The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Politics & RKBA => Topic started by: Hazcat on March 20, 2012, 07:30:36 AM
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In Print: Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Once again Florida's "stand your ground" law is making headlines that demonstrate its dangerous consequences. George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, is claiming self-defense after shooting and killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on Feb. 26. Zimmerman is free under "stand your ground" as a police investigation drags on. Meanwhile a young man who was carrying nothing more than iced tea and Skittles is dead and his parents justifiably want answers. The racial elements of the shooting, Martin is black and Zimmerman is not, add another troubling layer to the lack of an arrest. But it is the "stand your ground" law that gives legal immunity to people who come to an argument with a hot temper and a ready gun.
The Florida Legislature passed the law in 2005 at the behest of the National Rifle Association but over the staunch objections of law enforcement. The law allows the use of deadly force when a person is in a place he has a right to be and feels reasonably threatened with serious harm. Opponents dubbed it the "shoot first" law because people have no duty to attempt to retreat from a threat of violence even if they could do so safely. History has borne them out.
Since the law went into effect, reports of justifiable homicides have tripled, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It has been used to absolve violence resulting from road rage, barroom arguments and even a gang gunfight. In 2008, two gangs in Tallahassee got into a shootout where a 15-year-old boy was killed. The charges were dismissed by a judge citing the "stand your ground" law.
--SNIP--
More BS like this and comments at link.
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/the-trouble-with-floridas-stand-your-ground-law/1220845
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If the few facts presented in this biased report are true, I'd say Zimmerman is on shaky ground.
I'm not one to say you should avoid getting involved if you see a crime being committed, but one to say you should.
However, no crime was being committed here (that we know of). Also, I'd not say you should not follow someone suspicious in your neighborhood, especially if you are part of the Neighborhood Watch. However, if you do choose to follow, you have a responsibility not to cause a confrontation or escalation.
Maybe Zimmerman confronted the kid, wanted to know what he was doing in the neighborhood and started shoving him and manhandling him back to the exit and the kid took offense, pushed back, and threatened to kick butt if Zimmerman didn't stop pushing.
Maybe the kid spotted Zimmerman tailing him, took offense and attacked Zimmerman violently to teach him a lesson.
The report is undoubtedly biased and it would not be out of bounds to suggest that if facts were left out, it was because they did not support the reporter's bias, but we don't know for sure.
In any case, following someone you feel is suspicious while you are armed is about as close to stepping over the line as you can get and still claim self defense in a confrontation.
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Here is the latest news report I've seen, I don't think we are getting all the facts.
http://gma.yahoo.com/trayvon-martin-killing-friend-phone-teen-death-recounts-063243901--abc-news.html
In the final moments of his life, Trayvon Martin was being hounded by a strange man on a cellphone who ran after him, cornered him and confronted him, according to the teenage girl whose call logs show she was on the phone with the 17-year-old boy in the moments before neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman shot him dead.
Martin's death Feb. 26 has stirred national outrage and protests, partly prompting the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and the FBI to open an investigation into the case.
ABC News was there exclusively as the 16-year-old girl told Martin family attorney Benjamin Crump about the last moments of the teenager's life.
"He said this man was watching him, so he put his hoodie on. He said he lost the man," Martin's friend said. "I asked Trayvon to run, and he said he was going to walk fast. I told him to run but he said he was not going to run."
Eventually he would run, said the girl, thinking that he'd managed to escape. But suddenly the strange man was back, cornering Martin.
"Trayvon said, 'What, are you following me for,' and the man said, 'What are you doing here.' Next thing I hear is somebody pushing, and somebody pushed Trayvon because the head set just fell. I called him again and he didn't answer the phone."
The line went dead. Besides screams heard on 911 calls that night as Martin and Zimmerman scuffled, those were the last words he said.
Trayvon's phone logs, also obtained exclusively by ABC News, show the conversation occurred five minutes before police first arrived on scene. The young woman's parents asked that her name not be used, and that only an attorney could ask her questions.
