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[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

You can be both wrong for following somebody and right for shooting them. Ultimately we don't know exactly what happened and there's a lack of evidence to prove it wasn't in self defense.

While suggesting Zimmerman acted in self-defense based only on his own words, you're fine with reducing what Martin did to "beating someone up."

 

[Epsilon-delta]

"Mah x" is a common phrase on the internet, stop trying to make something out of nothing.

Too bad you mentioned Obama before said statement which makes it seem like you were referencing him.

If you have the balls to make such a post, have the balls not to weasel your way out of it when people call you out.

 

[yukonrye]

I love these posts that remove the whole context to try and make a dumb binary point.

Here's reality for me: when someone is stalking you and it's dark and rainy, you're free to do whatever the fuck you want. Run, beat them up, scream, anything. The way some people are criticizing Martin's every action as if there was a perfect reaction and he missed it are just really revealing.

Hypothetical...if someone was stalking you and it was dark and rainy AND you had a gun, could you shoot them?

I'm not saying this has anything to do with the Martin case.

 

[Enzom21]

You can be both wrong for following somebody and right for shooting them. Ultimately we don't know exactly what happened and there's a lack of evidence to prove it wasn't in self defense.



I have literally never associated "mah" with black people. I associate it with dirty neckbeards on video game message boards crying about mah immersion. I know exactly what you're trying to do though, for what it's worth.

Obama is a "dirty neckbeard?" "Mah" is pretty much "mah lazers" which is part of shoop da whoop which is super racist. But hey you weren't trying to be racist at all.

 

[Dude Abides]

Personally, I enjoyed the little soft shoe Obama did at the end of the press conference.

 

[vgJames]

I think I have some extra tinfoil in my kitchen if you're out.

Wouldn't be so naive. I'm not a conspiracy nut and Obama obviously is passionate about the Zimmerman case but any politician will be glad of the spotlight being taken off a negative incident involving themselves.

Reminds me of the famous Jo Moore blunder. She was a press officer for a member of Tony Blair's cabinet in 2001 and on 9/11 after the planes hit she sent an e-mail around the office saying that 'today is a good day to bury bad news' and advised people to reveal some shady dealings (council expense abuse etc.) because of the World Trade Center news obviously over shadowing anything.

By reminds me of I'm not directly comparing the situation to Obama speaking out about Martin, just the general concept of directing the spotlight.

 

[sangreal]

Hypothetical...if someone was stalking you and it was dark and rainy AND you had a gun, could you shoot them?

I'm not saying this has anything to do with the Martin case.

Beaten by Obama

And do we actually think that he would have been justified in shooting Mr. Zimmerman who had followed him in a car because he felt threatened? And if the answer to that question is at least ambiguous, then it seems to me that we might want to examine those kinds of laws.

 

[Effect]

The dismissive and generally bitter reactions of some people towards Obama's comments really highlight a closing of the mind that has been going on for decades. Race and racism are complex issues that have not gone away, and will not go away. Yet racism today is still seen through the prism or either slavery or the 1960s: beatings, lynchings, blatant segregation. Because most if not all of these major things are not happening in 2013, and because we now have a black president, some seem quite convinced race is no longer an issue. And because of that, race has been swept under a rug. Any discussion of differences among races or racism is liable to be attacked as fostering discontent or ill - as if the mere mention of racism today will suddenly revive it from its deep slumber.

As Obama mentioned, racial profiling is not some long dead practice. It happens every day, every hour in this country. And the Zimmerman case, right or wrong, is seen entirely through that lens by many black people. If a person has spent most of his life being blatantly racially profiled during trips to the corner store, or while walking late at night, it should not come as a surprise that they view Zimmerman confronting Martin as an issue of profiling. After all, Martin went to a corner store and then attempted to go home before being pursued by someone. Zimmerman called 911 and complained about "these assholes" always getting away with crimes. Is it any surprise that black people, specifically black men, identify with Martin? We have been "those assholes" for most of our lives.

The general retort to all of this is that Zimmerman had black friends, and therefore clearly was not racist. Which, again, goes back to the point about racism as a concept being simplified today. Zimmerman never lynched a black person, nor did he refuse to serve a black person at a restaurant - therefore he's clearly not racist. I don't know whether Zimmerman is racist or not. Nor do I believe every white woman who hurriedly crosses the street (in broad daylight) when I'm behind her is racist. But I believe that Zimmerman assumed Martin was up to no good due to who he was: a young black male. Or, a young "dark" male if you want to harp on Zimmerman telling the operator that he thought Martin was black; I think it's safe to say he knew he was not white.

