It's a sad, sad, day.

[onpatrol98]

Congratulations tonight to the KKK, the DU supporters of George Zimmerman, and everyone else who rooted for this man to walk away.

Tomorrow, the world looks different for me...but not much. Because if we really think about it, this is simply a confirmation of what we already knew. Black children have no worth in this country for some people. Let's hold our children close tonight and even closer from here on out. Believe it. This verdict WILL produce more George's on the streets of America. He provided the blueprint. Get a gun. Track our children. Get your self-defense story ready.

Follow them, shoot them, say it was self defense and walk away. Get them while they're young. When they're not looking.

It's time to get back to the lessons we were taught.

There is no blue or red. The President was right about that one. Nothing highlighted that more for me than this case as I read post after post of sheer crap from "good" blue democrats. Good blue democrats that want your help in supporting causes that may or may not improve our communities, as they rationalize why Zimmerman deserves to walk free after the murder of one of our children.

But, quite frankly that's it for me. Our children matter. They matter to those of us that share this group and many others. There was no justice for Trayvon. There is no justice for the thousands of black youth that die in this country every day. This case took us backwards. And, for some folk, they didn't have far to go.

Tomorrow, I work for those things that matter to my family and my extended community. I'm done waiting at the back of the line and keeping my mouth closed because everyone else's need is more worthy. One more dead child considered to have no value by this jury. But, this child that I've never met, he had value for me. His hopes and dreams. They were worth something. His lost chance at a high school graduation or prom. They were worth something. His chance to become a husband or father...to watch a first child take a first step. Denied.

The fact that his parents grieved for him and were in my humble opinion, back slapped by this jury in exchange for their pain. That means something to me, too. I'm tired of this country and it's people sacrificing our children on it's many altars.

Tomorrow, I stand my ground. Not with a gun or hatred in my heart. But, with a sense of purpose. We have to protect our children. For me, Trayvon takes his place among others, when I think of sacrifices made that need to turn into lessons learned.

This is a tough lesson. Sometimes, you need a cold, blast of water to wake you up. I think this will do it for many. If I offend. I apologize. I know we're supposed to smile and nod...and say, well, of course we accept the jury's verdict. I'm not there, yet. And, I don't anticipate getting there anytime soon.

[Number23]

1. I should have been prepared for this. And yet I am STILL so goddamned angry.

I am sick to my stomach, furious at the reinforcement of the age-old American belief that the only lives that matter are those of white people. And that black people are always, always, ALWAYS guilty until proven innocent. SO SICK OF this shit!!

That boy did NOTHING wrong. May God bless his family. I don't know why this hurts as much as it does. I should have been prepared because this has happened so many other times before.

Tomorrow, I stand my ground. Not with a gun or hatred in my heart. But, with a sense of purpose.

What are you going to do??

I know we're supposed to smile and nod...and say, well, of course we accept the jury's verdict. I'm not there, yet. And, I don't anticipate getting there anytime soon.

I will never accept this. Fuck that.

[JRLeft]

2. I was which is why I am not sick or stunned. I expected it which is why I did not watch the trial

very much.

[Number23]

3. I know. I didn't watch any of it either. I'm so fucking stupid thinking that things had changed

in this country. I thought it was as plain as day what had happened and that no one could see it for anything other than Zimmerman was guilty as sin.

[NOLALady]

5. That's what frightens me.

I believe that they know that he was/is guilty as sin.

Maybe I'm just hurt and angry right now, but it seems to me that they wanted to send a message that some people are not welcome in this country, and therefore, expendable.

They know that he's guilty. They don't care!!!

[Number23]

7. NOLALady, when Emmitt Till's murderers went on trial

the members of the jury were asked why they voted to acquit those men. One response was "yeah, I do think they killed him. But I don't think a white man should go to jail for killing a nigger."

1955 meet 2013.

[onpatrol98]

12. Boom...there it is..

You have perfectly summed it up for me. That is exactly what that jury said to every black person in America. And, thanks be to God, that I'll never meet them.

There would be no bodily harm. I'm not that kind of person.

I just don't want to know or be near the people who were capable of doing this...

[onpatrol98]

10. Yeah, they know he's guilty...

We ALL KNOW he followed AND MURDERED this child. Whether or not he killed him WAS NEVER in the discussion. We knew he did. [I'm trying so hard, not to curse.] But, DAMN, what else does it take.

