Just another day in America.

[Duel of Fates]

Sorry Son. My rant wasn't against your post. No hard feelings.

[SUPERS@MURAI]

Just wanted to thank everyone for keeping this controversial discussion from getting overheated and unprofessional. I really appreciate all of your comments and opinions. Keep it up amigos!

[Col. Hstar]

I would like to comment on the part about the media outcry. I think it's obvious to everyone that true unbiased media no longer exists. Nowadays with every single internet search engine trying to step in as the "leading news reporting group" there are thousands of reporters, bloggers, and jounalists looking for that one big story that they can break. This means that the media becomes more and more affected by public opinion. If the public is focusing on a story, every news person wants to report on it. It gets their name heard in a popular forum. This means adversely that things that aren't happening in the public eye gets passed over with only a cursory mention.

For instance back in Oakland 2009 there was a shooting on the BART train platform. Because there video of it, it became a cry for justice by the public. The Oscar Grant shooting became a daily news item because a White BART cop shot a young black man. This story was on the nightly news every night until the end of the trial that summer. In between all of this in March 2009, 4 police officers were killed by a lone gunman carry a shotgun and an automatic weapon. That story was in the news for 2 days when it happened and 1 day when the funeral was held for the officers. Because though of the recent Oscar Grant shooting, the media did not want to be "impartial", so along with reporting on the officers funeral, there was also a reporting on the services held for the convict who had killed them. One of the news reporters was visibly surprised on camera when she saw that they were reporting on the gunmans funeral as well.

My point is that the amount of attention the media gives is based on what they feel the public wants to hear. While this is dead wrong it is the status quo. The Travon Martin / george Zimmerman case was/is tragic, the other story with Woodfork is just downright disgusting, and the sad part is this type of thing happens more often the we want to know. The reason there is so much media attention is because it has the eye of the public right now, and when you've reported a story to death news people start injecting whatever they can to fatten it up.

[Son]

Sorry Son. My rant wasn't against your post. No hard feelings.

No worries Duel. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't an misunderstanding. Next drink is on Matt.

[(SWGO)SirPepsi]

The following link was sent to me by a friend and I cannot believe it was the first time I saw it. This made me sick on so many levels it took me a few days to get my thoughts in order, to try and wrap my mind around the events that occurred. Try to fathom what the [m'kay] the media and so called journalists of the free world have done and not done. Why George Zimmerman has been tried in the court of public opinion? Why George is a white-hispanic? . . . and not a hispanic american? White on black violence sells. Black on black violence doesnt? Black on white violence is expected? Check out the link and think about two things.

1. Why wasn't there a liberal media induced national outcry for these victims?

2. How [m'kay] up our society is that this guy is a member?

ps. sorry for the rant, hopefully you will understand after seeing this news story.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/07/be ... vet-death/

Sir, I would like to point out a few things. Yes, the atrocious deeds committed by these people are awful, but I think I can word a response to you. I don't think the majority of the outcry (concerning Trayvon Martin) has to do with the death of a Black teen at the hands of a Hispanic adult. The outcry has to do with the fact that when the event took place, Zimmerman wasn't immediately arrested and an investigation launched. Instead, the police waited for quite some time before actually arresting him. I am not saying Zimmerman is guilty, nor am I saying he is innocent; but standard procedure is to arrest each suspect - and Zimmerman went free until he was finally placed in custody. This action should have been taken initially, not secondarily.

The difference between those cases were:

With the George Zimmerman case, it was assumed a police officer unnecessarily used force on a teen. Police/Officers are those that have to uphold the law and protect the people. What was assumed was that he followed the teen for no reason (even disobeying orders to stop) that eventually led to the death of Trayvon Martin. Furthermore, George Zimmerman was supposed to not receive a trial due to the Florida Law. New evidence shows that George Zimmerman was defending himself and this will likely help him in the trial.