As long as we continue to shrink discussions of race, and get outraged that we're even discussing racism in 2013, we will always have this problem. Racism will always be seen as a double edged sword to many white people: to them, they feel as if they're being accused of something, as if racism is their fault or their grandfather's fault, as if we cannot discuss racism without putting white people on trial. And to those people I would simply say, imagine that feeling of assumed guilt nagging at you every day, every hour, every minute, for years. Decades. Every time you go into a store late at night, or every time you're driving in a nice car, or every time you accidentally lock yourself out your house and are outside looking for the key. Perhaps then you will know how many black people feel to an extent, and why this case is so personal to us.

Excellent post.

 

[Oersted]

Beaten by Obama

Thats rich, coming from Obama.

 

[Killing_Joke]

I'm happy he said something. This case went from overzealous wanna be cop killing an innocent boy, into a black thug attacking a precious innocent half white male. Disgusting and got extremely out of hand after the verdict. All it did was validate the "black thug" bullshit.

Obama dropped the truth. Zimmerman is FAR from innocent despite the verdict. Racially profiling is wrong and it led to a kids death. It's amazing how so many people can't comprehend that little fact.

 

[Appleman]

Riiiiiight. Reports weeks and months ago means you'd call in and follow a random white guy?

Of course not. What GZ did was nonsensical and over the line, I was just criticizing the analogy used above me.

For personal safety I think that general appearance profiling is a must, but I wouldn't base it on race, unless I had extra information about a particular situation. Like hell if I'd follow and shoot someone though, just be more alert.

 

[Kinyou]

Hypothetical...if someone was stalking you and it was dark and rainy AND you had a gun, could you shoot them?

I'm not saying this has anything to do with the Martin case.

I'm waiting for the news story where two guys have a shootout out of self defense

 

[Shrennin]

I'm waiting for the news story where two guys start a shootout and then both claim self defense.

I wouldn't be surprised if that already happened.

 

[POWERSPHERE]

He should really stay out of this.

The fuck? He's the god damn president and he's vocally recognized a huge problem. It's the best thing he's done in ages.

 

[Glorified G]

So you are saying Zimmerman thought he was black.

I literally spit out my drink when I read this. Completely tore apart his argument in one sentence

 

[Gold_Loot]

The fuck? He's the god damn president and he's vocally recognized a huge problem. It's the best thing he's done in ages.

While I agree that the issue should be taken head on by our president/goverment , I feel that he used a poor choice of words to tackle this issue. "Travon Martin could have been me" sounds more like he's pandering to a demographic rather than addressing the issue.. Personaly ,something along the lines of "In light of reacent events we need to gather together as a nation and blah blah" would have gotten the same point across without throwing logs on the fire.

 

[empty vessel]

The fuck? He's the god damn president and he's vocally recognized a huge problem. It's the best thing he's done in ages.

Seriously. With the possible exception of cutting out parasitic banks from student loan operations, this is his best moment.

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

Could have been. Obama's got more dead kids blood on his hands than Zimmerman though, what could those kids have been.

 

[Tylahedras]

Finally Obama admits he hates Hispanics. I mean I always knew it, but he's good at pretending to be nice to them.

 

[Vanillalite]

Seriously. With the possible exception of cutting out parasitic banks from student loan operations, this is his best moment.

I'd agree. When he started the issue it was straight real talk, and I'm a white guy. He was money with the way he went at this issue.

 

[ivysaur12]

Wouldn't be so naive. I'm not a conspiracy nut and Obama obviously is passionate about the Zimmerman case but any politician will be glad of the spotlight being taken off a negative incident involving themselves.

Reminds me of the famous Jo Moore blunder. She was a press officer for a member of Tony Blair's cabinet in 2001 and on 9/11 after the planes hit she sent an e-mail around the office saying that 'today is a good day to bury bad news' and advised people to reveal some shady dealings (council expense abuse etc.) because of the World Trade Center news obviously over shadowing anything.

