I've heard from plenty from the George Zimmerman is a hero camp. Somehow this individual has been canonized by a group of 2nd Amendment types and is the darling of Sean Hannity fans. Which is troubling because I'm a 2nd Amendment type.
They've told me Trayvon Martin was a bad kid. I've seen stories on third rate websites that claim he was a master thief. Funny how that was never raised by the defense. But it is gospel for some none the less.
I'm not claiming Trayvon was a good kid. I'm not claiming Trayvon was a bad one either. But he couldn't have easily been anyone of our teenage boys.
Trayvon was hunted by a wannabe cop with a gun. Zimmerman was out to get him. He said so to the police dispatcher. This "punk" wasn't going to get away.
Zimmerman hunted him and invaded his safety space. What do I mean by safety space? That is the space we all hope a stranger who approaches us at night leaves between them and us.
You don't approach a stranger at night, angry and close in with a gun unless you mean them ill will. Had Zimmerman left a little distance between he and Trayvon then he wouldn't have been punched. Shooting him in self defense wouldn't have been "necessary".
So I pose the question, did Trayvon fear for his life? I know I would should someone rush me in the dark with a gun.
Did Trayvon go to far in defending himself? I'm not arguing one way or another. But I do fear for teenage boys. I do fear especially so for young men of color. Are the rules different for them? I think they are and unfairly so.
I've lived in different parts of this country and witnessed racism. It is not as pronounced today as it was when I was young but it is still there.
But your son doesn't have to be of color to be in danger. Our society is hostile to young men. Being young and doing what kids have done for years is often illegal.
So whether you think Zimmerman is a saint or a sinner, I want you to wonder if it couldn't have just as easily been your son walking home at night confronted by someone with something to prove.
