

Help could have arrived before the shooting. Said witness(s) could have been killed by "stray" bullet(s). I think the Florida law addresses that also, and explicitly holds the gun owner blameless. So how about we call it the Leave No Witnesses Law?

152 kirkspencer  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:33:42pm

re: #148 Madge

No offense, but this is why this is why Zimmerman is never going to get a fair trial and we're never going to know what happened.

We have no idea if we've heard from all the witnesses. We don't even know if the "facts we know" are true. There has been a bucket load of misinformation that can only be vetted out in a court.

They are still reporting that Zimmerman was given his gun back even though the Orlando paper says the cops still have it. I heard it Sunday on local MIAMI newstation.

I'm still reading that Trayvon was shot in the back.

I do know why the "shot in the back" portion persists.

Eyewitnesses who arrived after the shooting saw Zimmerman standing over Martin. He didn't touch the body while in sight. When police arrived, they reported Martin was face-down with his hands underneath him.

I'd really like to see an autopsy report on Martin, just to nail down his physical condition post-mortem.

153 Eventual Carrion  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:37:25pm

re: #152 kirkspencer

I do know why the "shot in the back" portion persists.

Eyewitnesses who arrived after the shooting saw Zimmerman standing over Martin. He didn't touch the body while in sight. When police arrived, they reported Martin was face-down with his hands underneath him.

I'd really like to see an autopsy report on Martin, just to nail down his physical condition post-mortem.

This is the biggest part I want to hear the facts on. Was he shot in front or the back, and they can tell if it was point blank or a distance also. Those 2 factors, to me at least, would tell a huge potion of the story.

154 wrenchwench  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 2:48:13pm

re: #149 Obdicut

I think that they're confusing the call with the girlfriend with a 911 call.

re: #150 'M AFFN FUN

This has been around for some time. Seems like a rumor based on some mistake.

I guess I would have heard more by now if there was anything to it.

155 funky chicken  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 3:02:18pm

re: #144 kirkspencer

At this point Martin does something stupid. Instead of walking down the sidewalk toward his father's house, he cuts behind the clubhouse to try to lose the guy following him. He got scared and panicked. Understandable, but one of the "don'ts" for young black males.

Zimmerman follows him for a little bit, then loses him. This is where he commits minor stupidity. Instead of meeting the police at a recognizable location he decides to cruise around to look for the suspect and asks them to call him when they're in the community so he can give them his location.

We don't know if Martin committed a larger stupidity by ducking between houses or if he was just hidden by the clubhouse, but we do know Zimmerman committed gross stupidity. He got out of the car.

Sorry dude, but when a weirdo starts following you in his car, you do what you can to lose them. My son and his friends have had it happen a couple of times when they are out walking around at night, and they have jumped fences to duck into friends' neighborhoods...my son is a white teenager and he and his friends were likely wearing hoodies. I'm just grateful that the paranoiacs who thought it was their civic duty to stalk teenagers out for snacks weren't packing heat or anxious to use it.

Now, why Trayvon didn't call his dad to come pick him up instead of the girlfriend...all I can say is that my son didn't call home on either of the occasions when this happened to him either, and I was home alone and not busy, so I would have easily been able to get him. Teenage boys don't always think to call a parent as soon as they should. It shouldn't cost them their lives at the hands of untrained, heavily armed "neighborhood watch volunteers."

156 kirkspencer  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 3:22:30pm

re: #155 funky chicken

Sorry dude, but when a weirdo starts following you in his car, you do what you can to lose them. My son and his friends have had it happen a couple of times when they are out walking around at night, and they have jumped fences to duck into friends' neighborhoods...my son is a white teenager and he and his friends were likely wearing hoodies. I'm just grateful that the paranoiacs who thought it was their civic duty to stalk teenagers out for snacks weren't packing heat or anxious to use it.

Now, why Trayvon didn't call his dad to come pick him up instead of the girlfriend...all I can say is that my son didn't call home on either of the occasions when this happened to him either, and I was home alone and not busy, so I would have easily been able to get him. Teenage boys don't always think to call a parent as soon as they should. It shouldn't cost them their lives at the hands of untrained, heavily armed "neighborhood watch volunteers."