Q. Hey, ya'll, I just shot this kid. What do I need to do?
A. Oh...nothing, go home.

That's the jury. And, why, you might ask. Well...according to DU...in the most proper, speaking, language I can attempt. "Yes, well, of course he shot and killed him. We all know that. But, the prosecution was just awful...and we needed more proof THAN HIM SAYING HE SHOT AND KILLED HIM.

I so wish I was a drinking woman. I could sure stand something right about now.

[NOLALady]

15. Needed a drink here too.

Worst time ever to start on antibiotics. So, I had to settle for a cup of ice cream.

Really didn't need the ice cream, but definitely needed comfort food!

My grown kids are out celebrating a friend's birthday. I am scared.

[onpatrol98]

16. Thank you for the idea...

I still have a Turtle Pie in the fridge. I'm heading for a slice, right now.

[onpatrol98]

6. I tried to prepare myself...

Last edited Sat Jul 13, 2013, 11:35 PM - Edit history (1)

As I sit here on the brink of tears...I tried to prepare myself for the longest. I told myself daily. He'll walk. I mean, come on. If a democratic blog is filled with posts about the teenager who wasn't speaking the "King's English"... I knew this child death wasn't going to be acknowledged.

But, Number23, I promise...this hurts so badly, I know I'll cry the night away. I told my 18 year old, he'd better not hit the door tonight or anytime soon, to go ANYWHERE. But, I didn't even have to do it. He's still in shock. There was a tiny bit of him that didn't believe we were still living in Momma and Grandmomma's world. But, rulings like this one let you know exactly where you stand.

I'm getting more active in my community. I've always been a very active church member. I know that means, less than nothing to many on DU. But, I'm typically that loyal volunteer for anything involving our kids...in any organization. From Boy Scout den mother to helping coach softball, I've always been willing.

But, we need real boots on the ground in our neighborhoods. Our kids need to see us. The people who target our children, need to see us, also. And, I'm not even talking about the George Zimmermans of the world, now. I want to find ways to reach out.

I don't want to complain anymore about voter laws, however worthy and relevant they are. I want to help people get IDs, if it takes that or have access to transportation, if it takes that.

To steal a "I have a dream, moment..." I want to wake up one day and have republicans try to restrict the right to vote...and have democrats attempt to campaign on it, just to be asked by the black community..."What are you talking about? Like every other community, I don't need your help to keep my vote. I can keep it my @#$% self." [Insert whatever works]

I want our children to see us as empowered...not looking for help from someplace or someone else...because it "ain't" coming. Girl, we're the cavalry. I believe there's a child yelling for help SOMEWHERE every day. Maybe, it's because they're in a horrible neighborhood, or bad school district, being bullied...or something. I want to be available, so I'm looking for opportunities to do just that. And, if I don't see them. I have no problem making one up.

[Number23]

11. I love you for this post. I haven't cried until now

I have been on the brink of tears but now...

But, we need real boots on the ground in our neighborhoods. Our kids need to see us. The people who target our children, need to see us, also. And, I'm not even talking about the George Zimmermans of the world, now. I want to find ways to reach out.

I LOVE YOU FOR THIS. THIS is the only answer. Like you said, OUR KIDS NEED US THERE. They need to see us. I have NEVER been afraid of any black person, I don't give a damn how big, angry or crazy anybody looked and especially not a young black person. THEY NEED US SO MUCH. And they sure as hell need us more than we need to keep them at arm's length because they don't act the way we want them to right now.

Urban League, NAACP, YMCA. Anything else, any other groups?? I have got to do something!! I am going to lose my mind!! I am too far away right now! The charter schools primarily set up to help poor/minority children? What can I do?????!

Girl, we're the cavalry.

HELL yes!! We have to do this. We cannot rely on anyone else. Black people have always relied on ourselves, we have always found the way ourselves. We use the church, our schools, our sororities whatever and we MAKE SHIT HAPPEN. We ALWAYS have. And we'll do it again. For our kids.

[grantcart]

8. +100% It just makes me sick.

And this is about the 100th time I have heard a story like this.

Just this time I got to know a little bit about the victim,

So many others whose faces and names are a blur.

Just bitter. Too bitter to discuss in a rational way.

Just bitter.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

13. I'm on a message board for black women and we discuss all kinds of topics.

We have been following this case and though we had some hope, I think we knew deep down that Zimmerman would be acquitted.