Martin's father, Tracey Martin, and mother, Sybrina Fulton, listened to the call along with ABC News, ashen-faced.
"He knew he was being followed and tried to get away from the guy, and the guy still caught up with him," Tracey Martin said. "And that's the most disturbing part. He thought he had got away from the guy and the guy back-tracked for him."
The teen was killed by Zimmerman while walking back to his father's fiancés home after stepping out to buy Skittles and some iced tea during the NBA All-Star Game. After weeks of relentless pressure, the Sanford Police have decided to release emergency and non-emergency calls placed during the incident.
"These a**holes always get away," Zimmerman says in a call to a non-emergency number.
Dispatcher: "Are you following him?"
Zimmerman: "Yeah."
Dispatcher: "We don't need you to do that."
An altercation soon ensued. A few moments later a torrent of 911 calls flooded in and Martin was killed by a single bullet. Zimmerman claimed self-defense and has yet to be arrested, stoking outrage and claims of prejudice against the police department.
"When George Zimmerman is arrested, tried and convicted I will get a little rest," Tracey Martin said.
According to a statement by the Justice Department, "The department will conduct a thorough and independent review of all of the evidence and take appropriate action and the conclusion of the investigation. … The government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person acted intentionally and with the specific intent to do something which the law forbids. Negligence, recklessness, mistakes and accidents are not prosecutable under the federal criminal civil rights laws."
Nearly half a million people have signed an online petition on change.org urging law enforcement officials to step in and arrest Zimmerman. Protests have played out in the Florida town all week with a large gathering expected Thursday.
Zimmerman violated major principles of the Neighborhood Watch manual, ABC News has learned. The manual from the Neighborhood Watch program states: "It should be emphasized to members that they do not possess police powers. And they shall not carry weapons or pursue vehicles."
According to Chris Tutko, the director of the National Neighborhood Watch program, there are about 22,000 registered watch groups nationwide, and Zimmerman was not part of a registered group, which police were not aware of at the time of the incident.
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The thing is the Tampabay Times (formerly ST Petersburg Times) AKA Pravda West, immediately jumps on the law using the same old 'blood in the streets' argument.
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Never let a crisis go to waste.
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And where's the balance? What has happened to crime as a result?
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Since Al Sharpton, has already started organizing rallies, and the New Black Liberation Militia has already issued an order for his head, and the media is judging him as guilty until proven innocent,.....and now Eric Holder is involved....
Should turn out well...
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/well-find-him-black-militia-organization-vows-vengeance-on-trayvon-martin-shooter/
The Perfect Storm
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Oy. If the incident had been properly investigated from the start, all this mess wouln't have happened.
Let's look at the basics:
Did Zimmerman escalate the situation by chasing Martin?
Was there disparity of force? Was Martin physically larger than Zimmerman?
Did Matrin have a weapon?
Yes, not sure but the pictures point to no, and no.
The fact that Martin was retreating from Zimmerman negates a life or death situation and warrants further investigation. Not judgement. Not prosecution. Just investigation and further gathering of facts.
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Oy. If the incident had been properly investigated from the start, all this mess wouln't have happened.
Let's look at the basics:
Did Zimmerman escalate the situation by chasing Martin?
Was there disparity of force? Was Martin physically larger than Zimmerman?
Did Matrin have a weapon?
Yes, not sure but the pictures point to no, and no.
The fact that Martin was retreating from Zimmerman negates a life or death situation and warrants further investigation. Not judgement. Not prosecution. Just investigation and further gathering of facts.
AGREED!
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Oy. If the incident had been properly investigated from the start, all this mess wouln't have happened.
Let's look at the basics:
Did Zimmerman escalate the situation by chasing Martin?
Was there disparity of force? Was Martin physically larger than Zimmerman?
Did Matrin have a weapon?
Yes, not sure but the pictures point to no, and no.
The fact that Martin was retreating from Zimmerman negates a life or death situation and warrants further investigation. Not judgement. Not prosecution. Just investigation and further gathering of facts.
