George and Trayvon, what can we learn

[Anonymous]

Let's ignore race for a moment. Please.

Dear teens:
Trayvon SHOULD HAVE told his GF to call the police, and then his father to let them know he was being followed. Then Trayvon should have called the police and father himself, in case GF did not do as he asked. He should have told GF and police and his father the description of the man who was staring at him and following him and he should have the license plate # on GZ's car. That is what mobile phones are for...emergencies.
Also, teens, it is normal to see GZ as a creep or pervert who is thinking of abducting you, raping you or killing you, it happens. We women would have seen it that way. If the creep approaches you and you feel threatened, tell the creep that you have given their license plate number to the police and that your father is on his way. If the creep grabs you, you MUST fight and run as fast as possible to a house with a light on, ring the doorbell, all while calling for help. If the creep gets his hands on you, then you have to fight for your life.

No parent can deny that they would ask their child to react in that way to any creep.

Dear men:
If you stare at anyone, even in broad daylight, you are seen as a threat. Worse yet, when you follow them on a dark street. So when you go to a playground and a woman or child (or man) is there alone, your approach should be gentle and friendly. Also, you should keep a good physical distance to let the other person feel more at ease.
Do not be surprised if we are nervous, regardless of your race. If you speak in a tone that is not friendly we will reach for our pepper spray (if alone) and our phones.

[Anonymous]

I give you the benefit of good will.
HOWEVER, we cannot ignore race.
WE CANNOT!
To ignore race is to ignore the deepest lessons to be learned from this tragedy.
The bottom line is not that George Z. is necessarily some racist white devil.
But the reason he followed Trayvon, the reason he thought this stranger was susipicous, up to no good, possibly on drugs...is because of the boy's race.
So the most important lesson here is for us as America to wake up to the work that still needs to be done regarding racism..not denying it...seeing it...being accountable for it...doing what we can to eradicate it.

Anonymous wrote:Let's ignore race for a moment. Please.

Dear teens:
Trayvon SHOULD HAVE told his GF to call the police, and then his father to let them know he was being followed. Then Trayvon should have called the police and father himself, in case GF did not do as he asked. He should have told GF and police and his father the description of the man who was staring at him and following him and he should have the license plate # on GZ's car. That is what mobile phones are for...emergencies.
Also, teens, it is normal to see GZ as a creep or pervert who is thinking of abducting you, raping you or killing you, it happens. We women would have seen it that way. If the creep approaches you and you feel threatened, tell the creep that you have given their license plate number to the police and that your father is on his way. If the creep grabs you, you MUST fight and run as fast as possible to a house with a light on, ring the doorbell, all while calling for help. If the creep gets his hands on you, then you have to fight for your life.

No parent can deny that they would ask their child to react in that way to any creep.

Dear men:
If you stare at anyone, even in broad daylight, you are seen as a threat. Worse yet, when you follow them on a dark street. So when you go to a playground and a woman or child (or man) is there alone, your approach should be gentle and friendly. Also, you should keep a good physical distance to let the other person feel more at ease.
Do not be surprised if we are nervous, regardless of your race. If you speak in a tone that is not friendly we will reach for our pepper spray (if alone) and our phones.

[Anonymous]

Go away, troll.

[Anonymous]

The only lesson I see is that if you are a black kid, you need to run. Sorry but there is no time to make two phone calls and hope the police respond in time. We already know that the police arrived too late. You are 17, in good shape, and a mystery man who is not a police officer is following you. Run.

Maybe the second lesson is that if you are a "neighborhood watch", do what the name says: "watch". Don't get involved, don't try to play cops and robbers, and don't be the tough guy carrying a gun around at night.

[Anonymous]

Isn't he HISPANIC?

[Anonymous]

Lesson: don't live in Florida, even tho the no-income-tax makes it seem slightly appealing.

[Anonymous]

What I've learned is that:

1. I shouldn't just jump on the band wagon and make conclusions that something was racially motivated and/or a racial injustice.

2. I should not assume from photos in the media that someone looked just like the photos when the event happened (i.e. the media/agents of those involved use certain photos to either damn the other person or make their client look like a saint). I was misled by the first photos put out.

[Anonymous]

Lesson is, black people think they are under attack, but the rest of the country is really just being a douche to everyone

Except for GZ, he was suspicious of a wannabe thug.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I've learned is that:

1. I shouldn't just jump on the band wagon and make conclusions that something was racially motivated and/or a racial injustice.

2. I should not assume from photos in the media that someone looked just like the photos when the event happened (i.e. the media/agents of those involved use certain photos to either damn the other person or make their client look like a saint). I was misled by the first photos put out.

The recent pics of Trayvon really don't look much different. Not sure what the issue is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I've learned is that:

1. I shouldn't just jump on the band wagon and make conclusions that something was racially motivated and/or a racial injustice.

2. I should not assume from photos in the media that someone looked just like the photos when the event happened (i.e. the media/agents of those involved use certain photos to either damn the other person or make their client look like a saint). I was misled by the first photos put out.

The recent pics of Trayvon really don't look much different. Not sure what the issue is.

I agree with 17:23. I think the pictures were very misleading. He looked tiny in the first pictures published, as if there was no way he way he could have attached GZ. Now, I'm not so sure. With that said, I still think GZ needs to be arrested and put on trial.

[Anonymous]

The recent pics of Trayvon really don't look much different. Not sure what the issue is.

I agree with 17:23. I think the pictures were very misleading. He looked tiny in the first pictures published, as if there was no way he way he could have attached GZ. Now, I'm not so sure. With that said, I still think GZ needs to be arrested and put on trial.

"attached" should be "attacked"

[Anonymous]

Pictures from the media:




More updated picture:



Not seeing the big difference.

[Anonymous]

PP - there are other shots out there showing full body

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP - there are other shots out there showing full body

seriously? First, some of the shots floating around the internet are not Trayvon- apparently because all black children look a like people are having a hard time. Secondly, I don't care what he looked like, he didn't deserve to be shot. So misleading or not WTF does it matter? I cannot believe the people how want to give Zimmerman a pass because bigots behaving just like him agree he looked like "a thug" or suspicious. Probably the same people who take offense to race being brought up at all- you are profiling him too, so how is that not about race?

[Anonymous]

I see a boy with the beginnings of facial hair. He was 6 feet 3 inches and 140 pounds. He was very skinny.