So tonight, we are discussing how we might be proactive:

Though Zimmerman didn't rely on Stand Your Ground laws for his defense, we still need to go expose ALEC and challenge these SYG laws at the state level.

One of the things that makes me so fucking pissed off at DU and other liberal outlets is how quick so many are to give up because they're angry with Obama. They threaten to not vote.

We have these Stand Your Ground laws today PRECISELY because we failed to show up in 2010. And look what's happening. Innocent kids of ALL stripes are being gunned down. People are shooting each other in the streets for no apparent reason, just because they FEEL that they're being threatened.

And then there's the case of Marissa Alexander, a black woman, who was the victim of domestic violence. She shot a "warning shot" at her violent husband just to scare him and keep him from hitting her. She got 20 years in jail.

Meanwhile, Zimmerman walks free!

We need to do something about these gun laws.

The first step is that we ALL need to get out and vote in 2014. Yes, I understand that the changes to the VRA will make that more challenging, but if we show up in OVERWHELMING numbers, they can't stop all of us!

We have to show up. We have to vote.

So in addition to doing targeted boycotts in Florida (supporting black-owned and operated businesses whenever possible), we are vowing to get more politically involved for 2014.

[Number23]

17. But LS, the president and VP have been trying to change the country's gun laws

NOTHING IS HAPPENING!! And this even after the slaughter of 20 babies in an elementary school. NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE. The white power structure that has ruled this country with an iron fist for the last 400 years WANTS ITS GUNS and NOTHING is going to change that.

The numbers are something like 70% of black people want a change in gun laws. It means NOTHING!!! We will be the ones continually slaughtered because white people want their guns and nothing is going to change that. Will being more "politically active" make a difference really?

Marissa Alexander, a black woman, who was the victim of domestic violence.

Good Lord, was this also in Florida???

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

23. Yep. Also in Florida. I hear what you're saying. I know it seems very hopeless, but at the same time

I'm so scared that if we give up, they have won. They can go around killing all of us and then claiming that WE were the aggressors.

I'm really trying not to be hopeless.

I don't think that the assault on our voting rights, the gun laws, etc. are coincidental. Not for one second.

I just don't want to feel defeated right now, even if I know in my heart, we are.

[onpatrol98]

18. Vowing to get more politically involved for 2014!

I agree! Definitely planning on being more politically involved. But, the next person to get my vote, better speak to my causes. If this case has taught me anything, it's that...we are NOT all in this together. Some of us are in this thing alone. We better speak up and stop treating trash like treasure.

[Whisp]

36. I will never accept this either, Number23.

something broke inside me tonight.

[knitter4democracy]

4. Trayvon looked just like a student I once had.

I'm just sick. I hadn't been keeping track today on purpose (all that 24 hour news stuff gets my blood pressure up), and I finally came on here tonight to see what happened.

He could have been one of my students. He was just a boy walking home, and he's dead only to have his killer go free?! My heart hurts tonight, hurts for all of my students who now feel even less safe, for all of my students who feel like they have targets painted on their backs, for all the great kids who are scared and hurting and angry tonight knowing it could have been them.

What the fuck is wrong with this country?!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. I remember being asked by a white female friend of mine why it is that black women don't like

white women. I didn't know exactly what she meant by that, but I did explain to her that white women have historically benefitted from white skin privilege. A privilege that they seldom acknowledge. The mistrust of white women from black women is justified on a historical basis: we often feel that white women have little empathy for our concerns as black women. And when it comes to our children: they patronize, condescend, look down on.

Of course, I'm not referring to ALL white women or ALL white people. I'm referring to the ones that I'm describing above.

Racism trumps every time. My eyes were completely opened during the Obama-Clinton primaries in 2008. Wide open!!

Tonight, my eyes can't get any wider. Only this time, they are running over with tears.

White women and one Latina dominated the jury that acquitted a cold-blooded murderer of a black child. (And yes, there is racism in the Hispanic community!!) The defense succeeded in dehumanizing Trayvon Martin, so much so, that the women on that the women on that jury could not see their own children in Trayvon. They could not empathize with him.

[onpatrol98]

14. The defense succeeded in dehumanizing Trayvon Martin.

"The defense succeeded in dehumanizing Trayvon Martin, so much so, that the women on that the women on that jury could not see their own children in Trayvon. They could not empathize with him."