Absolutely. If there is fault here, it lies with the Police Jurisdiction, not with the "Castle Doctrine" law.
We don't know what statement Zimmerman made at the scene and if he was the only witness present, but we do know that nothing more threatening that a spilled ice tea, a bag of candy and the kids dropped cell phone is listed in any report we've seen. Seems a no brainer to check the cell phone call log and speak with possible witnesses before making any statement.
Sure seems like a trip to the precinct for questioning while a few calls are made and an investigation done would not be out of line.
Pictures I've seen of the kid sure didn't look like he could present much of a physical threat.
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Even though as more info has been learned including Zimmerman stating "f" ing coons on audio, and the Real LEO's told him to stand down, and he exited his vehicle to engage in a pursuit.
Start video at the 2:20 mark, and turn it up...
http://stevekaneshow.com/
Either way, this is a wrong interpretation of the Stand Your Ground Law, but the kneejerk anti's are already calling for its repeal.
Do you want to know the training req's for Community Watch Capt are?
Raise your hand at the meeting.....Your Hired....
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http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/sanford-city-manager-says-were-barred-arresting-trayvon-134007644.html
The city of Sanford, Florida has claimed that it did not arrest George Zimmerman despite his confession that he fatally shot Trayvon Martin because it was legally barred from doing so.
"Zimmerman provided a statement claiming he acted in self defense, which at the time was supported by physical evidence and testimony," Sanford City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. wrote in a letter released publicly Wednesday evening. "By Florida Statute, law enforcement was PROHIBITED from making an arrest based on the facts and circumstances they had at the time."
The Sanford Police Department has received widespread criticism for its handling of the investigation. Among other issues, it didn't conduct a drug or alcohol test on Zimmerman, although that's standard practice in homicide probes, and a witness has said a police officer "corrected" her claim that she heard Martin yelling for help.
The letter goes on to address several other issues related to the case. Bonaparte Jr. writes that Zimmerman's failure to obey a 911 dispatcher's request that he not follow Martin can be taken into account in the ongoing investigation, but adds that the request "is not a lawful order that Mr. Zimmerman would be required to follow."
Bonaparte Jr. appears to be saying that disobeying the order wasn't in itself a violation of law.
Bonaparte Jr. also addresses a claim made by Martin's father, Tracey Martin: that a law enforcement official told Tracey Martin that Zimmerman wasn't initially arrested because he had a squeaky clean image (in fact, Zimmerman had been charged in connection with assaulting a cop, though the charge was dropped).
Bonaparte Jr. writes that the official was merely telling Martin Sr. how Zimmerman had portrayed himself. "We believe Mr. Martin may have misconstrued this information," he adds.
"Let me assure you we too feel the pain of this senseless tragedy that has dramatically affected our community," Bonaparte Jr. writes.
You can read the full letter here.
The U.S. Justice Department and the state of Florida are conducting their own separate investigations into the killing, which has sparked nationwide outrage.
Zimmerman, a white Hispanic, was patrolling the streets of a gated community in Sanford on Feb. 26, when he spotted Martin, 17, and told a police dispatcher that a "black male" was acting "suspicious." Zimmerman, 28, ignored a warning from the dispatcher not to pursue Martin, and a violent confrontation ensued, leaving Martin dead. Zimmerman told local police he acted in self-defense, and he has not been detained or charged, though questions have been raised about the thoroughness of the police investigation.
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What the hell is a "white hispanic"? Does that make TWO strikes against him?
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What the hell is a "white hispanic"? Does that make TWO strikes against him?
His name is Zimmerman...they could have gone with German/Hispanic and gotten another race card played against him.....not that he isn't due for a murder trial anyway
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Sanford Police Chief has stepped "aside",.....
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/03/22/sanford-police-chief-steps-down-amid-outrage-over-shooting-death-teen/
Either way, remember the posts regarding the black on white assaults at the Wisconsin State Fair, the several incidents in Philly?
How about the "white boy" set on fire in Kansas City?
