Trayvon Martin 911 Call From Neighbors and Zimmerman (Audio)

[ZooCrewDude]

What's your opinion on the matter?

You didn't ask for mine, but I'll give it.

Gang related violence in the United States (and anywhere for that matter) has been very well chronicled in our country's history. It is a major and deflating issue in today's society and its evils are not unnoticed - they are just so rampant that, yes, often it does not receive the national attention that this author points out. But what we have in the Trayvon/Zimmerman is a very tangible occurrence of racial profiling (not the gang violence that Rogers points to). If it can force the national media to take notice of the issue at hand, then it is important that we do so. Steroids changed our 'American Pastime' for a couple decades before a couple high profile cases were brought to our attention and it eventually helped to steer baseball back in the right direction. I don't mean to use this analogy to trivialize racial profiling - I'm simply pointing out that if a media frenzy can push a serious issue to the national forefront then it will likely result in some positive outcomes. What if after the Conseco/McGwire storyline, pundits simply said, 'This shit is going on in all of our professional sports for a long time now, why are we making such a big deal now??' The national media has its flaws, and these frenzy kind of events can be one of them. But if it lets people take notice of issues outside of our sphere of influence or comfort zone, then they are important and should not be ignored.

To the other points of Rogers' article... What happened after Zimmerman confronted Trayvon is irrelevant to me. Neighborhood watches are a useful tool when applied appropriately. Zimmerman's role in his neighborhood was not a harmful one - until he took matters into his own hands and directly ignored a police directive. It resulted in the tragic death of an innocent human being - regardless of said human beings fucking academic record. If Zimmerman listens to the dispatcher, the police arrive and determine he was a kid buying candy and a tea - regardless of whether said kid was 6-2, 5-2, played football or played chess. Great for Zimmerman and great for the neighborhood if the guy was able to prevent violence or theft in the past, but this time he went too far - and someone was senselessly killed because of it.

The evidence will speak for itself in court - regardless of how we or Rogers interprets it. But at the end of the day - an entire country is taking notice of racial profiling and how tragically it can end.

[JSS2306]

I'm not quite sure why the media refers to Zimmerman as white at all. It's getting pretty annoying. Here's a quote from today from CNN: "The family of Zimmerman, a white Hispanic, said he has been wrongly described as a racist".

Are you kidding me? That's like saying President Obama, a white African American....

[gourimoko]

I'm not quite sure why the media refers to Zimmerman as white at all. It's getting pretty annoying. Here's a quote from today from CNN: "The family of Zimmerman, a white Hispanic, said he has been wrongly described as a racist".

Are you kidding me? That's like saying President Obama, a white African American....

Because there are White Hispanics.. The term Hispanic is not analogous to "African-American," as there are also African-American Hispanics. Zimmerman's family is pushing this "Hispanic" label, particularly his father - who is White - in order to protect him from the potential hate crime charge that may follow.

[JSS2306]

Because there are White Hispanics.. The term Hispanic is not analogous to "African-American," as there are also African-American Hispanics. Zimmerman's family is pushing this "Hispanic" label, particularly his father - who is White - in order to protect him from the potential hate crime charge that may follow.

I understand but he does not look white. At all.

They should really stop describing him as such.

[gourimoko]

I understand but he does not look white. At all.

They should really stop describing him as such.

What's really funny is that Zimmerman's father says "He's Hispanic, he can't be racist." Really? There are no "Hispanic" racists? Anywhere? Ever? How awesome is that!

I guess only Whites and Blacks are racist. Latinos, Asians.. they're all exempt.

[JSS2306]

What's really funny is that Zimmerman's father says "He's Hispanic, he can't be racist." Really? There are no "Hispanic" racists? Anywhere? Ever? How awesome is that!

I guess only Whites and Blacks are racist. Latinos, Asians.. they're all exempt.

I completely agree. That's a poor way of Zimmerman's father to put it. I feel like the important lesson here is that any race can make assumptions about other races. Not just whites. The media is trying to add the white stigma to a situation that it's not suppose to. When this story first went national, we were told it was a white guy.

Now it's white Hispanic. I've never heard that term used before to describe someone.

[gourimoko]

Now it's white Hispanic. I've never heard that term used before to describe someone.

Ever filled out one of those Affirmative Action forms? IIRC, the field for White is "White (not Hispanic)."

