By Mary Hill
This week’s post is part of the Creative Buzz Hop at http://penpaperpad.com and http://gettingliteral.com. The theme this week is “justice.” Go visit either of the links above to read more.
Ironic that this week’s word is justice or is it? Trevon Martin’s family members were seeking justice in the murder of their son and were denied. It is a travesty of justice, but you may not like me at the end of this piece.
I do believe Zimmerman murdered Trevon Martin, but did he set out that day to intentional gun down a total stranger, or was he a scared man who was over zealous? Does he have emotional problems? Just some thoughts. One thing is for sure, I hope he has nightmares about what he has done and seeks counseling for his own welfare and that of his family. I don’t mean I hope he has nightmares in a hateful way. I hope he does so that he find his own healing and because quite frankly, if he doesn’t have nightmares, he is a sociopath and should be in prison.
I know I am going to get flamed for this post, but here goes. It is hard to look in the face of a man like Zimmerman and hate him. I don’t hate him. I hate the tragedy and the atmosphere that exists in our country that leads to tragedies like this. A young black man cannot walk through a neighborhood where he is visiting a friend without fear of being harrassed, misunderstood, having the law called on him, or even shot down in cold blood.
I feel the prosecution aimed to high in this case. They should have offered involuntary manslaughter from the beginning. I just felt like and still feel like trying to charge Zimmerman with second degree murder was too risky in this day and time, and justice would not be served for society and even for Zimmerman. I was right.
If he had gotten involuntary manslaughter, he would have served some time and then gotten probation that should have included a judges’s order that he have mental health counseling and counseling on cultural sensitivity. In this outcome, I really believe society would have been better served.
In fact, I think if you start a neighborhood watch program, the police should have a counselor come to meetings and train watch members on cultural sensitivity. We all need this training in these times. Even I do. In our society, prejudice and fear comes in waves. We all have to guard our minds and hearts (Proverbs 4:23). No one is perfect and no one is innocent of the sin of prejudice. I know Jesus, himself, if they had brought Zimmerman to him, would have been on the ground drawing in the sand. He would have said, “You who are without sin cast the first stone.”
I actually pray for Zimmerman and his family. I pray Zimmerman realizes the true weight of his actions that night and repents. I pray that he seeks to atone for his actions. How? He should submit himself to counseling and community service. He should look himself fully in the mirror and ask himself why and seek truth.
At the same time, I do mourn the loss of that young man. I have read so much about him. He could have offered so much to our society. He was a young man of promise. It is such a tragedy all around. Justice was not served in America for anyone this week.
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| http://www.nannytomommy.com/2013/07/thumping-thursdays-social-blog-hop.html |
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| http://katherinescorner.com |
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| http://thefictionconniption.net/ |
An Explosive Look Inside the Trayvon Martin Slaying
Author and Nationally Syndicated Columnist Earl Ofari Hutchinson contends that the Trayvon Martin slaying has been firmly and indelibly embedded in America’s public mind as not just the personal tragedy of a young life needlessly lost, and the tragedy of a man who thought he was doing his duty to protect a community. It is now a tragedy that ignited a national soul search. The Martin slaying put race, media sensationalism, stereotypes, and the criminal justice system, squarely on trial. These towering issues are the focus of his new e-book, America on Trial The Slaying of Trayvon Martin (Amazon Kindle) released on the eve of the trial of the man accused of killing Martin, George Zimmerman.
He actually is a sociopath. He has been accused of abusing his cousin i dont want to tesify and do not want to say or bear false witness he is Gods son too or tell an untrue but it does give ME a reasonable doubt. Ireegardless of trayvon.but this man has been brought up domestic abuse charges before so my thing is ppl are so in love with there money that they ignore it
but it says judge not lest ye be judged however i do wonder about the soul of this country
I was reluctant to read this post when I first realized the subject matter. From where I sit in Canada the whole thing triggers a series of simple but bothersome questions. Why did Zimmerman have a gun? Why is it OK to shoot someone because they are on your property? Why is a young black man automatically a threat? It’s not that Canada is without racism but I have a hard time understanding how the country that elected Barack Obama is the same country that Trayvon Martin died so pointlessly in. All that amazing equality and such stupid prejudice.
The way you dealt with the subject was sensitive and avoided all the inflammatory rhetoric that so often accompanies this sad story. I hope the right lessons are learned.
Oops, I forgot to thank you for linking up with us at the Monday Mommy hop! I hope you link up week after week. I love your blog!
I will friend you on any social media we are not already connected. Not sure if there are any.
Thanks again, and I hope to see you this coming Monday!
I watched the trial the first week while I was visiting my dad in Florida. They had on the police officer who trained the neighborhood watch. They have been instructed to call the police if they see anything suspicious and stand back….let the police handle it. An innocent boy was killed who was just walking home from the store, he was not going to do any harm. If Zimmerman hadn’t followed him he would not have been beaten up by Trayvon Martin and he wouldn’t have had to kill him. He should have stayed back and anyone being followed like that would have beaten Zimmerman up.
Hey Mary,
Throughout this piece, I kept thinking – why am I not going to like her at the end. Even when I reached the end, I found myself thinking – I must have missed something because i still feel like i like her.
I don’t watch the news because I don’t need negativity in my life. I know nothing about this case except of what bloggers have said – which isn’t much.
Now, I think Zimmerman has a much worse fate. He has to live with the whispers, the doubt, and the anger on the outside. Every time someone looks at him, they will wonder. How will he get a job? How will he function? If it was truly an accident – how will he live with the guilt? Who will be his friend?
How will his family function – always trying to defend him amisdt the doubt and anger?
Will he know what it is to fear for his life?
These are the questions I ask myself.
Unfortunately, even thought I would like to say I was – I’m not that righteous. I wouldn’t be his friend. I would shun him.
Saying that – I think he is going to have a very difficult life – but maybe deservedly so.
Thank you Consider. You have my deep respect too.
No flames here Mary, but deep respect. The comment about the particulars of the law is really useful too.
Before I was a travel blogger, I was a lawyer. People need to understand that in legalese, Zimmerman was found “not guilty”, not “innocent”. This means that the jury did not believe that the prosecution proved “beyond a reasonable doubt” that he was not in fear of being killed or suffering serious bodily injury. The verdict shows that the so-called “Stand Your Ground” law in Florida needs some serious fixing. For example, if you precipitate the confrontation that puts you in fear, you should not be able to be shielded by the law for killing your way out of the situation you created. Had that been the law, I think there would have been a different result in this case. There is a group “sitting in” in the Florida governor’s office, not to protest the verdict, but to protest the law which I believe is the proper course.
(Found you on BHB)
Wow, great insight. Thanks so much for your comments. I appreciate your support.
Hi, thanks for your feedback. I really appreciate your support on such a difficult issue. 🙂
The jury didn’t believe he murdered Trayvon. I will stick with what the jury decided because they heard the evidence. We have too many Monday morning quarterbacks who know what happened, but were never in the game. The jury did it’s job. Right or wrong the jury was the body that decided to convict or to acquit. They decided to acquit.
Have a terrific day. ☺