That was a 5 second news blurb.....Now they have the entire class of Carol City High School here in Miami, walk out in protest. (Trayvon attended this school)
did they mention Trayvon was thrown off the football team, and suspended from another school?
Didn't think so...
Wish this kind of intensity was had when the Black Panthers stood in front of a voting location armed with nightsticks.....
But I digress....
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http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/sanford-city-manager-says-were-barred-arresting-trayvon-134007644.html
The city of Sanford, Florida has claimed that it did not arrest George Zimmerman despite his confession that he fatally shot Trayvon Martin because it was legally barred from doing so.
"Zimmerman provided a statement claiming he acted in self defense, which at the time was supported by physical evidence and testimony," Sanford City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. wrote in a letter released publicly Wednesday evening. "By Florida Statute, law enforcement was PROHIBITED from making an arrest based on the facts and circumstances they had at the time."
The Sanford Police Department has received widespread criticism for its handling of the investigation. Among other issues, it didn't conduct a drug or alcohol test on Zimmerman, although that's standard practice in homicide probes, and a witness has said a police officer "corrected" her claim that she heard Martin yelling for help.
The letter goes on to address several other issues related to the case. Bonaparte Jr. writes that Zimmerman's failure to obey a 911 dispatcher's request that he not follow Martin can be taken into account in the ongoing investigation, but adds that the request "is not a lawful order that Mr. Zimmerman would be required to follow."
Bonaparte Jr. appears to be saying that disobeying the order wasn't in itself a violation of law.
Bonaparte Jr. also addresses a claim made by Martin's father, Tracey Martin: that a law enforcement official told Tracey Martin that Zimmerman wasn't initially arrested because he had a squeaky clean image (in fact, Zimmerman had been charged in connection with assaulting a cop, though the charge was dropped).
Bonaparte Jr. writes that the official was merely telling Martin Sr. how Zimmerman had portrayed himself. "We believe Mr. Martin may have misconstrued this information," he adds.
"Let me assure you we too feel the pain of this senseless tragedy that has dramatically affected our community," Bonaparte Jr. writes.
You can read the full letter here.
The U.S. Justice Department and the state of Florida are conducting their own separate investigations into the killing, which has sparked nationwide outrage.
Zimmerman, a white Hispanic, was patrolling the streets of a gated community in Sanford on Feb. 26, when he spotted Martin, 17, and told a police dispatcher that a "black male" was acting "suspicious." Zimmerman, 28, ignored a warning from the dispatcher not to pursue Martin, and a violent confrontation ensued, leaving Martin dead. Zimmerman told local police he acted in self-defense, and he has not been detained or charged, though questions have been raised about the thoroughness of the police investigation.
Bull pucky! Just what part of the law prohibited the arrest? (not saying there should have been one) Also do the Sanford Police (I use the term VERY loosely) also say that the statue prohibited an investigation?
Just a bunch of incompetent a-holes trying to cover their butts!
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Well now there is a witness that backs up Zimmerman's SD. He spoke to authorities the night of the incident, and was a factor in Zimmerman not being charged....
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/state/witness-martin-attacked-zimmerman-03232012
Witness: Martin attacked Zimmerman
Updated: Friday, 23 Mar 2012, 6:19 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 23 Mar 2012, 5:47 PM EDT
ORLANDO - A witness we haven't heard from before paints a much different picture than we've seen so far of what happened the night 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed.
The night of that shooting, police say there was a witness who saw it all.
Our sister station, FOX 35 in Orlando, has spoken to that witness.
What Sanford Police investigators have in the folder, they put together on the killing of Trayvon Martin few know about.
The file now sits in the hands of the state attorney. Now that file is just weeks away from being opened to a grand jury.
It shows more now about why police believed that night that George Zimmerman shouldn't have gone to jail.
Zimmerman called 911 and told dispatchers he was following a teen. The dispatcher told Zimmerman not to.
And from that moment to the shooting, details are few.
But one man's testimony could be key for the police.
