SHORT COMMUNICATION 312
The Rabble-Rousing Duo
By
Roger Behra
Since the middle of March, 2012 throughout the United States it has been a continuous drumbeat in regards to the shooting of Trayvon Martin, a seventeen-year-old black teen in a gated community near Orlando, Florida. It is very sad another young life has ended before it really got started, but that is only part of an involved story. The whole story involves Martin, George Zimmerman, Martin´s parents, and the mass media. Here is the whole story with Martin and Zimmerman the main persons of interest.
George Zimmerman was a legal security person hired to guard a gated community and allowed to carry a gun to protect himself if necessary. During recent months criminal activities in and around the gated area increased considerable, so he was being extra alert the night of March 26, 2012. Along came a black teenager wandering through the community. There was no logical reason for that. Unfortunately, the end result between Zimmerman and the black teenager was tragic: Martin was shot and killed, and the whole episode remained in the media spotlight for days.
Into the situation in short order steps the first of the rabble-rousing duo: the mass media. In no time flat they became obsessed with the shooting, and it carried on for many days non-stop. The emotions of everyone became enflamed without the media knowing and revealing and accurate and complete information about what actually took place in the gated community or any background information about the Martin boy. The media showed their true colors: especially KNX radio in Orange County, California. There was no letup hour after hour day after day.
Soon, it was the second part of the rubble-rousing duo to get started and become loud and clear: Martin´s parents. They made hateful accusations and statements long before the truth and facts about everything became known to everyone, which indicated the parents were less than ideal. They were separated. The mother lives in the gated community with her BOYFRINDS. (Nice going, mom.). Trayvon´s appearance and general behavior left plenty to be desired, and that reflects back to the parents and their care and control of Trayvon itself.
The story facts are these: As Zimmerman was doing his security duty, he was talking to the police. He told them about the black teenager and gave the street location. Then he turned to go to his truck. No racial slur was ever uttered. Suddenly, Zimmerman was jumped from behind, knocked to the ground, his nose was broken, and his head was repeatedly banged on the ground. As Martin jumped Zimmerman he said “someone is going to die tonight.” BANG! Trayvon Martin was the dead one! He signed his own death warrant when he jumped Zimmerman from behind. The trail will include facts about Martin: that he made up his own rules to live by; he wore punk clothing; he had a gold tooth; he was tattooed; he was on suspension-again-from his high school. While making up his own rules for living, he forgot to include that there are consequences: punks can die fast…young….anytime…anywhere. No more pot in you backpack, no more school suspensions, no more punk behavior, and no more abuse of the life God gave you. Goodbye, T. Martin; Hopefully others benefit.
R. B.
4-29-12