As a parent of an African American teenager, the Trayvon Martin story makes me ill with sadness. As someone who has made a career working with young people, it makes me fearful of what our young people think of us adults.
If you have not heard the story of Travyon Martin, look it up.
Most of you have heard about it via various outlets at this point. As I read the details of the story that were released, I can't help but think of the instructions I give my own child as he walks through the neighborhood.
Don't talk to strangers. If you notice someone following you, run. If you find yourself in the position where you feel threatened enough by the stranger to fight, then by all means do so. Do what you need to extricate yourself from the danger.
Trayvon Martin followed these same steps, and as he wrestled his pursuer was shot and killed. His attacker claimed self defense, and has yet to be arrested. I have been puzzled as to how to frame this situation with my sons -- African American boys, who have a fondness for hooded sweatshirts -- as do many of their White friends.
Do I change their dress code? Do I escort them as they walk through the neighborhood? Do I tell them to stop and chat with anyone who asks where they are going and what their business is? My answer to all of these is "no."
How do I explain to them, that as African American males, they can never assume that they are above suspicion -- regardless of where they are, and when they are doing absolutely nothing.
Consider the state of teens throughout the country, and think of the state fair incident last summer, the school shootings, and the bullying. Our young people are telling us something. The world we are giving them is unacceptable, and they know it.
When one of their own gets killed essentially for walking while dressed like most of the teenagers in the country dressed, with no repurcussions, how do we tell them that the world has any sense of order? Life isn't fair. I tell my sons this as a first tenet of manhood. I never imagine that the degree unfairness could be fatal.
Because the short-sightedness of our corporate culture treats the youth as a resource, from which money (theirs or their parents') can be extracted. As a result, any messages that get them buying are right, proper, and fair game, regardless of the effect on their self-image. Think this isn't a new problem? It's scope has increased exponentially with the rise of ubiquitous advertising. What is our culture now? It is advertising, Of all of the messages, claims, and promises that a young person hears, what percentage do you think are advertisements? Advertisements with no loyalty to the truth? Easily over 95%. Per Lyle's point below - this is, in fact, a new problem. The ocean of commercial media is a psychological assault.
I happen to believe that the problem isn't media itself, but commercial, profit-driven media. Media beholden to nothing but the bottom line. In other words, markets run amok.
In general, I think parents don't have the courage to tell their children no and have some misplaced priorities. Parents are concerned to not feed their kids sugary cereals but in turn buy their kids 4G smart phones.
Right, my point was that there is a difference of scope, and it's significant enough of a difference to represent a new danger. All parenting 101 classes should include the following oath: "I promise to tell my children that almost everything on TV, on radio, on the internet, on billboards, on posters, in the toy store, in the grocery store, in newspapers and in magazines, is a lie and a trick to take their money."
It is good to know that I am the only 'strict' (as my oldest would say) parent. I parent in much the same way you do. I always tell him I am not strict, I am loving. He usually just rolls his eyes and walks away.
You are a fool. No stand your ground law allows for the easy use of murder. If Martin was shot in cold blood, the Stand your Ground law doesn't even come up. If Martin turned on Zimmerman and did begin smashing head into the ground it is self defense. If you want implicate Jeb and the NRA, why not include the gun mfg. Aren't they just as responsible under your logic.
Now I guess the Black Panthers have stepped into the obvious leadership vacuum and it is not politically correct to point out that they are thugs and low lifes, because they are Holder's People".
Golda Meir once said: " Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us." Fact is, the black people and Dems who are rallying behind this cause don't CARE if he was a murderous little thug....he is simply a means to an end, nothing more.....they don't care about Trayvon, why the hell should I?
Someone had better inform professional poker player Phil Laak!
Hoodies can just mean you like to keep warm. I know that's why I wear them.
The truth to this story is so screwed up and twisted I would not dare to make an assumption of who is guilty.
Um, Jeb Bush is not an indirect party to this crime.
All in all- not enough has changed....
That's exactly what I'm saying here! No love for good old Ted - what is this country coming to? Next we'll be slighting Manson when some new goofball tattoos or carves a swastika into their forehead. Oh the humanity of it all!
"My kids are fat because of the evil food suppliers". Wrong. It's because you refused to take control of their diet and feed them nutritious foods, thereby making it a habit for them. "My kid got busted for smoking pot the other night. Evil cops should have let them party in peace." A no, you should be setting a good example for your kids and talking to them about avoiding drug and alcohol use and why. No, you shouldn't be firing up a blunt in the house in front of your kids like it's no big deal. Your kids are a representation of you. If they are mess, it follows that you are a mess.
None of us know what happened that night because we weren't there. If Zimmerman shot Trayvon for no reason, then he should be held accountable. If on the other hand, Trayvon was beating Zimmerman to the point that Zimmerman feared for his life, then he had every right to protect himself. People need to step back and let the system work. Trayvon's family has a right to raise all the questions that are necessary to bring out the truth. On the other hand George Zimmerman is innocent until proven guilty and he has been unfairly crucified in the court of public opinion. Eventually, all the evidence will be gathered and at that time law enforcement and the court system will determine whether or not this was a justified shooting.
Again... We don't know what happened. It may turn out that Zimmerman shot an unarmed 17 year old and should be held accountable. Or it may turn out that Zimmerman feared for his life, and this is just another unfortunate, tragic death of a 17 year old.
Respectfully, you need to learn how to read. I'm not making excuses for anyone; I'm saying that parents need to open their eyes and realize that the only bias that exists in the media is a commercial bias. Kids need to be taught, from an early age, to be skeptical of all media. They need to learn that, sadly, the right of corporations to go after their wallets and their identities is sacrosanct in our society. DJ's question is, "what is happening to young people?" He also made it clear that he was applying the question to young people of all races. The answer is not only that American consumer culture takes no responsibility for their minds, other then to make every effort to warp them into stupid, pliable consumers; the answer is also that American consumer culture is now very effective at doing that, and that the youth realize this is going on, while many of their elders do not. As, clearly, you do not.