"The guy on the bottom who had a red sweater on was yelling to me: 'help, help…and I told him to stop and I was calling 911," he said.
Trayvon Martin was in a hoodie; Zimmerman was in red.
The witness only wanted to be identified as "John," and didn't not want to be shown on camera.
His statements to police were instrumental, because police backed up Zimmerman's claims, saying those screams on the 911 call are those of Zimmerman.
*****
More at link,.....Curiouser and Curiouser....Hmmmm...... ???
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Sure does...Curiouser and Curiouser.
If that is accepted as truth...which is fine since we are accepting most of what is reported as true...for this discussion..., the question becomes how did Zimmerman get close enough to the kid to grapple with him?
Unless the kid hid and waited to jump Zimmerman or doubled back and jumped him, Zimmerman is still on the hook if he knowing moved close enough to allow the confrontation.
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Your right Solus, this is turning into a cluster****, as the recently stepped down Chief of Police, could have quieted the masses by doing one of two things:
Arresting Zimmerman, having him bond out, and day in court.
or
A press conference, stating "we have evidence that Zimmerman was assaulted (facial injuries, and grass stains on his back), and it is under investigation.
The Sanford PD, interviewed the witness and made their determination not to charge Zimmerman. Right or wrong the bungling of PR and allowing it to escalate would have been better thwarted with some decent police statements, and decisive investigation.
OBTW, the "New" Black Panthers, have put a bounty on Zimmerman. Dead or Alive.....This too goes with no consequences....
We all know how Eric Holder, turns a blind eye to the Black Panthers....
So peaceful, and tolerant....
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After being gone for almost a week I have skimmed this fast and may have missed something that I am now repeating. I have read and heard about a lot of this case, the most important thing being that not everything is in or known yet! I have even heard some of the statements concerning the final fight. Bottom line is that the stand your ground is not a defense here for the following reason:
Mr. Zimmerman was not an unwilling participant. He saw something suspicious, and he inserted himself into the situation.
The other side is that once this fight started and if Mr. Martin had been the victor, Mr. Martin could have claimed protection under Stand Your Ground. And, if he had truly been just passing through innocently he would have protection when he acted in fear of harm from a stalking potential attacker. This would have also stood up in court, because Mr. Zimmerman was told by the 911 operator to quit following and wait for the police.
The bottom line is that everyone needs to step back and take a breath. Mr. Zimmerman has not been charged, but that does not mean he won't be. Just because they saw no immediate reason to detain or charge him to this point does not mean that it won't show up in an investigation that is just starting. The sad thing is that regardless of Mr. Zimmerman's reasons for his actions, he has already been charged and convicted in the public courts of opinion.
P.S.
To all those screaming racism - On the 911 tape Mr. Zimmerman did not refer to race until asked by the 911 operator, he needed to check and then was not definite on the race, Mr. Zimmerman is a minority himself, and the FBI facts show that murder by race is highest black on black, followed by white on white, and a the bottom is 9% of murders are black on white, and 2% are white on black. Now Mr. President, I really don't care if your son, had you had one, would have looked like Mr. Martin or not. That is not a part of this case except to further your cause of creating turmoil and mistrust!
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Considering the latent genealogy, the Presidents son could look like Edgar or Johnny Winter as well!
He should have kept his comments to himself!
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Just so long as he didn't look like Jonathan Winter. ;D
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Race of anyone involved should have no bearing on the determination of if a crime has been committed or not and surely who's son a victim might look like is a sublime example of of stupidly injecting racial bias into the legal system.
We will never achieve equality as long as (PC) society proscribes different treatment of any individuals. It is worse when the law does.
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Your right Solus, this is turning into a cluster****, as the recently stepped down Chief of Police, could have quieted the masses by doing one of two things:
Arresting Zimmerman, having him bond out, and day in court.
or
A press conference, stating "we have evidence that Zimmerman was assaulted (facial injuries, and grass stains on his back), and it is under investigation.
The Sanford PD, interviewed the witness and made their determination not to charge Zimmerman. Right or wrong the bungling of PR and allowing it to escalate would have been better thwarted with some decent police statements, and decisive investigation.