Rules for blacks: don't add to the cause. You start climbing fences and running into back yards and you're giving (more) cause for shooting.

I keep hoping somebody will repeat John Griffin's experiment and show that what he experienced is still with us. Until then all I've got is the fact that driving while black and loitering while black and things like that are not jokes but really (statistically supported) reality

157 What, me worry?  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 3:28:23pm

re: #80 Bondo

You need to start reading a famous blog, well known for its fairness and balance and named for a fur bearing canid.

OH FOX holey moley I just got that LOL

158 abolitionist  Mon, Mar 26, 2012 3:32:34pm

re: #156 kirkspencer

Rules for blacks: don't add to the cause. You start climbing fences and running into back yards and you're giving (more) cause for shooting.

I keep hoping somebody will repeat John Griffin's experiment and show that what he experienced is still with us. Until then all I've got is the fact that driving while black and loitering while black and things like that are not jokes but really (statistically supported) reality

I was privileged to hear Mr Griffin at a public assembly when I was a freshman in college, in 1966. And 3 or so years ago, I saw the movie that was made. It's on youtube, in about 7 or so parts.

BLACK LIKE ME" (1964) - Part 1

159 RogueOne  Tue, Mar 27, 2012 4:20:49am

re: #144 kirkspencer

....
Was race a factor? Probably. Zimmerman's past 911 calls were predominately race-triggered. That is, of 41 calls for 911 approximately 30 were because a black individual was doing something. But the shooting itself was not due to racism.
........

Dead thread but I'm wondering where you got those numbers. I kept reading anywhere between 46 calls to 115 over the last year so I went to the released police logs...
[Link: motherjones.com...]
..and counted 46 calls (45 incidences) over the last 8 years and only 5 of those calls were about a black male. Interestingly, 4 of those calls about black guys happened after a 9/22/2011 Neighborhood watch meeting with the police (which was held in response to a break in in the neighborhood). Up until that point there was one call in 8 years about a suspicious black male, where are you reading 30?

160 BongCrodny  Tue, Mar 27, 2012 8:40:41am

KILL THE POTHEADS!

Oh, uh...wait a minute.


Seriously, though -- the Herald's trumpeting of Martin's use of marijuana (and let's face it; if you have an empty marijuana bag, you probably didn't just find it laying around) seems to give an out for knuckleheads who somehow think Martin deserved his fate; meanwhile, they're willing to give Zimmerman the noble tag of "community watch volunteer" despite his "Lone Wolf McCrackpot" designation.

Lousy, lousy reporting.


This article has been archived.
Comments are closed.

Jump to top

Create a PageThis is the LGF Pages posting bookmarklet. To use it, drag this button to your browser's bookmark bar, and title it 'LGF Pages' (or whatever you like). Then browse to a site you want to post, select some text on the page to use for a quote, click the bookmarklet, and the Pages posting window will appear with the title, text, and any embedded video or audio files already filled in, ready to go.
Or... you can just click this button to open the Pages posting window right away.
Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT LGF User's Guide RSS Feeds

Help support Little Green Footballs!

Subscribe now for ad-free access!Register and sign in to a free LGF account before subscribing, and your ad-free access will be automatically enabled.

Donate with
PayPal Cash.app
Recent PagesClick to refresh
Trump’s “Stolen Election” Lie Based on Evidence From Pervy Bathroom Cam-Spy OK, this really takes the cake. If you have relatives that still cling to the “election was stolen, dadgum, I jes’ KNOW IT … This should be a slight remedy to the stubborn madness Thanks to online anonymity, the ...
Khal Wimpo (free internal organs upon request!)
Yesterday
Views: 63 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1
Best of April 2024 Nothing new here but these are a look back at the a few good images from the past month. Despite the weather, I was quite pleased with several of them. These were taken with older lenses (made from the ...
William Lewis
3 days ago
Views: 172 • Comments: 2 • Rating: 5
Texas County at Center of Border Fight Is Overwhelmed by Migrant Deaths EAGLE PASS, Tex. - The undertaker lighted a cigarette and held it between his latex-gloved fingers as he stood over the bloated body bag lying in the bed of his battered pickup truck. The woman had been fished out ...
Cheechako
3 weeks ago
Views: 417 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1