ZIMMERMAN TRIAL LIVE LINK

[tmckay2]

i believe him as well, which is exactly what i said. doesn't matter though, he should have known exiting the vehicle and following him escalates the situation. if he was truly a criminal looking for trouble, its the worst thing you can do. as i said, should he be found guilty of murder? no. i think he did try to protect himself when things got ugly. but things should have never reached that point. he, though unintentionally, escalated a situation that didn't need to be. he should take part of the blame in that. i don't think he should get 10 years in a pound me in the ass prison, but i think he does deserve some time. he played a part in that situation that resulted in the death of a person. he wasn't 100% innocent even if his motives were not bad. thats what i have been saying the whole time.

According to records, documents, and Zimmerman's testimony- a lot of you are getting the narrative wrong. Sniper7 is not entirely accurate as to why they got permits- Zimmerman's own words were to the effect of a recent home invasion in their neighborhood led them to get their permits so they could protect themselves. tmckay2- you also make a very big assumption in saying Martin probably didn't even fight with Zimmerman. I invite you to watch the Hannity interview with Zimmerman (it's on YouTube), do you really think if the story he tells to Sean suddenly becomes different from his testimony to the detectives investigating that they would discredit him and more easily find him guilty? They'd uncover that in court and he's screwed. So either he tells the truth or tells the exact same narrative to Hannity, the detectives, AND in court. I have no reason to not believe GZ, I can give him the benefit of the doubt since the local CLEO deemed him okay to give a concealed carry permit. Go look at the narrative described to police- here's what he says happened (and again, he said this on camera with his attorney present so it could very well be the truth):
He spotted TM walking in the rain, casually. Something didn't sit right with him, so he called the PD non-emergency line. He continued to keep visual contact with TM as he spoke to the dispatcher. He parked, got out, walked in the same direction as TM until he reached his street, where he stopped following TM and went to give the dispatcher an exact location for a police unit to meet him. He hung up. Looked up and was face to face with TM. TM asked (approx.): "What's your f***ing problem?" GZ responded: "I don't have a problem," while trying to reach for his phone. He looks up again and is struck in the face by TM. Somehow GZ is forced to the ground with TM on top of him striking him in the face and slamming his head into the concrete. GZ attempts to get onto the grass nearby so his head isn't further injured. All the while TM is cursing and threatening GZ. TM attempts to strangle and silence GZ as GZ calls for help. During the struggle GZ's shirt comes up revealing his gun. TM says "You're going to die tonight." At this point GZ is in fear for his life and struggles to get the gun. He fires. TM says "You got me." GZ is approached by a neighbor. Police arrive. TM dies.
That's the narrative GZ told... Take it however you want, but I'm somewhat inclined to believe him, as I have no reason not to. And there is no other witness testimony.

Needless to say- Martin would be alive today had he not hit Zimmerman. Plain and simple. If you doubt Zimmerman was in a physical altercation you obviously missed the aftermath pictures showing bruising and lacerations to his face and head.

[Ronin13]

while that is true, 99% of the time you can diffuse small time punks talking trash by simply walking away or playing the wuss. you don't need to stick out your chest because you are carrying and assume he isn't. i would never show someone my pistol just to show them and hope it scares them. if i am showing it it is because my life is in danger and i am pulling it. carrying shouldn't be for small time fights and verbal abuse situations, it should be for life threatening situations only. most of the stories people tell on here in some idiot just talking and maybe at times approaching them. most of the time if you simply apologize for whatever happened and tell them you meant no disrespect or offense, that would end it. most of the stories involve people acting like a bad ass and not backing down, and why? because they have a gun and think they are a tough guy? diffuse the situation at all times, if the guy pulls out a weapon and approaches then fine. if not, keep it hidden.

THIS! Treat it like the Samurai treated their swords- Never draw unless you intend to use it.

i said he DID fight with zimmerman, thats why he deserves equal share of the blame.

Had to go back and re-read, my mistake, you just used that non-contradictory double negative that confused me.

i believe him as well, which is exactly what i said. doesn't matter though, he should have known exiting the vehicle and following him escalates the situation. if he was truly a criminal looking for trouble, its the worst thing you can do. as i said, should he be found guilty of murder? no. i think he did try to protect himself when things got ugly. but things should have never reached that point. he, though unintentionally, escalated a situation that didn't need to be. he should take part of the blame in that. i don't think he should get 10 years in a pound me in the ass prison, but i think he does deserve some time. he played a part in that situation that resulted in the death of a person. he wasn't 100% innocent even if his motives were not bad. thats what i have been saying the whole time.

Again, I state- had Martin not got violent he wouldn't have been shot. Being followed does not warrant physical violence.