OBTW, the "New" Black Panthers, have put a bounty on Zimmerman. Dead or Alive.....This too goes with no consequences....
We all know how Eric Holder, turns a blind eye to the Black Panthers....
So peaceful, and tolerant....
Am I the only one who thinks the New Black Panther Party and the KKK are little more than the two sides of a single coin?
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Am I the only one who thinks the New Black Panther Party and the KKK are little more than the two sides of a single coin?
No but, which side is heads and which tails? Identical agendas!
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No but, which side is heads and which tails? Identical agendas!
I would say they are both tails if you get my drift.
However, I tend to find my self going back to the double standard or as it is often referred to - Reverse Discrimination. KKK is bad because it is a white organization, but the Black Panthers must be given a hearing because they are the poor oppressed minority. This double standard can be found in all areas of our society.
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I would say they are both tails if you get my drift.
However, I tend to find my self going back to the double standard or as it is often referred to - Reverse Discrimination. KKK is bad because it is a white organization, but the Black Panthers must be given a hearing because they are the poor oppressed minority. This double standard can be found in all areas of our society.
For as long as I can remember!
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I would say they are both tails if you get my drift.
However, I tend to find my self going back to the double standard or as it is often referred to - Reverse Discrimination. KKK is bad because it is a white organization, but the Black Panthers must be given a hearing because they are the poor oppressed minority. This double standard can be found in all areas of our society.
Funny, I thought Obama was supposed to be the POST-racial president.
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http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/bobby-rush-hoodie-gets-him-tossed-house-video-153140719.html
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http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/bobby-rush-hoodie-gets-him-tossed-house-video-153140719.html
Good, that type of drama queen tactics need to go.....
Although at times I wouldn't mind a bit of this among Congress critters.
;D
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I would say they are both tails if you get my drift.
However, I tend to find my self going back to the double standard or as it is often referred to - Reverse Discrimination. KKK is bad because it is a white organization, but the Black Panthers must be given a hearing because they are the poor oppressed minority. This double standard can be found in all areas of our society.
Hey, I heard that... All kidding aside, this is so true. The left wouldn't be so hard to deal with if things were dealt with equity. I'm not implying that the right is pure in this regard either, but simple equity in application would be a pleasant change. I can deal with disagreements. It's the hypocrisy that drives me nuts.
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Good, that type of drama queen tactics need to go.....
Although at times I wouldn't mind a bit of this among Congress critters.
;D
I was expecting the Benny Hill theme song, seems more appropriate, no?
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Good, that type of drama queen tactics need to go.....
Although at times I wouldn't mind a bit of this among Congress critters.
;D
ROFLMAO !
That's what we NEED, politicians with real beliefs instead of poll driven opinions.
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h225.html
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Spike Lee Tweeted what he thought was the address of Zimmerman. Instead it was the address of an elderly couple with no connection to him. Here he apologizes to the couple...with a pathetic and hypocritical call for justice in court.
"I deeply apologize to the McClain family for retweeting their address," Lee tweeted. "It was a mistake. Please leave the McClain’s in peace. Justice in court."
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/03/29/spike-lee-says-sorry-to-couple-after-twitter-mixup/
If he was a man, he'd be apologizing to Zimmerman, the people of the United States for trying to subvert the justice system (fallible as it might be at times) and to all Black people for advocating, supporting, assisting and encouraging the type of justice Black folks endured in years past.
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He says "Justice in Court" after fueling mob vengeance >:(
This is like spewing hate and ending it with the words God Bless.
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Spike Lee has never been shy or apologetic of his bigotry!
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Spike Lee has never been shy or apologetic of his bigotry!
Timmy, Timmy, Timmy ...
It isn't bigotry when your black calling somebody white!
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Spike Lee has never been shy or apologetic of his bigotry!
Those are my thoughts exactly. You have to consider the source. Mr. Lee hasn't ever been accused of being repository of critical thought. He's more a reactionary that happens to make movies.
