Who Cared About Trayvon Martin?

When did Americans stop being good Samaritans? How is it that a young man can be chased through a neighborhood by a man wielding a gun, have some sort of skirmish and wind up being shot, yet no one saw anything until after the fact? Have we become this callous or fearful of the world around us? Safety is important; however, the safety of others should be as important.

Trayvon Martin is dead. There is no way to change that. The question is: Could it have been prevented? Had there been witnesses within sight, would the trigger have been pulled? I wonder if George Zimmerman would have been as full of self-righteous zeal about apprehending Martin if more people had been present. Having taken the law into his own hands, Zimmerman had free reign to handle Martin however he saw fit. Perhaps an audience would have slowed him down a bit.

The beauty of no one taking the initiative to save a life, is that it leaves Zimmerman with the ability to describe the scene and events however he chooses. The only other witness to see anything was handled by Zimmerman. Do I think it was cold-blooded murder? Yes. Do I lay some of the blame for opportunity on the rest of those around the situation? Yes. Practically everyone in this situation failed Trayvon Martin. Unfortunately, Trayvon payed the ultimate price for this lack of humanity on many peoples' parts. Whether he had personal problems in his life, had made bad choices in life or was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, somebody should have cared enough.

Obama Takes No Position On Trayvon Martin Case

When asked about his views on the Trayvon Martin case, President Obama appeared to have a lot to say, yet delivered very little. As the President imparted, he did not want his words to color the investigation that law enforcement officials are undertaking. However, I find this hard to swallow when it was apparent by his demeanor and the tone of his statements, that he has some very firm opinions about this case.

As the President of the United States of America, Obama has a responsibility to take a stand on issues like this. If he does not agree that this is about race, it should be said. However, his comment "If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon." gives clear indication that race is in the forefront of his thoughts. I will not jump on the bandwagon and call this a racially motivated act, though I will say that the President has a clear responsibility to take a position, secure the trust of the American people in that position and to guide that thinking to a clear resolution.

If we cannot trust our law enforcement officials to do their job properly just because Obama makes his stance on the issue crystal clear, then why are they in their positions anyway. Law enforcement has a job to do and so does the President. In matters of global issues, the President easily speaks for America and takes a firm stance. This should also be the case in domestic issues.

President Obama, do not hedge your bets by keeping your opinions to yourself, when it was your "firm" beliefs and opinions that got you elected in the first place. If you are outraged, then say so. But do not stand with tight lips and angered demeanor, and offer lip service to America in an effort to not piss anyone off.

George Zimmerman: Redefining "Stand Your Ground"

As the events of the recent shooting of Trayvon Martin unfold, the speculations about profiling, racial motivation and self-defense continue to build and evolve. As I look at the specifics of the investigations that are occurring, I have to wonder if most people are overlooking a basic fact that makes a big difference in this scenario; whether George Zimmerman was in danger, or if he put himself in danger.

After listening to the 911 call that Zimmerman made, it is apparent that he was in no immediate danger at all. During the course of the phone call, against the wishes of the 911 operator, Zimmerman began to pursue Martin. Now I don't know where most of you may be from, but where I come from, that is chasing danger. Let's be realistic here. If Martin flees the scene, for whatever reason, and Zimmerman pursues him, that means Zimmerman has taken the law into his own hands and has now stepped outside of the Stand Your Ground laws. If Martin did turn on Zimmerman at some point in the chase, most likely to defend himself from a pursuer and possible attacker, then Zimmerman put himself into danger. Though I do find it hard to believe that Zimmerman was in much danger since he was carrying a gun.

The true injustice here is, this solidifies the worries of lawmakers about citizens taking liberties with gun ownership. Zimmerman had every right to own that gun. He had a right to carry it. But he does not have the right to chase another person down, create an altercation and then shoot in "self-defense". This is not what the Stand Your Ground legislation was about.