Exactly, right! These people don't see our children as helpless or harmless. I remember once being out with a boyfriend when I was in college. We were on a date and he needed to get cash out of the ATM. Would you believe it? This little white guy left his ATM card in the slot. My boyfriend...dressed well, kind of chunky (but, in a good way), looked like the geek he'll always be to us...tried to call out to this man to tell him he had left his ATM card. Now, I'm sitting in the car. And, I see my boyfriend waving his ATM in the air, so I yell at him.

This guy breaks out into an all out run, drops his keys, and proceeds to do everything in a horror movie you swear you'll never do. He's tripping, can't get his key in the lock, sweating, and still doesn't get in so he's still gripping the handle when my boyfriend walks right up to him and tells him...Dude, you left your ATM card. By that time, he had even dropped the keys.

To say he looked stupid, is an understatement. We laughed about that incident until we cried. But, on another level, it wasn't funny. I guess if he'd had a gun, he would have shot us. But, instead he was apologizing and looking goofy.

Wait...he would have shot us, said it was in self-defense, been defended on DU...and then found not guilty.

[Number23]

19. Girl, we all have so many stories like that. Of white people doing something so fucking stupid

that you laugh your ass off at them and then when you stop, realize it really wasn't funny at all and was actually more pitiful than anything else. We laugh to keep from screaming.

I remember having jobs where I actually had to sit and cross my legs and close my eyes for a second when talking to my white, female co-workers because the second I opened my mouth, they would literally be TREMBLING with fear. It didn't matter what I said. A white male co-worker could be screaming and frothing at the mouth, but they'd take that shit in stride. But let another woman and especially one with melanin say ANYTHING to them, even in the most casual, non-threatening language and they would be three seconds from pissing themselves.

Racism is a bitch. And I often finds the ones with the biggest problems are the ones that scream the loudest about how "non-racist" they are and how they "never see race at all."

[onpatrol98]

21. I have a cousin who was saying the same thing not too long ago

She's quite tall, quite dark, dreadlocks...AND college educated, well spoken, etc.

She says no matter how softly she speaks or how much she smiles, they cower.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

25. "Why do black women have a chip on their shoulder? Why are they so angry?"

Now, bitch, do you understand why we're so fucking angry?!?!?!??!

[knitter4democracy]

30. Those who say they never see race at all are blind to their own privilege.

They often also tout their token black friend or two as proof.

I was raised to know that skin color doesn't have anything to do with personality or who a person is, but that racist training was still there until I taught in diverse schools with kids of all colors, backgrounds, you name it. The fact that most people live, worship, and even work in segregated communities means that many will never have to confront their own racism and deal with it. They can just keep saying that they don't see race while they clutch their purses tighter at the mall or tell their kids to be careful around "those" kids.

[Number23]

39. SPOT ON. Plus a million.

They can just keep saying that they don't see race while they clutch their purses tighter at the mall or tell their kids to be careful around "those" kids.

Thank you. Really.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

24. Your story made me very sad. VERY!!

[onpatrol98]

20. Hmm...now may be a good time to find someplace else to be!

[BklnDem75]

22. It sure didn't take that jury long...

Zimmerman banked on the odds we have with this so called justice system. I'd like to say I'm shocked by the verdict, but as someone pointed out, it's affirmation of what we always knew. Still doesn't stop the numbness I'm feeling right now.

[onpatrol98]

26. Yep, I hate this feeling...

I don't even have my television on. I'm too afraid I'd throw something at it.

I want to cry. But, I also want to scream. I want to comfort people. But, I also want something positive to happen, so that this child isn't failed, yet again. Murdered...stomped on by the justice system, and then what...life as usual? No. We can't have life as usual. That's just not right.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

28. My T.V. is off. I found out the verdict from DU. The only thing keeping me sane tonight is

my cabernet and you guys!!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

27. So. My further thoughts. And forgive me. I may be a little drunk by now...

Many of us have believed since Day 1 that the Sanford Police Department, the Zimmermans, the State and the Defense were all in collusion. This entire trial was simply for show. That's why the Prosecution didn't even try. John Guy may have been innocent in all of this. But I find it very disturbing that the State was so irresponsible, so lazy, so passive in presenting their case. Hell, many of us ladies are not attorneys here, but we could've argued this case and won. We could've gotten Zimmerman convicted on 3rd Degree charges if we wanted to.