[JSS2306]

Ever filled out one of those Affirmative Action forms? IIRC, the field for White is "White (not Hispanic)."

There's even more forms with only choices for Asian, Hispanic, African American, Caucasian.

I actually have a friend who's father is white, mother is Hispanic and has the all the features of a Caucasian. He identifies himself as white. His sister has all the features of a Hispanic. She identifies herself as Hispanic.

I'm not trying to say you're not technically accurate, but I've heard the word white being thrown around when it shouldn't be in this instance. His photo contradicts the image of a white man people have in their minds when he's described as such.

[gourimoko]

There's even more forms with only choices for Asian, Hispanic, African American, Caucasian.

I actually have a friend who's father is white, mother is Hispanic and has the all the features of a Caucasian. He identifies himself as white. His sister has all the features of a Hispanic. She identifies herself as Hispanic.

I'm not trying to say you're not technically accurate, but I've heard the word white being thrown around when it shouldn't be in this instance. His photo contradicts the image of a white man people have in their minds when he's described as such.

There are White Hispanics as there are Black Hispanics. The term does not reference a race or ethnicity. A Mexican is as Hispanic as a Filipino. Neither are ethnically, racially, or genetically related whatsoever. The term does not refer to a "look," but a historic and cultural reference dating back to Spanish colonialism.

The term Hispanic really has no racial connotation whatsoever, so one cannot "look" Hispanic. It's like saying "You look like an American!"

BTW, there are millions of purely 100% White Hispanics. It is not rare. (Not referencing Zimmerman, as we don't know his mother's racial makeup nor is it relevant).

[JSS2306]

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/new...erman-03232012

It looks like the screams on the 911 tape are in fact Mr. Zimmermans.

Apparently this witness saw what happened and said it was Zimmerman screaming for help. I'm starting to think something very different happened that night.

[Richard Dawkins]

So is that shit I'm seeing about Tray selling dope to his friends and posing like a thug in the mirror real?

Didn't take a real close look.

Still, Zimmerman shouldn't have gotten out of his fucking car.

[gourimoko]

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/new...erman-03232012

It looks like the screams on the 911 tape are in fact Mr. Zimmermans.

Apparently this witness saw what happened and said it was Zimmerman screaming for help. I'm starting to think something very different happened that night.

Lets assume it was Zimmerman.. whats different? I'm willing to accept much of his story, and even willing to conclude he was getting his ass kicked for running and chasing a kid down and being a pussy. He still disobeyed police and provoked a confrontation in which he then shot someone dead.

[Richard Dawkins]

Was Trayvon justified in chasing Zimmerman down though after being intimidated, if that is the case...

[JSS2306]

Lets assume it was Zimmerman.. whats different? I'm willing to accept much of his story, and even willing to conclude he was getting his ass kicked for running and chasing a kid down and being a pussy. He still disobeyed police and provoked a confrontation in which he then shot someone dead.

I'd still like to see him go down too. What sounds like actually happened is Zimmerman followed Treyvon, asked Treyvon what he was doing and Treyvon responded by getting in Zimmermans face and starting a physical altercation as Zimmerman was walking back to his truck. He got on top and beat the shit out of Zimmerman until Zimmerman finally got free somehow, pulled his weapon, and fired a shot into Treyvons chest.

Zimmermans lawyer has already said they are just using a standard self defense defense, not the "stand your ground" law. Zimmerman may not be charged because:

A) It is not a crime to pursue a suspicious person because the dispatcher told you not to. He wan't breaking the law by continuing to follow Treyvon.

B) When Treyvon physically attacked Zimmerman, Zimmerman has the right to defend himself. Obviously, you wish he hadn't brought along a weapon but it was within his right to carry one.

This doesn't mean I find Zimmerman innocent. IMO, a citizen shouldn't be able to pursue suspicious people while armed and I think he went way too far in confronting Treyvon. I also think Treyvon was just as suspicious of Zimmerman and that's why he got physical with him but he wasn't suppose to do that either.

[Dave K]

All I know is in many situations I've been on the wrong side of public opinion regarding physical altercations in which i was the victim and was lambasted by popular opinion of a bunch of people that didn't see what actually happened. Initially, I was on Trayvon's side but my personal experience is gonna rule me out from having any further opinion on this one. I have no idea what happened and there are innaccuracies on both sides and biases from everyone. Everything we're going to see is from a filter and I'm not going to leave my opinion up to those who are better sales people.