With the Tyrone Woodfork case, the assumed murderer was caught and will receive a criminal trial on several charges. Yes, it is a horrific action what Tyrone did but he will receive the proper punishment when proven guilty. Note, Tyrone is considered an adult (age 20). Tyrone was instantly held accountable for the horrific actions.

This was not much a racial controversy but the fact that a Police Officer was not to be held accountable for the death of a teen whereas Tyrone Woodfork was caught and will receive the proper trial. Also, people tend to get more roused when a Police Officer uses unnecessary force on individuals.

Remember that the Civil Rights movement happened 50 years ago and that many who lived/experienced through it will still hold grudges. That is to be expected. Germans today are still being held accountable for the actions of the Nazi since 1945 and bias against them is still occurring.
Understanding and tolerance need to be promoted to end such unnecessary bias.

Hope this helped

Cheers

Yanoda

Also, what does the liberal media have to do with it? Isn't it just the entire news media that have been not reporting properly?

Yanoda always manages to word things so much better than I. I agree my friend, though Zimmerman was not a commissioned police officer, rather a neighbourhood watchman.

@Duel: Why do we have to bring the liberal media into any of this? The crimes mentioned in your article are not racially motivated, so no 'outcry' on the basis of race is warranted. Yes, the crime was atrocious, but an 'outcry' on the basis of race would be ridiculous as the crime was not racially motivated.

I have been following this closely and here is what I have picked out to be factual:

George Zimmerman was asked to be on neighborhood watch after an extended crime spree, mostly burglaries, 100% committed by black men 17-23 years old. George accepted, and went through the legal process of obtaining a firearm and concealed carry permit.

On the night in question, George Zimmerman witnessed a young man in a "hoodie" (a detestable term coined to sound like a "hood" a.k.a. "thug"), whom George did not recognize, walking through people's yards. He did not know the boys race until he went to look for the boy in his car. Given the recent rash of crimes, George armed himself as he was legally allowed to do. When George caught up with Trayvon Martin, as he left his car he called 911 for assistance. While talking with the 911 operator (here is where the media went out of control), the only thing we know for sure is, George said "punks" and "always getting away with it". When George stated that he was following the boy, he was told "we don't need you to do that, sir" so he turned around to head back to his car. That is when Trayvon attacked him from behind. This is his account of that night.

We will never get Trayvon's account of that night, but I offer this. The only witness to the scuffle, before the shot was fired, was a young black boy out walking his dog. He described someone fitting Trayvon Martin's description, standing over and beating on someone fitting George Zimmerman's description. It has come to light that George was beaten pretty badly that night.

Sorry for the triple post, but I have to respond to this. Your account of George Zimmerman's actions is anything but true. When the police asked Zimmerman to stand down and not to follow Trayvon, Zimmerman did not turn around and return to his car. Once again, I am not implicating Zimmerman in any way, and I feel that the media outcry is unfair, however, facts are facts. Yes, Zimmerman has cuts, bruises, and a broken nose - most likely caught in the scuffle. Audio experts have analysed the tapes and believe that the voice screaming is not that of George Zimmerman. Even ifTrayvon attacked George Zimmerman, would you not? You are a 17 year-old kid, alone at 23:00, and you notice someone following you... How would you feel?

[[m'kay]]

my feet hurt

[SUPERS@MURAI]

Pepsi, I merged your posts.

[(SWGO)SirPepsi]

Pepsi, I merged your posts.

Thanks S@MURAI.

[WD-40]

I just hope we have a 'smart' Jury to decide the fate in this mess. It truly is a mess, and if I or anyone else Monday morning Quarterbacked it, totally avoidable. God forbid, that they are in anyway, shape or form related or associated with O.J.'s Jury.

But being in Law Enforcement, I suppose I'd have backed away as soon as I was told by dispatch, but what Dad said (if it happened as he described), backing away was his intent...but too late.

[WGO-Jango]

Martin Luther King died in vain, that is all.