Trayon and Zimmerman
It is unlikely that “we” the public will ever know exactly
what happened in Sanford Florida.
However, there are several facts that are known, most importantly are
that a young man died and another man’s life was ruined. This essay is meant to examine the
situation and the emotions generated, hopefully from a dispassionate
perspective.
Trayon Martin is typically portrayed as a fully innocent,
never in trouble, kid who had never done anything wrong. This is the impression that most still
hold, and it is incorrect. Though
far from a delinquent or habitual offender, it appears that he was perhaps a
shade on the wrong side of a “normal” teenage boy. Excerpts from his record and social media history show a bit
of a rough edge, and talk of being “gangsta”. This could all be bravado, but given his age and the
environment he grew up in, it is not inconceivable that he carried a bit of
attitude.
George Zimmerman is typically portrayed as a “vigilante” who
went to far, a “volunteer” who wished to hold police powers. This may be backed up by the fact that
he did not back off when the 911 operator asked him to. However, his neighbors gave a different
perspective. I also find it
interesting that though Mr. Zimmerman is at least half Hispanic, and visually
favors that description, yet is still mostly described a “white”. I can’t help but think that there may
be an element of anti-Semitism due to his name.
I do not know if Sanford, FL has had recurring problems with
vandalism or theft. The fact that
this incident occurred in a gated community and that there is an active
neighborhood watch with patrols would tend to lead me to that conclusion.
The fact that “leaders” such as the Rev’s. Jackson,
Sharpton, and Farrakhan have weighed in have not helped the issue and have only
created more tension in an already sad situation. I suspect they have done this for their own benefit and
fame, rather than altruistic motives.
However, the volatile rhetoric they have espoused may have succeeded in
getting the arrest warrant for Mr. Zimmerman and perhaps a trial, which could
be good for all sides.
A criminal trial, at it’s theoretical heart, is a search for
truth and answers. The trial
should bring out all the nuances of both actors in this drama. Mr. Martin will not look so pure, and
Mr. Zimmerman will not look so evil.
I suspect the end view will be closer to reality than the current
caricatures.
So here is what I believe happened, from my distant perch
and limited information…
Trayon was on an innocent errand and ran across Zimmerman,
who mistook Trayon for an interloper in the neighborhood. Wearing a “hoodie”, and perhaps
sporting a rebellious nature, Trayon probably did not react in a respectful and
courteous tone that the neighborhood watch “officer” deemed was required, and
fit the profile of someone out for trouble. If Zimmerman tried to stop Trayon from continuing on, or if
Trayon got up in Zimmermans face, we may never know. But somehow a scuffle ensued, and when Trayon got the better
of it, Zimmerman felt endangered, scared, panicked, and fired the weapon. It was unfortunately accurate.
I don’t know if Zimmerman is or is not guilty of any
crime. But I do know that a fair
trial could go a long way to understanding the situation. If Zimmerman is found “not guilty” in a
trial (either fair or unfair), I fear for the resulting civil unrest. That is why I also fear that he will be
unable to get a fair trial as authorities fear the potential result.