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Timmy, Timmy, Timmy ...
It isn't bigotry when your black calling somebody white!
Yes, Michael, it's bigotry! ;)
It's that double standard at work we discussed earlier!
And, the definition of bigot has little to do with color of ones skin! It's merely an example of the way you can be considered a bigot!
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Hope the little shit had to buy them a new home and a bit more!
http://news.yahoo.com/spike-lee-settles-retweeting-wrong-address-202747871.html
SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — An elderly couple has reached a settlement with Spike Lee after the pair said they had to leave their Florida home after the director help spread a Twitter posting listing their address as that of the man who shot an unarmed teen.
The couple's attorney, Matt Morgan, announced the settlement Thursday. Morgan says Lee called them to apologize for retweeting their address. Specifics of the settlement weren't disclosed.
Elaine and David McClain are in their 70s and say they have a son named William George Zimmerman, who lived in their Sanford area home in the mid-1990s. They say he is no relation to 28-year-old George Zimmerman, who killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on Feb. 26.
The killing has touched off widespread protests around the country and expressions of outrage — including from Lee and other celebrities — because Zimmerman was not arrested. The neighborhood watch volunteer has said he acted in self-defense.
"At this point in time, we have come to an agreement with Spike Lee and his attorneys, and at this point, the matter is fully resolved," Morgan said. "Spike has agreed to compensate the McClains for their loss and for the disruption into their lives. He's taken full responsibility."
Lee tweeted late Wednesday: "I Deeply Apologize To The McClain Family For Retweeting Their Address. It Was A Mistake. Please Leave The McClain's In Peace."
Morgan added that Lee also called the McClains to apologize personally.
"He was really kind," Elaine McClain said. "And when he called us, you could just tell he really felt bad about it. And it was just a slip, and I just know that he really, really has been concerned."
A production company representative for Lee in New York had no comment.
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I'm not sure how your new topic got buried in the old, but at least I found it!
I hope that that settlement includes several zeros (maybe seven), and Mr. Lee owning a home after purchasing another and covering all moving expenses! Under the heading of true remorse I think that Mr. Lee should be carrying heavy and awkward furniture on and off trucks in this weather!
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I'm not sure how your new topic got buried in the old, but at least I found it!
I hope that that settlement includes several zeros (maybe seven), and Mr. Lee owning a home after purchasing another and covering all moving expenses! Under the heading of true remorse I think that Mr. Lee should be carrying heavy and awkward furniture on and off trucks in this weather!
A black man doing manual labor ?
That's racist !
That's what illegal aliens are for.
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I'm not sure how your new topic got buried in the old, but at least I found it!
I changed the thread title and left it here purposely... ;)
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yeah...he apologizes and pays off the old couple who he he exposed to harassment and physical risk by mistakenly doing to them what he fully intended to do to an innocent (until proven guilty) man.
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Stories like the Spike Lee thing, and the Seneca violence is the type of "social overflow" from one media-fueled situation that plays right into the waiting hands of the Liberal Agenda and the Obama Posse.
I calculate they are full of glee at the potential social upheaval that could play out over the next few months.......as in, "Hey folks... focus on my right hand...no, no...never mind my left hand....just focus on the right hand!"
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By the way, where is the Occupy Wall Street crowd now that a rich black man is throwing around cash to avoid the judgement and punishment of our judicial system? How is this different than someone like Lee Iacocca using cash to pay off people to avoid prosecution? Oh yea, he's black, and that makes it all ok >:(
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He apologized, and wrote a check.....How sweet....What a kind and generous compassionate gesture....OBTW, he only apologized for posting the wrong address....
He's a Black Racist, Sh** starting race-baiting pimp.
and an idiot, who realizes he needs movie studios, editing, production staff, marketers, lighting electricians, sound engineers, cameramen, cinematographers, etc,......and a whole lot of the movie studio mgt. that invest in a script to become a movie, are not all African-American....
Here's a clue,....most are evil whitey....