[palepainter]

You know, I watched a bit of this during lunch. Let me summarize what I have heard. " Cracker... cracker.....cracker.... N-word." I mean come on, what is the goddamned deal. What I should have heard was... " C- Word...... C-word....C-word.... N-word." What the hell is up with that? Personally, I have been around enough black folks to know that when they say cracker, it isn't meant to be a polite use of the word. I am so fucking sick of all the intolerance and PC bullshit. This trial is bringing out the worst in our system and people... Both C-words and N-words........... Double standard bullshit...

[Whistler]

Let me get this straight - just because you happen to carry you should keep your head down, eyes averted, eat shit and let anyone do anything that doesn't directly place you in a position of imminent loss of life just because they might break stupid? The guy was Neighborhood Watch who's charge was to look for suspicious activity, I won't consider profiling because it's my opinion if you want to look/act like a "gangsta" don't be shocked when people think you are a "gangsta". As a member of my community/neighborhood I have every right to want to know what someone is up to when they appear to be suspicious, are acting or dressed in a manner that makes me think they are up to no good. I choose not to wait until I've been shot, attacked, burglarized, etc. before I watch them and/or politely ask exactly why they are there and what they are up to. I've been asked and it doesn't bother me a bit to explain why I'm wandering around in a place or at a time that would make someone suspicious of my intent. Never once did it occur to me to attack that person and punch them in the face for trying to make the place they live safer, in fact I thanked them for their involvement. It shouldn't bother or offend any rational person though I wouldn't push it beyond a polite inquiry and notify the proper authorities if they take exception as I would consider that confirmation of my suspicion. While I believe carrying to be a grave responsibility and a last resort in extreme circumstance, the fact that I carry (or not) does not dissuade me from what I consider reasonable inquiry to ensure the safety of myself, my neighbors and my community. No I'm not LEO and I don't have a "hero complex", I'm a responsible member of my community under no delusion that the world isn't filled with scumbags and ne'er-do-wells. I further don't call that being a "badass" or thumping my chest, I don't want to fight and damn sure don't want to shoot anyone but I certainly don't want to live in a place where no one wants to "get involved" to keep it from becoming a shithole. Isn't that the point of Neighborhood Watch to begin with? Let me propose a different scenario; "Hi I'm George with the Neighborhood Watch, how are you this evening?" "Oh hi George I'm Trayvon. I'm staying with my Dad's girlfriend for a few days and had a craving for some Skittles, headed back to the house." "Nice to meet you Trayvon, I like Skittles too, maybe I'll go get some. Have a nice evening." "You too George and thanks for keeping an eye on the neighborhood."

[Singlestack]

You know, I watched a bit of this during lunch. Let me summarize what I have heard. " Cracker... cracker.....cracker.... N-word." I mean come on, what is the goddamned deal. What I should have heard was... " C- Word...... C-word....C-word.... N-word." What the hell is up with that? Personally, I have been around enough black folks to know that when they say cracker, it isn't meant to be a polite use of the word. I am so fucking sick of all the intolerance and PC bullshit. This trial is bringing out the worst in our system and people... Both C-words and N-words........... Double standard bullshit...

Sadly, I think many, many people believe the N-word is racist but "cracker" is not. This somewhat goes to the voting intimidation incident in Philadelphia a few years ago by the Black Panthers. Eric Holder "determined" that blacks could not be guilty of racism, and therefore would not prosecute it. I don't believe the liberal media will cast serious aspersions on Trayvon for saying that, since "it isn't racism". Reasonable people, in my opinion, would conclude "cracker" is a racist epithet directed at whites. FWIW, the "friend" of Trayvon also said Trayvon called Zimmerman the N-word. Can't figure that out...

[davsel]

I prefer Redneck if you don't mind.

[sniper7]

I Dont mind cracker at all. Call me a cracker that means I crack the whip and shit gets done. You are calling me master and acknowledge that I run the show.

The N word gets tossed around lightly in songs and movies. You Dont hear cracker in country songs. Some people have just moved on. Others want to play the sympathy card and get more for nothing.

[palepainter]

I am not really offended by the name either. I have heard it in use, much like the other word. Both racially charged. I just find it some what rediculous the way it is being thrown around by the court.

[hurley842002]

There are not too many words that offend me, what offends me is the double standard to which words are acceptable. Case in point, the N word is censored on all local radio stations (that I'm aware of), however KS107.5 finds it perfectly acceptable to play a song with a verse stating "that's a cold a$$ H@#$%& ". Now I'm not going to say either word "out loud" because then I'd be contradicting myself, but I think most of you know what the white racial "H" word is. Once again, neither word offends me, as they are just words in my opinion. But why am I the worst form of human being if I happen to call someone a N, but it's perfectly fine for a hip hop artists to sling the H word around?

ETA: my apologies for getting off track, just got up on a soap box.

[TFOGGER]

Words only have the power that you give them over you...