The Prosecution did a piss-poor job; the only one who did halfway decent was Guy. But even he seemed long-winded in my view. I wanted him to really be forceful on these points. But he, like the other prosecutors, were soft-spoken, passive.

Plus, the Defense seemed awfully smug and giddy; they were too self assured as if they knew that Zimmerman would get off. They were despicable and vile. O'Mara and West are the epitome of evil. I hate them more than I hate Zimmerman.

And finally, there's the judge. Many people thought she was even-handed. I was never fully convinced.

If I'm correct, the jury was instructed to consider the events only surrounding the fight, no the event leading up to the fight. In other words, our entire case rested on the fact that Zimmerman got out of his car and pursued Trayvon when he was told not to. However, the jury was instructed to ignore that aspect of the case and that's how we lost tonight.

Apparently it is perfectly legal to follow and actively pursue someone and confront them without any evidence of having done something wrong---it doesn't even matter is the pursuer is a police officer or not.

But again, because the events leading up to the physical fight were disregarded, that's why I think Trayvon and his family didn't receive justice tonight.

[JustAnotherGen]

38. I think John Guy was

I think he was on the verge of tears last night. He took It personally. Not for himself. But for the 16 years and 22 day old kid he tried to give a voice on Friday.

[JI7]

40. no, it was racism, there was more than enough evidence to show he was guilty

if Trayvon was white the verdict would have been guilty.

it was only because the dead kid was black and just had to be at fault for causing his own death.

[Horse with no Name]

29. My daughter was in a wreck

there were 5 kids...2 were under 18. My daughter broke her back and another girl broke her tailbone. Their friend, the driver, had been drinking.

I got the call at about 3 in the morning...and went immediately to the scene of the accident. I was met there by parents of 2 of the other kids involved. The driver, whose family is affluent, was sent home by the local police with nary a word.

The only parents that weren't at the scene were the parents of the only black kid that was there...and he was one of the only underage kids in the car.

When we got to the hospital, his mother was at the ER. After greeting her and letting her know that he was on his way to the hospital and I had spoken to him and he appeared to be fine...his head was bumped but he said it was okay...we got around to talking about what had just happened.

She had actually been the first parent on the scene at the wreck. The police REFUSED to let her go and see her son. They turned her back. Nobody else had any problem.

When we actually got the kids together and started hearing what happened after the drunk driver was allowed to leave...it made my blood boil.

They sat the remaining 4 kids on the ground...made my daughter sit down on the ground with a broken back...and started blaming THEM for the wreck...when they hadn't been drinking and they weren't driving. But, they concentrated the majority of the "investigation" on the black kid. Threatening him if they took him to the hospital and found anything in his blood, he was going to jail for this. Scared him so bad he refused medical treatment and really did have a bad bump on his head. He wasn't drinking but even he knew that the truth doesn't matter when someone wants to place the blame on you.

I went to accident site and asked if my daughter was being charged with anything--they said no and I said that I was taking her to the hospital. She said her back hurt and they kept those kids there for over an hour.

It was a travesty but to think that we are living in a world where there is racial justice and equality, it is nothing but a far away dream that a man had before they gunned him down for daring to have it.

[onpatrol98]

31. What an absolutely horrible encounter...accident and everything else?

Is your daughter alright now?

[Horse with no Name]

32. Yeah for the most part

it healed but there are things she can't do. It really interfered with finishing college and stuff...but by all accounts, they should have all been dead.

They were going over 100 mph in a Mustang--they were all begging him to slow down.

They went airborne 40 ft in the air when they hit a hill--when they came down, the axle broke on impact, throwing them into a side ditch...hitting culverts. The came to a stop 2 ft from a large tree.

[onpatrol98]

33. I am so sorry. But, I'm glad you still have her here with you.

Kids...they think they're invincible. So young. But, it only takes a moment to change your life forever. I bet it really changed her perspective on life.

Years ago as a high school student, I was in a terrible accident with a couple of classmates. We all emerged unscathed except for scratches, thanking our lucky stars. Two years later, while we were in college, one of the same friends was killed in a car accident.

I couldn't bring myself to go to the funeral. I just couldn't bear it. I just didn't want to see her like that. I was 19...and at 19, you just don't think about dying.

But, the earlier accident. I'll never forget it. And, now that I have kids of my own...well, it's still with me.

