Hello Meltingpot Readers,
It is with such a heavy heart that I write this morning. I am still stunned by the jury’s decision to let George Zimmerman walk away a free man. I want to understand the legal process that makes the jury’s decision sound reasonable but I simply cannot wrap my mind around it. I cannot understand how a kid can be walking home from the store and be shot dead and the man who did it is not held accountable. I simply can not understand it. I cannot understand how people are in prison for not paying their taxes, but George Zimmerman can murder an unarmed kid and walk the streets a free man. It is mind-boggling. I am seriously scratching my head over that while simultaneously weeping for the Martin family who must feel the greatest sense of betrayal on top of their already wounded hearts. I feel like Lawrence Fishburn at the end of Spike Lee’s School Daze where he yells, “Wake Up!!”
My greatest hope, besides George Zimmerman suffering from a horrible sense of grief and guilt for having destroyed not one but many lives in the Martin family, and then channeling that guilt and grief into some sort of life dedicated to changing the world on the scale of Mother Theresa, is that somehow Trayvon’s death will spark some monumental change in this country, starting with the gun laws/stand your ground bullshit in Florida. I hope that Trayvon’s death will spark a movement of heretofore unseen fervor within the Black community to put an end to violence in all forms. A movement that begins with outrage, is sustained by a passion for justice and respect and ends with love. Onward, we must go. Onward. It would be so easy to pray for violence and revenge. It would be equally easy to do nothing. But we have to do something. We have to “Wake Up.”
What do you feel like doing in the wake of this verdict, dear readers? I’m listening. In the meantime, here’s how the nation reacted.
Peace!
Comments
2 responses to “Trayvon Martin Deserves More”
I’m like you Lori, I don’t understand how Mr. Zimmerman could be allowed to walk away with a not guilty verdict on all accounts. If I understand it correctly, he was charged with second degree murder among other charges. While I don’t think the second degree murder charge should have ever been leveled against him, I do feel he should be held accountable for killing Travan. As for what to do next, I can’t say. You’re right in that there is equal detriment in seeking violence and doing nothing. Hopefully there can be an open honest dialogue that arises from this. I was once told that a problem exists in the space between what you have and what you want, or in this case where we as a country are in reference to gun violence and violence in general and where we would like to be. Then a plan has to be made to bridge that gap successfully. Until the country can jump on board with this philosophy, I’m afraid there will be just a lot of angry and upset people and absolutely no change. I apologize for the ramble: I’m just passionate about this.
Olivia,
Please do not apologize. Rambling on the meltingpot is completely acceptable 🙂 And you make a really good point. I just hope and pray that we will see real change. I have to believe that we have reached some kind of social tipping point where folks just have to say no more! Like I wrote, we have to wake up.