Understood and I agree with the exception of whether it's cut and dried or not. I could very well be a cut and dried case. We just don't know. As of this very minute, Zimmerman has not been arrested and charged. I would think that if they actually had any kind of case against him, he would be in custody. The Sanford Police are no longer in charge but the FBI, and a new prosecutor have still not had him arrested. The only thing we can rule out at this point is that it is a cut and dried case of murder.
I agree with you on most points, but the fact they haven't arrested him yet means nothing. They've got procedures to go through, evidence to analyze, etc. that this happened only 3 weeks ago and they just treated it like an open and shut case of self defense is appalling. It shows a lazy police department at best, a biased at worst. I'm not going to say just because he said what he said on the 9-11 tape he should be convicted, that doesn't prove he wasn't defending himself but it does provide a motive for his overreaction. The Martin family is right to pressure the cops to be thorough. But like you, all I want is to see justice be done.
And justice in my opinion from what I know, is at least bringing the man up for trial. Ultimately it's up to the cops and courts.
I agree with you up until that last part I bolded. The purpose of a trial is not to discover facts, it is to determine guilt. The investigation is over once the trial begins.
I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I think you would more correctly articulate your opinion by desiring to see his case brought before a grand jury, as that is the instrument for determining whether all the available evidence against the proposed defendant is enough to justify a trial.
Either way, you are gambling with your rights and security
if you depend on courts or cops or government to determine truth and justice.
Good luck with that!
The deeper message this whole incident carries
is that none of us can afford to gamble with our lives.
We can't have crime unchecked in our neighborhoods.
We can't afford NOT to know who are neighbors are,
and which people have which problem to watch out for.
We can't afford to run around policing or walking around alone by ourselves,
but need to work together in groups and need to know each other.
I think people respond to this case, depending on which person they can relate to.
If you can put yourself in the shoes of the shooter, and ask what would you do if
you were reacting to break-ins and having to police things yourself because the
legal sytem and law enforcement only responds after the fact, if there is enough
evidence to intervene.
Or if you identify and sympathize with the young man, and wonder what would happen
if you were by yourself and got into a confrontation with no other witnesses.
Both scenarios are equally disturbing to me, if I were in either person's position.
I just know that if I KNEW these men personally in advance, then I would be better able to interact with them to diffuse any hostile situation. That is the only way I see to avoid tragedies like this from happening, we have to know one another and not leave things to chance and guessing what someone might do.
All neighborhoods, communities, families and groups should make a commitment to get to know everyone around them, break down the walls and barriers, quit hiding our problems and get help for people with serious issues that could become a danger or hazard,
and not leave things to chance confrontation, especially not with guns involved.
If we are serious about law enforcement, preventing either crime or accidents, and any political, religious or racial conflict from becoming a physical or legal confrontation, we need to resolve issues far in advance instead of waiting for them to blow up in our faces.
After 9/11 I saw a lot more people being compassionate and appreciative of other people, even strangers passing on the street. May this incident have that same effect on people. May all the negativity being drawn out now be released as part of a healing process, so this moves toward a better place than where we were before as a society. Peace to all.