By reminds me of I'm not directly comparing the situation to Obama speaking out about Martin, just the general concept of directing the spotlight.

Except there was no spotlight on the NSA because the general public (66%!) are supportive of the NSA's actions. There was no real outrage over the NSA and the public has moved on. There was nothing to divert from.

Again, I care. The public absolutely does not.

 

[linsivvi]

Because it wasn't to say it happened, it's to say what the true issue of the crime is. The confrontation. Zimmerman's testimony was only the vehicle to deliver that message and I already said it was not to be trusted.

False.

"He said, 'Why are you following me for?' And I heard a hard-breathing man say, 'What you doing around here?'" said Jeantel.

Jeantel also said she heard a bump from Martin's headset hitting something and "wet grass sounds."

"I start hearing a little bit of Trayvon saying, 'Get off, get off!'" said Jeantel.

 

[Devolution]

I've looked at houses so much while on my walks. But no one will suspect me of anything. If only people could just dissect their privilege and the disadvantages of others without making a big deal about it and possibly changing their attitudes that perpetuate the bullshit.

 

[ivysaur12]

I've looked at houses so much while on my walks. But no one will suspect me of anything. If only people could just dissect their privilege and the disadvantages of others without making a big deal about it and possibly changing their attitudes that perpetuate the bullshit.

You should just turn yourself in now, Devo.

 

[Devolution]

You should just turn yourself in now, Devo.

Or I should get into stealing since people are busy looking at minorities doing fuck all.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

Or I should get into stealing since people are busy looking at minorities doing fuck all.

For you, it's "finding," not "looting."

 

[Kitschkraft]

Very proud that the president took this stance. No person on earth has an opinion on this that symbolically means more than his, so anything but some honestly would have been mighty regressive.

While I agree that the issue should be taken head on by our president/goverment , I feel that he used a poor choice of words to tackle this issue. "Travon Martin could have been me" sounds more like he's pandering to a demographic rather than addressing the issue.. Personaly ,something along the lines of "In light of reacent events we need to gather together as a nation and blah blah" would have gotten the same point across without throwing logs on the fire.

It would be one of the few times in recent memory that he's actually "pandered" to his most loyal and passionate supporters.

People act like President Obama hasn't been mostly critical of the black community since he's been in office. Or that he doesn't spend too much time pandering to podunk, redneck trash that won't even vote for him. Fathers Day speeches anyone?

"I'm not the president of Black America, I'm the president of all Americans".....I'm sick of hearing that shit. Imagine the president saying he's not the president of White America.

 

[casabolg]

False.

?
Maybe I didn't explain it well - I'm saying I used the testimony as a vehicle to share the point. The testimony itself was not the point but what came from me using the example of his testimony. And I did say his testimony is not to be trusted.

 

[linsivvi]

?
Maybe I didn't explain it well - I'm saying I used the testimony as a vehicle to share the point. The testimony itself was not the point but what came from me using the example of his testimony. And I did say his testimony is not to be trusted.

Ok, gotcha.

 

[Captain Fish]

I honestly felt like President Obama's speech was both completely reasonable while still being impassioned and personal. Especially after Juror B37 conveyed her failure to empathize with Trayvon at all, Obama's driving point about exercising empathy for others was needed.

 

[kehs]

While I agree that the issue should be taken head on by our president/goverment , I feel that he used a poor choice of words to tackle this issue. "Travon Martin could have been me" sounds more like he's pandering to a demographic rather than addressing the issue.. Personaly ,something along the lines of "In light of reacent events we need to gather together as a nation and blah blah" would have gotten the same point across without throwing logs on the fire.

Pandering?

Its the entire point of what he's talking about.

 

[LiveFromKyoto]

While I agree that the issue should be taken head on by our president/goverment , I feel that he used a poor choice of words to tackle this issue. "Travon Martin could have been me" sounds more like he's pandering to a demographic rather than addressing the issue.. Personaly ,something along the lines of "In light of reacent events we need to gather together as a nation and blah blah" would have gotten the same point across without throwing logs on the fire.

US politics spends the other 99.9% of the time sucking up to racists and dancing around offending them. Let him speak some truth.

 

[Village]

While I agree that the issue should be taken head on by our president/goverment , I feel that he used a poor choice of words to tackle this issue. "Travon Martin could have been me" sounds more like he's pandering to a demographic rather than addressing the issue.. Personaly ,something along the lines of "In light of reacent events we need to gather together as a nation and blah blah" would have gotten the same point across without throwing logs on the fire.

