I feel the need to say something about #Trayvon #Martin
I don't care what color he is nor that of his attacker. It shouldn't matter. The character of attacker or victim doesn't really matter at this point. These could be the two most horrific or amazing people on the planet, but it will never change what happened, which still isn't clear.
The facts do matter because that is what will dictate the outcome of this anger-hate-driven press-made spectacle.
People should ignore colors and focus on the facts. If you get enough information the truth might make itself clear.
Lady Justice isn't blindfolded because it's stylish. It's because she's supposed to be impartial and objective. She's supposed to listen, contemplate and then impartially pass justice.
Of course, we know that due to politics, the press and historical precedent that this type of incident make things much more complicated to deal with. People lose the ability to be rational and level-headed; ask the 70-year-old couple driven out of their home the other day.
Thanks for (not) checking your facts (twice) Spike.
It amazes me that such a seemingly brilliant man would make such a moronic and really ill-considered mistake. Spike - you are asking for a riot. Did you want to get more people shot? Or hurt? Use your brain man.
If the facts create enough legal basis to make the shooter a criminal then a warrant should be issued. If not then they should make sure they've fully investigated every angle possible.
In my opinion, people trying to enforce the law - even the neighborhood watch - get way too much of a free pass which is why people tend to go overly bonkers in situations such as these. They should be treated equally under the law - they're citizens as much as we are who have to obey the law.
And if you CHOOSE to be one to UPHOLD the law they should be held to a higher standard, but not necessarily higher scrutiny. The consequences should be greater (including loss of pensions - that one burns me to no end), when they've sworn an oath to protect and serve.
But I'm digressing again.
In this case they were not given the opportunity to protect, but they have ample opportunity to serve.
In doing so they should do everything humanly possible to obtain the objective facts. If they gather enough of them some picture of the truth should emerge. Hopefully, not everyone is a liar or lacks objectivity. But, even then it allows the ability to figure out what the facts are by comparing multiple stories and found facts (physical / scientific evidence).
Right now all that I think is happening is a press firestorm which is turning this entire debacle into a PR issue for the police which in turn takes their efforts away from what they should be; finding the truth and determining if a crime was committed and if so which one(s).
I think the press is going to make it impossible to find the truth because by the time this is over no one will remember anything except what they heard on TV the previous day. It tampers with the witnesses, tramples the crime scenes, invades the privacy of everyone, etc.
And this isn't the first time.
You would think we would learn from our mistakes. I don't know who's innocent or guilty in this case, but in this country people are innocent until proven guilty.
Gathering evidence and building a case takes more time than our public outrages would like, but the fact is that it takes time.
All the press and the public pounding on this issue does nothing but slow this case-building process down, thus making everyone more pissed off and the cries of "why are they so slow?" come out.
They are slow enough to begin with, but why do we choose to make it worse? Do I think we need to make sure they're accountable for doing their jobs? Absolutely, but I think that's the job of the people, not the press. And the press is a deterrent not a help.
Rarely do I see the press doing real investigative journalism anymore. It is all mud digging and slinging. I believe "Yellow Journalism" was the term back in the day.
So unless you're prepared to get of your butt and get involved, stop being an arm chair coal shoveler for the press ovens, get educated and take them out of the loop, because all they're going to do is blow a lot of smoke around that clouds up everything.