Why?
Obama: "Trayvon Martin could have been me."
- Thread starter The Librarian
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Why?
Wait, if Trayvon was a gangster wanna-be, then Zimmerman was a gangster?
Fuck that.
I think it's important that Obama said something here, or are we supposed to forget that he's a black man that might have at one point shared the experiences of the community that's most outraged by this?
+10 respect, Pres.
Deified Data
Banned
Only in America would a show of empathy be considered divisive.
Who more qualified to talk about racism against african american than a mean that is in a position of power and still has to deal with it? If you cant tolerate certain issue being discussed go back to the kid's table.
Perhaps he was showing his patriotism through his right to bear arms. Or is that for white people only?
Perhaps he was showing his patriotism through his right to bear arms. Or is that for white people only?
We sure live in a strange country. Picture of a gun? Gangster wanna-be. Carry a gun around and actually end up shooting someone with it? Law-abiding citizen defending yourself.
So where a lot of my friends in high school. Does that mean they deserve the what happened to Trayvon?
If you believe Zimmerman's side of the story.
Zimmerman could have just as easily started the entire fight. Thus, it doesn't matter who you put there, the end result would have been Zimmerman putting a hole in someone's chest, or Zimmerman pinning some innocent black kid on the concrete.
Duane Cunningham
Member
GZ can do better... he had an ACTUAL LOADED GUN. In his hand. Which he then shot TM to death with. I'd say that makes him more of a gun enthusiast.
he's half-white! dammit! I'm so sick of having to remind people of that...
what about the experiences of white people?
Robot Pants
Member
Mammoth Jones
Member
Great, now republicans will mention this for the next 3 years.
Because Lords knows they keep bringing up the "Looked like my son" comment he made.
Fuck it, I'm glad he said it. I personally would like to see the Stand Your Ground laws rewritten the rules for lethal self defense should be crystal clear in terms of what's acceptable and not acceptable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-drop_rule
Because Lords knows they keep bringing up the "Looked like my son" comment he made.
Fuck it, I'm glad he said it. I personally would like to see the Stand Your Ground laws rewritten the rules for lethal self defense should be crystal clear in terms of what's acceptable and not acceptable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-drop_rule
He's our first black President. When he wakes up in the morning people ignite the pitchforks.
So...let me get this straight. Obama should "stay out of this"...why?
Why is that there's this idea that if we *don't* talk about race then somehow the issue will go away!?
The idea that we can't have a serious and open minded discussion about race is fucking ludicrous!
You literally wouldn't say that about ANY other social issue.
World Hunger. "You know, I'm worried about those starving children....but SHHH be quiet! If we just stop talking about it, food will just miraculously appear on the table!"
Crime. "You know, crime in this country is ridiculous, but SHHHH be quiet. We can't talk about crime! It only makes the criminals worse!"
Why is that there's this idea that if we *don't* talk about race then somehow the issue will go away!?
The idea that we can't have a serious and open minded discussion about race is fucking ludicrous!
You literally wouldn't say that about ANY other social issue.
World Hunger. "You know, I'm worried about those starving children....but SHHH be quiet! If we just stop talking about it, food will just miraculously appear on the table!"
Crime. "You know, crime in this country is ridiculous, but SHHHH be quiet. We can't talk about crime! It only makes the criminals worse!"
Fucking Christ at this post. Get out.
Totally. A black president in his second term should really avoid participating in a national conversation on racism.
Most teenagers are gangster wanna-be. I can't think of any teenage boy that doesn't think that guns are cool.
What's your point?
And what evidence would this be? The judge ordered that race not even be brought up in the courtroom, because sweeping problems under the rug always works out well in the end.
This...I just don't even...
captmcblack
Member
No.
I'm actually really glad that he talked about it, and that he spoke honestly about it.
Race issues aren't going to be resolved in America without having an open, honest dialog about them.
Shrennin
Didn't get the memo regarding the 14th Amendment
Jurors have been asked about it and the ones that I have heard said that they didn't think the original motivation was in regards to Martin's race.
