Shoot First

"What did he say?"
"I didn’t eat all your chocolate, Grandma."
"What did you say?"
"Wipe your mouth, Teddy."

I recall the first time I felt suckered.  It was when the Reverend Al Sharpton focused media and crowd outrage on behalf of Tawana Brawley.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawana_Brawley_rape_allegations. 

Then, I was led to indignation over several Duke Lacrosse players for having abused a young woman. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_lacrosse_case.  

Remember Shirley Sherrod, the USDA executive, who was erroneously accused and forced to resign for allegedly having engaged in reverse racism? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resignation_of_Shirley_Sherrod. 

Well, now I am supposed to condemn George Zimmerman for having killed Trayvon Martin.  Zimmerman claims self-defense.  Martin’s supporters claim that a lethal confluence occurred when a homeowner with a penchant for vigilante behavior was given license to shoot first and ask questions later by Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.  Turns out Zimmerman has tutored African American youngsters and suffered real injuries during his confrontation.  Suspended from school, Martin was simply returning home from a trip to a convenience store for refreshments.  He may have screamed into his cell phone for help. Messy facts.  Bad law.  Incomprehensible police and prosecutorial work.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Trayvon_Martin.

I am glad that the Trayvon Martin’s family was sufficiently outraged to demand attention be paid to their child’s killing.  I am not happy that we are so easily manipulated into condemning George Martin before all the facts are revealed.  What happened to the presumption of innocence?  Why do we require a scapegoat?  Turns out that the Stand Your Ground laws have been advocated by a conservative group…perhaps that is where our outrage should be directed?

 http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/conservative-group-stops-promoting-stand-your-ground-laws-2311079.html.