Apparently, Photoshop works !
Posted on 04/13/2012 2:14:57 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
A new Ipsos/Reuters poll offers what looks to be an unfortunate preview of what lies ahead for the trial of George Zimmerman – particularly as it relates to how the population will potentially react.
Perhaps it’s not surprising to see that the attitudes towards Trayvon Martin’s fatal shooting are heavily divided along racial lines, but it’s not any less disheartening. The poll finds that 91 percent of Blacks believe Trayvon was killed unjustly. Yet, only 35 percent of whites feel that way. The online poll also revealed that 59 percent of Hispanics believed Martin was wrongly shot by Zimmerman.
On the report, Ipsos pollster Chris Jackson said, “This incident is one of the clearest splits we’ve seen between whites and Blacks.” You don’t say, Chris. You don’t say.
As comforting as it’s been to see the mainstream media respond to social media’s call for greater attention to the death of an unarmed Black teenager at the hands of a glorified vigilante, not every onlooker has reacted with empathy towards the situation.
New York Times columnists Charles M. Blow, a staunch advocate for Trayvon in print and on MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, recently shared a racist voicemail he received on Twitter. Paid for his opinion, Blow’s commentary has been understandably passionate, which sadly welcomes an equally more fervent (albeit stupid) reply. But even the mildest of sentiments conveyed about Trayvon Martin are garnering mean spirited kickbacks.
In “I AM: A Young Black Man,” videographer Luis Antonio Thompson gathered several hood-donning Black youth to speak on racial prejudices that undoubtedly played into Zimmerman targeting Trayvon the night he died. Tonally, it was a highly subtle retort to the thug caricature Travyon and other Black men are subjected to over a piece of clothing. Even that, though, got one conservative blogger to peg it as “liberal race baiting propaganda.”
Surprise, surprise: The poll also finds biases on the matter straddle along political lines as well. How hard do we have to fall before we see how detrimental the current news culture is to our collective sensibilities? It seems like much longer than I’d like.
The same seems so for the racial biases to blame for the great disparity in viewpoints.
Terry Keleher, Director of the Racial Justice Leadership Action Network at the Applied Research Center, which publishes the site Colorlines, said of the findings: “What’s most troubling about this is that the views of most whites seem to align closely with those of the Florida law enforcement establishment, which, by its actions and inaction, has been mostly sympathetic to the perspective and plight of a light-skinned armed and aggressive assailant than an unarmed and murdered black youth.”
Ideally, the facts will be presented in the trial, subsequently challenging whatever attitudes and the political persuasions that mold them white skeptics seem to have, and ultimately leading to some sort of meaningful dialogue. Some white people might even see the light…and seriously consider just how much a hue can lead to something horrific!
Unfortunately, based on that poll and what I’m starting to see with each passing day, such a scenario feels about as likely as a love fest on Basketball Wives. As time ever so consistently shows, when we fail to learn from one’s mistake, it’s only a matter of time before someone else repeats it.
****
Michael Arceneaux is a Houston-bred, Howard-educated writer currently based in Los Angeles. You can read more of his work on his site, The Cynical Ones. Follow him on Twitter: @youngsinick
By the way, this sort of thing reminds me of the way people were misled during the Casey Anthony trial. The kid was dead, someone must have killed her, and since the mother didn’t report her missing for a month, or whatever, it must have been her. Case closed. Except that’s not how the legal system works. You need to actually prove it was her, and that it was first degree murder or whatever else she was charged with, not just that it probably couldn’t have been anyone else, and that not reporting her missing should be a crime, even if it isn’t.
Now, there was some evidence: a smell emanating from the car, a sticker (or something, I forget) on the corpse, some internet searches, etc. But none of it amounted to a conviction, despite the public at large’s overwhelming instincts. The defense lawyer argued, smartly, that it could have been an accidental death covered up by the grandfather. He was right, it could have been. Because the prosecution could not prove its case. And though most likely the mother was guilty of something, we don’t know what.
Likewise, your feelings about Martin possible excuse for instigating violence and the other guy’s gut instinct that Zimmerman is a nut are what they are. But they are not evidence, nor legal reasoning. They are gossip, basically. Thank God we have due process, because you need actual evidence that Zimmerman instigated violence and that he was a law-and-order madman bent on killing the next hooded teen of a minority race he saw in order to lock him away.
Also, he actually did follow the "911 directive". He went back to his van when Tray attacked him.
“It’s well and fine to question whether Martin was provoked beyond Zimmerman”
Beyond Zimmerman following him, I mean.
Wow yooper, keep drinking the LSM kool-aid.
Hey. Have tyou read the Sanford City Manager's Report? You oughta. He's one of youse calm logical people what is swayed by mere facts.
Apparently, Photoshop works !
Jeez, Hump, let's not take all the fun out of it! If we promise to stay calm now, is it OK if we riot right after the verdict?
He was told to "just let us know if he does anything else", no wonder he started to follow.
I thought they took them all down.
I’m thinking I might want to riot.
Since George is half-white, if he’s railroaded I might want to do some sort of `No Justice, No Peace’ thing, but I’ve never participated in a riot.
Is there a list of rules or a protocol to follow? Someone should be in charge of sending out riot invitations you would think.
Can we all meet at Sears? There are a lot of nice tools and power equipment I might like to have, but cannot afford.
So, do we just sort of mill about, grumbling, shaking our fists and shuffle our feet. March back and forth? Maybe shout some stuff/chant some slogans?
Who starts things off—just any old hothead? What do we do first—Throw a trashcan through plate glass?
What if something comes up and I can’t make it? Do I RSVP?
Just sayin’
Holy crap - you've been around for a while and managed to remain an idiot. 911 can only suggest - their away-from-the-scene suggestions carry no legal weight. if you followed the news with that "open mind" (more like a hole in the head), you would know that Zimmerman never closed with Martin and actually lost sight of him. He was, in fact, retreating when Martin accosted him.
It's not complicated unless your theme song is "If I Only Had A Brain"...
The 911 operator said "You don't need to do that." That is not a directive not to pursue, and if the prosecution tries to characterize it as such, the defense and the judge will laugh it out of court.
And you'd vote to convict the "a-hole" before hearing any of the evidence other than what you've been fed by the MSM, eh, yooper? I question the color of your judgment.
As soon as the riots start, I am planning to take a Snap-On Tool Truck and must keep my plans top-secret.
But I can help you. Have you bought a Hoodie yet? Had all your teeth redone in gold? Are you listening to RAP music 24/7? what about your tattoos? The $250 basketball shoes? Had any illegitimate children? Gotten your Food stamp card?
Check in when you have completed these preliminaries .... and work on the tan big time, OK? If you do not understand ... I mean are not jiggy wit my instructions ./.. do a dime bag of crack and get back to me.
Trebb, lay offa the guy until he completes the homework
Then try to keep up.
Did you EVER listen to the 911 tape while it was up? You should have.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.