There's also this:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/12/justice/florida-teen-shooting
Then you have people like Stevie Wonder vowing to never play in Florida again? This has been made a racially charged case, but this case hasn't shown much proof in regards to any racial motivations.
Baraka in the White House
2-Terms of Kombat
Shit, it's simpler than that.
White guy brandishing a gun in a photo? 2nd Amendment patriot
Black guy brandishing a gun in a photo? Thug
He hates the 2nd Amendment.
Deified Data
Banned
For real. Zimmerman supporters attempting to question Martin's character by associating him with guns, of all things, is ridiculous. It would be hilarious if the subject weren't so depressing.
Thank you for expressing this way better than I could have.
Also, I propose that the next person to quote the second post and type "THIS" or "." without elaborating be banned. Adds nothing to the conversation we're trying to have in this thread.
Brawly Likes to Brawl
Member
I don't see anything wrong with Obama commenting on this. The atmosphere surrounding this case is something that I think America needs to have a discussion about. Its just so messed that our society is still in a state where Black Americans feel so insecure about their place in society. Whether you think posts expressing fear over the value of black lives are hyperbolic or not, the fact that that kind of fear is still lingering is just disturbing and heartbreaking. We can't keep sweeping these kinds of discussions under the rug.
Zoramon089
Banned
Remember when the second amendment just meant the people had the right to go against an oppressive government?
I agree. That shit shouldn't be swept under a rug. There needs to be a honest and open dialogue about this.
Not at all. You can't bring water to the boiling point if the burner has already been switched off.
To be fair, I don't think the President's intention is to fan the flame. I'm just a bit concerned that an ill-timed comment, regardless of it's validity, can be potentially inflammatory.
gutter_trash
Banned
He says all this while continuing the war on drugs.
Sure it's bad when it happens with everyday people, but it's systemically bad when those same actions of presumed guilt occur by law enforcement and courts.
Good could come of this in changing some of those issues but it's now going to be about a law that didn't really apply to the case.
Sure it's bad when it happens with everyday people, but it's systemically bad when those same actions of presumed guilt occur by law enforcement and courts.
Good could come of this in changing some of those issues but it's now going to be about a law that didn't really apply to the case.
soundahfekz
Member
I'm talking 'dem he went over the line showed racial preference conversation of impeachment for conspiracy pitchforks, you know how crazy republicans are man
I agree on the part of Zimmerman could have started the fight.
However, every person is still different and they could have handled the situation in another manner. Some could have tried to escape. Some could have tried calling 911 to report Zimmerman for assault. Not everyone is gungho about wanting to fight. So you are wrong that the situation would have been 100% the same across the board as the Trayvon Martin incident.
Buddha Beam
Banned
Good on Obama. Make people confront what happened. Hopefully we'll get some positive change out of this.
But he shouldn't say anything, so it can all go away faster. Too many things in the news.
HerbertFish
Member
why ?
That always sounds like the last line of defense. "Don't talk about racial problems because that might create racial problems."
I have no problem with him talking about it, but he has as much power over a Republican run Florida legislature as I do.
Kano on the Phone
Member
Yeah, but the reason those people can ignore it is because it isn't out there and loud enough. When the president is talking about race issues, it's harder to ignore.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
Even if Trayvon punched Zimmerman first--heck, even if he beat the hell out of Zimmerman--he didn't deserve to die.
Again, I have no idea what you're talking about. Zimmerman is white (he has a somewhat Mestizo appearance from his mother) but he is mostly white.
Race is something that is attributed to you based upon your appearance.
Society sees Zimmerman as hell of a lot whiter than Obama.
Again, why? We don't have national conversations about race and this is one of the few times in recent memory (probably since the 2008 election) that we have. Why should the first minority "stay out of this"? He made a very nuanced statement, but one that also reflects that there was some level of profiling of Trayvon and how we initially perceive black men in this country.
Should be changed to "any citizen has the right to own whatever weapons were available when the constitution was written", so you're limited to flintlock pistols and breech loaded muskets at best.
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