Zimmerman had two big advantages over Trayvon

The Nevada Appeal ^ | July 27, 2013 | Professor Marilee Swirczek, Western Nevada College

[2ndDivisionVet]

The Zimmerman verdict sits like a stone in the guts of many Americans. We struggle to put our finger on what sickens us, but we know something feels really bad.

It wasn’t until I read Guy Farmer’s commentary (“Zimmerman trial marred by racial politics,” July 21) that I started to get it. Amid hundreds of words reviewing the facts of the case, which we all know by heart, Farmer reveals in 13 words what is wrong with the Zimmerman verdict: “Martin wasn’t an innocent young boy; he was a head taller than Zimmerman.”

In that profoundly disturbing sentence, Farmer demonstrates the deep, probably subconscious, generational and regional biases that fester in our complex American culture. In a sentence, Farmer absolves Zimmerman of the termination of a fellow human being’s existence and judges Martin guilty and culpable for his own death — because Martin was taller than Zimmerman.

That sentence makes me think about both Zimmerman and Martin in a new light.

Zimmerman, a 29-year-old man, possessed something — in addition to a gun — that the just-turned 17-year-old Martin did not possess — a fully developed prefrontal cortex.

In human beings, the maturation of the prefrontal cortex is not achieved until about 25 years of age. That gave Zimmerman an advantage over Martin in the areas of cognitive analysis, abstract thinking, problem solving, determining and evaluating consequences, calculating strategies in shifting or urgent circumstances, recognizing and controlling intense impulses and emotions, modulating behavior and considering complicated incoming information in fight-or-flight situations.

In other words, Zimmerman, almost twice Martin’s age, had a mature prefrontal cortex and a gun, while Martin had an immature prefrontal cortex still overruled by primitive limbic structures, a can of sweet tea, and Skittles.

Farmer sums up his analysis by quoting Reno attorney David Houston: “This was a case where [Zimmerman] forced a confrontation, but did what he had to do when he was attacked.”

Houston’s words reveal what makes our guts clench when we realize the sickening abdication of Zimmerman’s personal and social responsibility as a grown man in a position of power. Using Houston’s logic, maybe Martin did what he had to do when he was confronted — or more accurately, maybe Martin did what his immature prefrontal cortex thought he should do.

So if Farmer is suggesting that 29-year-old Zimmerman was frightened for his life, I am suggesting that 17-year-old Martin was too. But Zimmerman possessed all the ammunition to prevent this tragedy.

We’ll never know exactly what happened that night. According to Farmer, Martin wasn’t followed and killed because he was black, but because he was tall and therefore not innocent. And therein lay the convoluted and absurd rationalizations being offered to justify the uninvited confrontation and subsequent killing of an unarmed, immature, and yes, innocent boy by an armed, mature man.

The gnawing in our gut confirms that something is wrong here: In the case of George Zimmerman, the law may be satisfied, but justice is not.

[mylife]

But Jim! He was just a wee lad with a prefrontal cortex that was not fully developed!

[Big Giant Head]

“This was a case where [Zimmerman] forced a confrontation, but did what he had to do when he was attacked.”

I cannot imagine how I'm still alive. I wonder about all the people in my life, where I was walking away from, that I "forced confrontation" with, and I wasn't surprise attacked. . .

I always wonder who's trial these commentators watched, as it certainly wasn't the George Zimmerman trail I was following.

[Ditter]

Martin is dead because he broke Zimmermans nose and was tall enough to sit on top of him beating him but was not smart enough to think that maybe Zimmerman was armed and would kill him. Is that what this person was trying to say?

[Da Coyote]

Wow, that diatribe of ill conceived “logic” does a superb job of eliminating Western Nevada College (if that place even exists) as a place where one would send their child.

If this jokester is actually on the faculty there, their standards are right out there with GM during the malaise era.

[Jim Noble]

“The Zimmerman verdict sits like a stone in the guts of many Americans.”

I seriously doubt that.

[mylife]

Everyone agrees that this was a tragedy that could have been avoided.
Th problem with libs is they refuse to ascribe any culpability to St Tray Tray

[thecodont]

Thanks for posting this. Mr. Martin’s supporters skim over the fact that concrete can be employed as a deadly weapon.

Didn’t Mark O’Mara hold up a chunk of concrete in court?

[Dallas59]

[Cicero]

Professor Marilee Swirczek: “This is my prefrontal cortex, and this is my . . . .”

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Trayvon wasn’t attacked by George Zimmerman, it was Trayvon who initiated the fight.

African Americans overwhelmingly believed that it was Zimmerman who provoked the altercation.

We will of course, never know... all we have is Zimmerman’s testimony.

[Dallas59]

[Zeppo]

while Martin had an immature prefrontal cortex still overruled by primitive limbic structures

In other words, Marilee Swirczek is arguing that Martin was little more than a primitive savage.

So, using liberal "logic", Marilee Swirczek is obviously a hate-filled racist.

QED.

/s

[Vigilanteman]

This was a case where [Zimmerman] forced a confrontation . . .

Up until now, I didn't realize that Zimmerman sucker punched himself, broke his own nose and repeatedly banged his head against the concrete. Poor little St. Martin just happened to be walking by with his Skittles and Arizona Tea when Zimmerman tried to shoot himself and missed . . .

[Hardraade]

The Neanderthal must be allowed his murder. For fairness.

[GOPJ]

The problem was Trayvon decided he had the right to break a man's nose and attempt to kill him because he was 'dissed'.

Trayvon and 'beat me, beat me harder liberal elites) believe there's a law against 'following' someone. There's not. There has NEVER been a law in the United States against 'following' a person for 3 or 4 minutes. Even longer... Never.

Blacks like Trayvon and his friends have the excuse that they're stupid and poorly educated - but what's the excuse for a white liberal elite like Professor Marilee Swirczek?

[No One Special]

The professor needs further pre-frontal cortex development as it is evident he is incapable of being truthful.

[Uncle Chip]

In other words, Zimmerman ... had a mature prefrontal cortex and a gun

No -- Martin had Zimmerman's prefrontal cortex and was banging it on the concrete and he was going after his gun.

Please don't tell us that you're tenured.

[llevrok]

but was not smart enough to think that maybe Zimmerman was armed and would kill him....

Gosh, if only Trayvon had the educational opportunities that a WHITE Latino had. /s

[InterceptPoint]

We will of course, never know... all we have is Zimmerman’s testimony.

Broken nose. Getting beat up bad. Already called the cops who were on their way. Witness who says Trayvon was on top of Zimmerman. No marks on Trayvon except bruised knuckles.

I think it is pretty obvious who started the fight.

[advertising guy]

and Zimmerman had burrito of the butt while Martin had cirrhosis of the liver at a whopping 17 years of age