I completely agree about the media portrayal of Zimmerman, but I don’t think you need to investigate Martin’s background to show that he was acting suspiciously. I also think that those who are convinced Zimmerman was a bad actor or a racist should take a deep breath and acknowledge that it is possible to be acting in a way that appears suspicious even when you are doing nothing wrong.
Consider this: it’s been reported that Martin’s cell phone conversation was over a bluetooth earpiece. Have you ever seen somebody on a bluetooth, but not seen the earpiece? They look crazy. And Zimmerman certainly, under a hood and in the rain, could not have seen Martin’s earpiece.
Think about it: a teenager, shuffling around (as teens do) apparently muttering to himself. How would that look? Maybe “like there’s something wrong with him...on drugs or something”?
Many acquaintances of both have described them as decent, friendly, good people.
It is perfectly rational - and fits all the known facts - to believe both that Martin was a basically good kid who clearly does not deserve to be dead, but that Zimmerman committed no crime. There was a truly tragic sequence of events involving poor judgment on the part of both people. Why do so many insist on trying to prove that one or the other was some kind of menace?
Not that using a bluetooth is a bad thing (before someone jumps on me)...but since he was not a familiar face and probably appeared to be talking to himself he may have drawn more attention to himself.
In any case, it is a tragedy for all concerned and I am going to wait on whatever facts the powers that be decide to let us know. In the mean time, I am appalled at the media frenzy.