[Horse with no Name]

34. Me too.

I'm sorry for your experiences.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

35. OH MY GOD!! I am so very sorry!!!!

Is your daughter o.k.?

[Horse with no Name]

37. Yes...she is healed

Thank you.

[Blue_Tires]

41. I'm physically ill from the entire ordeal

so I don't even dare imagine what Martin's family is feeling now...Not since 9-11 have I felt such an overwhelming urge to commit mass murder...

I had drafted my hearty, "FUCK YOU" farewell for the gloating trolls/gun nutters/subtle racists, etc. I've been fighting with in General Discussion; but on second thought I'm not going to give them the satisfaction because there are just too many of them, and they know the admins don't have the stones to ban them no matter how far they cross the line...Maybe they'll send Zim and his legal team an honorary DU membership+star for all I care; I no longer give a shit...I'd rather spend my last posts on this forum talking with the remaining few Afr'Am posters still here...

I personally wanted to discuss the 'big picture' moving forward, since that's something that gets lost in all the details...It is plain as day to all of US what happened that night, we know the cops covered up the incident (only deciding to investigate after a NATIONAL media spotlight exposed them as incompetent/indifferent rednecks), we know the prosecution put together a (probably intentional) half-assed effort into what was by all accounts a very winnable case, AND we all know that Trayvon Martin wasn't the first of us to die unarmed at the hands of a supposed 'upright, concerned, responsible gun-owning citizen' -- Hell, Martin isn't even the most recent...So it is pointless to rehash the particulars of the case for the umpteenth time...My concern is how to prevent it from happening again because make no mistake, this verdict has emboldened countless gun-toting cowards everywhere, all hoping to 'make a difference' in their community by eliminating criminal threats...

1. The most disturbing, under-discussed facet of the ordeal is how laughably fucked up the so-called "self-defense" laws have become, and how current legal interpretation has morphed them into 'a-good-offense-is-legally-the-best-defense' laws...What I hate the most is that put in that situation, Martin *legally* had no way out since Zimmerman in supposed good faith had identified him as a criminal suspect (nevermind the fact that he had none of the training, judgment, intelligence or legal authority to do so)...If Martin tried to run? Fleeing perp, shoot to kill...If he tried to fight? Self-defense, shoot to kill...If he gave the standard "mind-your-own-fuckin'-business" response or screamed for help? Belligerent/combative and/or drugged out, detain on site until police arrive, and if he struggles, shoot to kill...So according to the law, the only way out I can devise for Martin is if he had been armed himself, and shot Zimmerman first...

2. Although I've tried to deny it for years and instead believe in the better nature of people, the gunners have been saying America operates under a very different paradigm now; and I'm compelled to finally agree with them: These days you either shoot or get shot, you're either the motherfucker or the mother fucked...Decades of gun proliferation and a populace increasingly stressed, anti-social, skittish of their own shadow, pissed off at imaginary demons and conditioned to hate the convenient social scapegoats on the local evening news or AM radio have created a nation of would-be Zimmermans...Never forget how heavily the gunners and affiliated RW groups bankrolled Zim's defense and made his family instantly wealthy while smearing shit on Martin's grave and trolling places like DU all the while...Because of this new normal, and because the vast majority of white America (especially in the south and rural areas) knows or is related to a decent, responsible, upstanding gun owner, they are becoming *increasingly* more reluctant to convict as jurors any shooter who can stretch out even the flimsiest self-defense claim (you scan the news the past couple months and you'll find several WTF acquittals in various states)

3. The ugly truth conclusion/canaries in the coal mine nobody wants to acknowledge, at least the way I see it: We must arm ourselves en masse, become proficient in marksmanship/handling/maintenance and develop the common-sense judgment of knowing the proper situations to draw and fire (but remember the NRA are not our friends in this, so never become a member or send them a penny)...I hope I'm wrong with my conclusion, because I'm a peaceful person, generally avoid confrontation and prefer to not live in constant fear like the nutters, but I live in a very big "gun state" and the mindset of a lot of neighbors (conservative, a lot of retired military) is very similar to Zim's...I'll be damned if I let myself be the next victim while walking the dog at night, just because someone doesn't think I 'belong' in my neighborhood...And it's clear the law will never be on *OUR* side when the criminal justice system sees us as nothing but criminals or about-to-be-criminals in the first place...

I hope that it's just the rage typing for me and that I'm still not seeing this with a cool, clear mind...I'll revisit things in a day or two to see how I feel...




