Yup. I can't argue with the man. lol He looks like he's having a good time.
Thug gangsta-wannabe behavior.
Obama: "Trayvon Martin could have been me."
- Thread starter The Librarian
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Thug gangsta-wannabe behavior.
Angry Fork
Member
It's almost as if he should turn his talk towards the extremely racist drug war, no? Or does he not care about those black people?
captmorgan
Banned
To be fair growing up in Vancouver these two (seemed) to be correct more often than not.
Chris Murphy
Member
I'm a white man from the UK and I like the fact that Obama was able to point out the real issues involved in this case.
Choke on the Magic
Banned
Such a sellout for quiting. If he likes to smoke he should and no one should say a god damn thing about it.
He can't exploit that topic so no he probably doesn't.
Maybe the real racists are the ones always talking about race
Deified Data
Banned
If I linked to every conservative who's expressed a desire to see the president killed or maimed it'd take me years.
That said, I didn't mean to imply that all conservatives feel that way, or even most. My post was poorly-worded.
I somehow doubt that's the case.
This. I can't walk down the street to the fucking corner store without hearing a parade of car doors locking as I pass. It's sickening.
Vicetrailia
Banned
Chang3.
Isn't this line of thought a problem when you do come across the lucky teenager who actually doesn't fit the mold, but is still treated like those two anyway?
This is why race keeps coming up in this discussion.
Except for the fact he called the police quite often to report allegedly suspicious people, and it was always black suspicious people. I'm pretty sure they didn't "just happen to be black."
entremet
Member
How could race not come up in this kind of case?
Black Republican
Member
Traitor!
I'll repost what someone else in this thread said:
Given the circumstances, there was no reason for Zimmerman to assume that Trayvon was suspicious beyond the fact that he was "looking at houses." Was he standing guard for someone during a break in? Was he entering a house? Was made Trayvon suspicious beyond the fact that he was, again, "looking at houses"? And even if he was initially suspected to be suspicious, did anything that Trayvon do make Zimmerman think that he should call it in the police? No.
Imagine if there was no confrontation and Zimmerman had called the police because he saw Trayvon and assumed he was up to no good. Zimmerman has stayed in his car and the police had found Trayvon and nothing had happened. Would that have been considered profiling?
So they can feel better about themselves.
Based upon his appearance I don't consider Zimmerman white, looks latino to me (still a lot whiter than Obama).
Also, regarding race based on appearance, that is usually the case, but I always think of the anomaly that is Mariah Carey. I thought she was 100% white based on appearance until I "learned" she was black.
Choke on the Magic
Banned
fixed.
I don't think it is an open and shut case for profiling. I actually don't doubt that his race played a factor, but I think there were other observations beyond race that Zimmerman initially observed.
In my grandparent's gated community, for instance, any person walking around under 60 is already suspicious. Any person walking in the dark is suspicious. Any teenager walking in the dark alone is especially suspicious. I bet I would be harassed and followed in the community as a mid 20's white guy.
None of that makes what Zimmerman did alright, but that's the decision that was left to the jury.
In my grandparent's gated community, for instance, any person walking around under 60 is already suspicious. Any person walking in the dark is suspicious. Any teenager walking in the dark alone is especially suspicious. I bet I would be harassed and followed in the community as a mid 20's white guy.
None of that makes what Zimmerman did alright, but that's the decision that was left to the jury.
Spring-Loaded
Member
What good will that do?
Deified Data
Banned
Plenty of milk left in the teat.
Define the "fire".
Angry Fork
Member
It hasn't gotten enough, a great injustice happened by letting Zimmerman go. I think Obama talking about it in this way is great, but I absolutely hate that he's such a raging hypocrite on everything else. It shows he doesn't really care about the case or helping minorities in general, it's more about scoring political points on gun control than ethical values. And so-called liberals defending it are the worst.
This line of thinking is what perpetuates the situation in the first place. It reads like an admonishment. A gentile reminder to those most affected by this matter to keep their mouths closed. Otherwise we might be forced to confront the issue head on and bring about positive change.
entremet
Member
Who knows. But as a straight man, I don't get angry and want to stifle discussion about gender politics, even though I'm a man and won't suffer gender/sexual orientation discrimination. I just don't get it.
