"When Al Sharpton starts supporting your cause, be afraid. Be very afraid" - Anonymous
On Feb 23, 2012 Travyon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman. Zimmerman claimed he acted in self defense and he has not - as of now - been charged with any crime. This is a fact and a tragedy. Since that Feb night, questions have been raised on what actually happened. Zimmerman's claim of acting in self defense has been questioned and their is a growing majority who now think he is a racist. A Gallup poll conducted on April 5 shows that a majority of Americans (both black and white), think that race played a part in the shooting.
All of this may be true. I have tried not to get caught up in the hysteria and anger surrounding this case, but it seems almost impossible to do so. Everyone has an opinion, and both sides are getting more and more virulent. To me, the whole event is becoming eerily reminiscent of Charlotte Simmons.
"I am Charlotte Simmons" is a book written by Tom Wolfe in 2004. The book told the story of a Southern University, with dreams of grandeur, who prided itself on its political correctness and progressiveness, but it was in reality, ruled by jocks and drunks, the worst of this group was the lacrosse team. What does this book have to do with anything? It was eerily similar to what "happened" on with the Duke lacrosse team in 2006, when three white players were accused of raping two black strippers. The only difference was, in the real version, charges were filed, and a very nasty racially charged media frenzy began.
Duke University and Durham were primed for such an event. Durham the city is poor and has a very large black population. Duke is spectacularly beautiful and it is attended largely by wealthy white and non-black students. Resentment and hatred had to have been brewing for years. It was like the Falkland Islands to Argentina; it was a prize that was tantalizingly close, that no one dared to take it, until one day they did (or tried). Same thing for Duke and Durham: residents wanted to give these rich kids their come-uppance. Then one day, someone did. Charges were brought forward and the whole country got angry. Everyone assumed the Duke students were guilty and the lacrosse team were a bunch of racist pigs. The program was suspended, and there were calls for the whole team's expulsion. Rallies occurred condemning the students and the team. Supporting the accused was an admission of racism. Everyone rallied together to universally condemn the students and the university because they were wrong and we were right.
Only one problem: they weren't guilty. They had been set up.
Former DA Mike Nifong arranged the whole event to rally support for himself so he could win re-election. Eventually, the whole messy affair was exposed and the students cleared, but that would take several years and many embarrassed faces. Faculty and students who had shunned the players now showed unity and support for the program. Apparently, they had made a mistake. Everyone had the best of intentions and they were convinced they were on the side of might and right, but they weren't. Those who condemned the students were all proven wrong.
To me, the situation that is unfolding with Travyon Martin is eerily reminiscent of those early days of the Duke Lacrosse case. Someone brings up the racism card, and we all rally to the cause. Not only is Zimmerman guilty, he is a racist with an agenda. He is the worst form of human filth and he must be shunned.
Granted, there are a lot of differences between the two cases. No one is disputing that Zimmerman shot Travyon. A lot of folks, myself included, question the policy of allowing neighborhood watch programs to carry weapons. It is the racist rally cry that bothers me the most. Its impossible to defend yourself against, and it warps public opinion against you. The majority of folks hate him and they haven't even met him. If he ever does get charged, a fair trial will be next to impossible. I wish him luck; he is going to need it.