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Give it a year, he'll do some documentary on Pres. BHO's life and times, and if BHO is gone after November it will be a racism is alive and well documentary. After he produces this piece he will be praised by the Hollywood elite left for his civil rights crusade. And people like us will be crucified if we dare remind the world of this event.
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You're correct in all of the above TW except Spike Lee has made an industry of working exclusively with his own! He's not mainstream in the sense that he answers to Hollywood. He couldn't make a movie unless he wrote, directed and produced the entire thing!
Half pint little prick is the loudspeaker for reverse racism in this country!
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Give it a year, he'll do some documentary on Pres. BHO's life and times, and if BHO is gone after November it will be a racism is alive and well documentary. After he produces this piece he will be praised by the Hollywood elite left for his civil rights crusade. And people like us will be crucified if we dare remind the world of this event.
Maybe the movie will earn him a Pulitzer Prize...or do you only get those from Kracker Jack boxes now?
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Your right Timothy, they start there own production companies, only hire from within certain circles, certain ethnicities,(sounds kinda discriminatory doesn't it?) Imagine if a predominately white owned company did what he is doing.
Either way, he has the attention and money from the Black Community that will gladly pay to watch his stuff...Narrowing his parameters to that extent, will only make him a two-bit, 2nd rate producer. He had his 15 minutes of fame when he kept his mouth shut and just made movies....Now?
He's exposed himself as no better than a race baiting, racially motivated, B-Ball watchin' idiot.
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Your right Timothy, they start there own production companies, only hire from within certain circles, certain ethnicities,(sounds kinda discriminatory doesn't it?) Imagine if a predominately white owned company did what he is doing.
Either way, he has the attention and money from the Black Community that will gladly pay to watch his stuff...Narrowing his parameters to that extent, will only make him a two-bit, 2nd rate producer. He had his 15 minutes of fame when he kept his mouth shut and just made movies....Now?
He's exposed himself as no better than a race baiting, racially motivated, B-Ball watchin' idiot.
Didn't we have a word for people like that before "political correctness" took over ?
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He's made a dozen movies with some real talent from the black community. I've seen a few over the years for no other reason than the actor that was in them. Snipes (bankrupt), Denzel (worth watching) and several others. I'd say that of those movies, he's probably hit his nitch audience but not much more.
Will this hurt him? Doubtful! He, like Sly Stallone and the "Arnold" can't make a movie anymore that they don't have complete control over.
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Maybe the movie will earn him a Pulitzer Prize...or do you only get those from Kracker Jack boxes now?
Kinda like someones Nobel Peace Prize for being ... for being ... for being ... what the hell did he do anyway ???
I wonder if there is a clause in that award that can be used to take it back in cases of provoking civil unrest and fanning the flames of racism and class warfare? Or should I say lighting the fires of ...
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Back when Spikey was cutting his teeth, movies like The Color Purple, the one where Morgan Freeman was the school principle, (can't remember the title offhand), and a few others, were GOOD movies.
Robert Duvall and Sean Penn as street cops in the LA Hood was also another good movie...came out in the late 80's....Either way, the tone of the rhetoric is exploited now. The MSM is actually enabling a potential violent Rodney King part II....outcome if the Grand Jury doesn't find Zimmerman guilty before proven innocent....
O'Reilly discussed this on his show tonight, made some good points......Lots to consider, but becomes a moot point when the riots break out.
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"Lean on me" was a Morgan Freeman acted, true story about a high school that was "resurrected" from a slum of an inner city school!
It has nothing to do with Spike!
Freeman, though a liberal, I've yet to see work in a film that was too racist. He's a gifted man.....regardless of his upbringing!
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I thought he was excellent in Bruce Almighty, however, he was once a great actor on "The Electric Company",....PBS, back in the day....Yes I watched it as a kid....
Thanks Timothy. My gray matter is becoming more gray here lately... ::)
;D
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BTW...The Color Purple was directed by Spielberg...well done if you understand the turmoil of the time!
Spike is nothing to Hollyweird!