Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago.
Barak H. Obama, president of the United States of America
Yesterday afternoon Barak Obama gave the most heartfelt, personal, and honest statement I have ever heard a president make. He stood in front of the national press and talked about the lens through which African Americans have historically viewed life in this country. He did not claim Trayvon Martin was innocent. In fact he mentioned that the Judge conducted the trial in a "professional manner" and that the jury was instructed properly. What he did talk about is the pain the African American community feels when a tragedy like this occurs.
"It is important to recognize that the African American community is looking at this issue through a set of experiences and a history--that doesn't go away," he said.
Then he continued, "There are very few African American men in this country who haven't had the experience of being followed when they are shopping in a department store and that includes me. And there are very few African American men who haven't had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. That happened to me, at least before I was a senator. There are very few African American men who haven't had the experience of getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously and holding her breath until she had a chance to get off. That happens often."
The president also had this to say, "And you know, I don't want to exaggerate this, but those experiences inform how the African American community interprets what happened one night in Florida. And it is inescapable for people to bring those experiences to bear."
He went on, "The African American community is also knowledgeable that there is a history of racial disparities in the application of our criminal laws, everything from the death penalty to enforcement of drug laws. And that ends up having an impact in terms of how people interpret the case."
At last, an honest man in the white house.
When he spoke it was not a lecture, he wasn't admonishing. In fact his entire demeanor was one of sad resignation. He was simply telling you and me why many African Americans were shocked, hurt and finally skeptical of the jury's decision.
The reaction from a couple of FOX journalists was quick.
Todd Starnes called Obama "the race baiter in chief." He also said, "His remarks today on the Trayvon Martin tragedy are beyond reprehensible."
Their man, Sean Hannity said on his radio show, "This is a particularly helpful comment. Is the president admitting that I guess because what, he was part of the Choom gang and he smoked pot and he did a little blow--I'm not sure how to interpret that because we know that Trayvon had been smoking pot that night."
Starnes remarks are so despicably off the mark they aren't worth commenting on. Hannity, of course, has never let facts get in his way, or not tried to use the truth, to alter the truth.
When he was attending Punahou High School in Honolulu, Obama was part of a group of students who called themselves the Choom Gang. The word gang, as Hannity well knows, immediately brings to mind images of Crips and Bloods, gunfire and senseless violence. According to wiki, the Choom Gang was a bunch of kids, most of whom were better than average students and jocks, who hung out together, played basketball, surfed, and smoked marijuana. Their vehicle of choice was a Volkswagen mini bus which was named the "Choomwagon." Most of "the gang," went on to become successful lawyers, writers, and business people. Much of this is documented in Obama's book, "Dreams From My Father."
And actually there is no evidence whatsoever that Trayvon Martin was smoking marijuana the night he was killed. Only trace amounts of THC were found in his blood stream. Dr. Carl Hart, an associate professor of psychology at Columbia University, wrote in the New York Times on July 12, "The toxicity screen taken the morning after showed 1.5 nano grams (of THC) per millilitre of blood. This strongly suggests he had not ingested marijuana in at least 24 hours." The Dr. went on to flatly state, "Mr. Martin could not have been intoxicated with marijuana at the time of the shooting." Dr. Hart has been researching the effects of marijuana on the neurophysiology, psychology, and behavior of humans for 15 years.
Now you know why I don't listen to Sean Hannity and why so many members of the African American community think George Zimmerman got away with one. Trayvon Martin was the person put on trial and ultimately convicted, not the captain of the neighborhood watch.
Finally, what both Starnes and Hannity conveniently failed to mention was the note of hope at the end of the president's remarks. That part where he said, "I don't want us to lose sight that things are getting better. Each successive generation seems to be making progress in changing attitudes when it comes to race."
Race baiting has never seemed more benign, or optimistic.
It moved FOX NEWS' Chris Wallace to say he, "...didn't see how you can read this in any way stoking racial tensions."
Whoa! At last, an honest man at FOX.
Look for Mr. Wallace's career to take a quick nose dive as the outraged complaints about his opinion flood the social media and FOX's inbox. The true believers are going to quickly label him as a traitor to the cause. You see free thought on the right is not an option.
Yes, things might be getting better, but we're not there yet.
Mr. Sulu you have the con, because, honestly, I've had enough of this brutal nonsense for a while. One can only take so much.
As always, keep moving and don't bunch up. The George Zimmerman wannabes are everywhere and they'd love to take some of us down.
Infinitus est numerus stultorum.
7-20-13
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