Uh What do you mean pandering? You mean, knowing how it is to be black and not be the president of the united states? I think he has some experience in that matter. And wanted to share.

 

[Akainu]

No, he was not. He was followed because George observed behavior that he, in his mind, found to be suspicious. Had nothing to do with him being black. The media turned this into a racial circus, even going so far as to doctor GZ's 911 call.

It's so crazy. I'm reading this post wondering if you are real. Then I glance up and see your tag and it all makes sense.

 

[Foxy Fox 39]

While I agree that the issue should be taken head on by our president/goverment , I feel that he used a poor choice of words to tackle this issue. "Travon Martin could have been me" sounds more like he's pandering to a demographic rather than addressing the issue.. Personaly ,something along the lines of "In light of reacent events we need to gather together as a nation and blah blah" would have gotten the same point across without throwing logs on the fire.

Empathy is a hard thing to feel amirite?

 

[Vermillion]

Or I should get into stealing since people are busy looking at minorities doing fuck all.

Oh, lol. You just reminded me of that one episode of Everybody Hates Chris where some guys used Chris as a distraction. As soon as he walked in the store, security started hounding him while the other guys walked in, picked up some shit and walked out.

 

[Yellowflashdude]

While I agree that the issue should be taken head on by our president/goverment , I feel that he used a poor choice of words to tackle this issue. "Travon Martin could have been me" sounds more like he's pandering to a demographic rather than addressing the issue.. Personaly ,something along the lines of "In light of reacent events we need to gather together as a nation and blah blah" would have gotten the same point across without throwing logs on the fire.

This is actually the best action he has taken in years. Most of the time, situations or tragedies like this are dialled down for the sake of being PC and people forget it over time.

 

[User 406]

Thanks Obama.

No, really, thank you Mr. President, for telling it like it is.


And racists, you just go on and keep outing yourselves.

 

[FroJay]

He should really stay out of this.

Agreed 100%.

 

[royalan]

Agreed 100%.

Why?

 

[Angry Fork]

Agreed 100%.

 

[ISOM]

Wouldn't be so naive. I'm not a conspiracy nut and Obama obviously is passionate about the Zimmerman case but any politician will be glad of the spotlight being taken off a negative incident involving themselves.

Reminds me of the famous Jo Moore blunder. She was a press officer for a member of Tony Blair's cabinet in 2001 and on 9/11 after the planes hit she sent an e-mail around the office saying that 'today is a good day to bury bad news' and advised people to reveal some shady dealings (council expense abuse etc.) because of the World Trade Center news obviously over shadowing anything.

By reminds me of I'm not directly comparing the situation to Obama speaking out about Martin, just the general concept of directing the spotlight.

What spotlight are you talking about?

 

[mavs]

They were found guilty of murder but not given the death penalty and that's why it's a unbearable injustice? Yeah, that's sounds just like the Martin case.

Black people not getting executed: the true injustice in today's America.

 

[ISOM]

Why?

People like him and conservatives don't want to have real discussions about race and profiling in america. They rather stay in their holes and think zimmerman was justified in killing trayvon.

 

[Measley]

One of the president's finest moments IMO.

Haters gonna hate.

 

[Imm0rt4l]

.

I've looked at houses so much while on my walks. But no one will suspect me of anything. If only people could just dissect their privilege and the disadvantages of others without making a big deal about it and possibly changing their attitudes that perpetuate the bullshit.

http://wearenottrayvonmartin.com/

 

[empty vessel]

Black people not getting executed: the true injustice in today's America.

It's sad that more people than most people might ever imagine believe just this.

 

[soundscream]

I'm waiting for the news story where two guys have a shootout out of self defense

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=628971

 

[mavs]

It's sad that more people than most people might ever imagine believe just this.

There's this weird idea in America going around that black people are always getting away with something. I can see why that would be more believable after the civil rights movement than it was before then.

 

[wonzo]

I was wondering when he was gonna comment on this so I'm glad he finally did and unsurprised that certain people are getting pissy about him stating the obvious. :/

Seriously. With the possible exception of cutting out parasitic banks from student loan operations, this is his best moment.

p. much