"Have a lovely day. I'll just get down on my knees and put my hands up now so there's no confusion."

[kpete]

WED JUL 17, 2013 AT 08:31 AM PDT
"Curious" George (Zimmerman)
byIan ReifowitzFollow

.....................

Imagine how you'd feel if every time you went out, some non-black person treated you like a possible or even probable criminal (and that's how "curious George" treated Trayvon Martin), even if you were the law abiding person you are? After all, if it's ok for Zimmerman to have done it, why wouldn't it be ok for it to happen all the time? Would that be sustainable as a society?

Would you, in response to this kind of treatment, say to yourself?:

"Well, people who have the same skin color as I do commit crimes at a higher percentage than other people -- even though of course the overwhelming majority of black people and even young black men don't commit any violent crimes at all, and comparatively few of those are committed against random strangers of another race -- but despite those details of course you're justified in assuming I'm likely about to commit a crime no matter what I really am. I totally understand your fears and take no personal offense. Have a lovely day. I'll just get down on my knees and put my hands up now so there's no confusion."

...........................

I understand what it's like to be white, to think about crime and want to do what I can to protect my family and neighbors. Of course, every American of every race thinks about these things. But the answer cannot be -- on the basis of one's curiosity -- to treat every black person, or every young black male as a probable criminal.

It's counterproductive, immoral, and, oh yeah, the Constitution gives them the same rights and freedoms it does me.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/17/1224366/--Curious-George-Zimmerman

[surrealAmerican]

1. "But the answer cannot be ...

... to treat every black person, or every young black male as a probable criminal."

To which I would add, "... or every teenager, or every protester, or every air traveler, or every voter ..."

There are too many areas of our daily lives in this country where "criminality" is treated as a common condition. - it isn't. In a court of law we are guaranteed to be treated as innocent until proven guilty. The same should be true on the streets.

[mstinamotorcity2]

2. you alright with me.

kick