As an aside: Even 18+ years later and despite countless more egregious examples since then, it amuses me to no end how many DUers and white Americans in general steadfastly refuse to let the O.J. thing go...The Simpson case should be the "Godwin's Law" of legal discussions, imo...

[JustAnotherGen]

42. It's not rage my friend

Not to me. It's truth. And if it is just 'rage' - it's justifiable rage at what just happened here.


Out in GD some of those newbies are actually trying to convince me that the next SYG I was A'Scared of the black teenager case in Florida (Dunn) is ohhhhhhhhhhh so different.


You know what? It's not.

Maybe it's just rage - but those folks don't get to have it both ways.

THEY HAVE TO OWN THE SYG AND GUN HUMPING AND RACISM TOWARDS BLACK MEN as THUGS.

They don't get to try and shove sunshine and rainbows up my ass with their 'but oh we are such friends of the blacks NOW' bullshit.


Seriously- you have 156 posts. They are all about applauding Zimmerman . . .

And now you are just trying to stick around so you can get away with gloating when Dunn gets off too.

Know what - I'm engaging with them. The sooner I get one to call me a 'nigger' the sooner I can get the MIRT team to get rid of them.



^^^^^ Bluetires - don't go. Maybe it's just MYYYYYYYYYYYY rage talking up there - but stand your ground in any way you can.

[Blue_Tires]

43. To be perfectly honest

I was always planning to leave the site once I hit 10 years of membership (TEN? Has it been that long?)...Not going away angry; I'm a different person than when I first joined, the typical poster is much different now and so, so many friends I used to have here are long gone...I just had so much personally invested in the Martin case that I wanted to see it out...

[onpatrol98]

45. I know how you feel.

There was a time in America when a black man felt obligated to have a gun to protect his family in his home from the riders in white sheets or the bold ones without sheets.

As someone raised in the south, these are more than stories, these were memories shared by my grandfathers. Men who owned guns to protect from predators...the kind that slithered and bit you, killed farm animals, and from their youth the kind that like to ride by country homes late at night hoping to catch you out unarmed.

Knowing a man was in his own home, protecting his own family, and was armed...was a great deterrent. Or, so my grandfathers thought. I don't know.

I guess I was hoping that times had changed. The white sheet riders are fewer. They're laughed out of most towns they enter. But, racism persists. Our children bear the burden of our neglect. We haven't really made the world safer for them.

Modern conventional wisdom says...vote. Vote in democrats, they will change laws and make life safer for our children. But, then when politicians get into office, the last thing on their minds are our kids. We bury them day after day, and week after week. We send money to these people and what do they concentrate on. Anything but our children. In the time it has taken to bury hundreds of our children, we've changed light bulbs, school lunches, sent money to countries who hate us, protected various wildlife, etc.

We've watched some good things get done, also. But, keeping our children alive, safe, & educated. It's not even on the radar of most politicians. Not even the democratic ones.

I think immigration is the next "pressing" reform. Even the gun law pushes feel like they're more about getting to the next campaign victory than saving the lives of our children.

We need to focus our resources and efforts in our communities. The justice system has seldom worked for us. It's used as a weapon against us, more often than it should.

We've got to stop supporting foolishness. This is a fight our kids need us to start and win. Their lives depend on it. They're worth it.

[Blue_Tires]

44. The Zimmerman Party Bus is still going strong in GD

Even though I've added like 20 longtime names to my ignore list...More to come before the day is over, I'm sure...

[noiretextatique]

46. after the initial shock of the verdict, i have a prediction: dirt will come out on the jury

of a racist nature. i was thinking about this all day yesterday, and i believe something has already surfaced regarding the asshole juror who already has a book deal.
on another note, i was in my local gay bar when the verdict came down. my friend kate, who is white, was very, very distraught, in part because she has three sons. she mentioned that half of she white people in that bar were fine with the verdict, but would be pissed about gay marriage or some other issue that affected them. i couldn't disagree.

[demilib]

47. I agree with you....

though I doubt if I would ever get there. Situations like this makes me almost glad I don't have children

[Blue_Tires]

48. Well, I had to add 70+ names to the ignore list

Last edited Tue Jul 16, 2013, 04:44 PM - Edit history (1)

but at least GD is readable now...

I'm at least glad so, so many posters I thought were longtime friends are exposing themselves...