Woody Invincible
Banned
That was written into the constitution in order for us citizens to protect ourselves from a police state. Would you like us to not be able to defend ourselves against a tyrannical force?
This ignores the context of his neighborhood having break ins the week before, and seeing someone walk around the neighborhood looking at houses. Emphasis on the houses (as that is where the break ins took place, and what Zimmerman was focusing on with Martin. Notice the first thing he said to the 911 person is that he thought Martin was looking at houses). If you read the transcripts to the 911 call, he seems more concerned with his behavior rather than: I. His race. II. His age.
I'm not saying he didn't racially profile, but what evidence is there to suggest he was? And even if we use the logic you re-posted, why couldn't it be a situation where his suspicion had to with the behavior and not those other factors? Again, not saying it was that. Just that, if we agree there isn't enough evidence to suggest one way or the other, so we try to narrow down the possible factors that COULD have been and were the most likely the reasons why he was following him (and we try to pick the thing that is most logical), I don't see why "behavior" and "context of past incidents" couldn't also be a factor that played in his decision to follow him.
Devolution
Member
Well why be so defensive? Why not just be silent for a while and listen to what women, blacks/minorities, gays and trans have to say about their treatment in society? Excuses are always made and walls are built up instead of having an honest discussion.
The problem is Obama likes to speak from the hip when generally not knowing enough to have an informed opinion (Cambridge police acted stupidly, my son trayvon...)
He has to realize that he is in fact, the president, and even his off the cuff, ignorant remarks will carry a lot of weight with people. So he owes it to Americans to know what he's talking about before opening his mouth.
There was a Facebook post that hit my wall today went a little something like this...
Justice indeed.
He has to realize that he is in fact, the president, and even his off the cuff, ignorant remarks will carry a lot of weight with people. So he owes it to Americans to know what he's talking about before opening his mouth.
There was a Facebook post that hit my wall today went a little something like this...
Justice indeed.
Sounds like this thread.
The Librarian
Banned
How is Obama exploiting this? What does he gain from mentioning his opinion? So because Obama hasn't tackled every single issue he's not allowed to speak out on others?
I don't think you understood the context of what he said.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think he said if Trayvon was of age and had a gun; could he have stood his ground and killed Zimmerman?
Some people enjoy closing their eyes/putting their fingers in their ears/sticking their head in the sand regarding issues they aren't comfortable with. They'd rather pretend it isn't an issue instead of facing it head on. People who disturb that status quo (like what Obama did here) are frown at.
Do i need to explain why that entire facebook post is stupid or?
How in gods name is his comments ignorant and off the cuff?
Doesn't seem true. Babies can't write.
Also those guys were found guilty, slightly different.
Vicetrailia
Banned
What was the verdict for the killers? Did they get off?
What did he say that was ignorant or incorrect?
Those two were actually arrested when that incident originally happened, unlike Zimmerman. Those two were found guilty, unlike Zimmerman.Whole bunch of stupid shit said:
The rest of that nonsense is basically the equivalent of "Why is there no white history month?!" "Why is there no white entertainment channel?!"
polyh3dron
Banned
But the law still affected the instructions given to the jury so THIS WAS A "STAND YOUR GROUND" CASE, NOMIS!
Yes, I'm sorry. My post was intended to be parody of other posts in the trial thread.
What was the final conclusion of that case? If those teens went free, that's horrible.
Rather, he's made certain issues worse (war on drugs) and is now making this point here. That seems to be the consistent thought, however. I think his speech ended up well. He ended up showing case and explaining views to show a sense of compromise rather than making accusations or broad claims or the like.
I don't really get that argument either. I really do believe having that law effects the mentality of the citizens where the law is in place. How people would approach situations would be different because of this law. And the jury would also view things differently, because of this law.
So while Stand your Ground wasn't actually the defense being used, you can still argue the law has an impact on the citizens of the sate and how they will approach situations or perceive how situations have played out.
As if he had it before
Choke on the Magic
Banned
More traction for gun control and I never said he isn't allowed not to speak on anything so I'd appreciate it if you don't put words in my mouth just because I find him just as disingenuous as any other president or politician.
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