Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Taking Ownership


"Do you know that Negroes are 10 percent of the population of St. Louis and are responsible for 58% of its crimes? We've got to face that. And we've got to do something about our moral standards," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. told a congregation in 1961. "We know that there are many things wrong in the white world, but there are many things wrong in the black world, too. We can't keep on blaming the white man. There are things we must do for ourselves."
Not one commentator that I have heard or read has been willing to acknowledge Trayvon Martin's share of the responsibility for his death.  I think it is a shame that he was killed.  I think Zimmerman is a dope.  But engaging in a fistfight with someone you don't know in the dark and rain is dumb.  My interpretation of events is that Martin probably threw the first punch and probably was the only one to land any punches.  There wasn't a mark on him except for a mark on his knuckle, probably the consequence of punching Zimmerman. 
I have a good friend who spent more time than he should have in bars and in fights.  He warns against the practice because he said, "You never know what the other guy is carrying."  Initiating or engaging in fighting with grown men is risky.  Period.  When you do dumb things you can get bad results.

Liberal commentators have focused on the dispatcher telling Zimmerman not to get out of his truck.  I agree.  I wish he had stayed in his truck.  But getting out of his truck and following Martin did not give Martin the right to punch him out.  Getting out of the truck did not start a fight.  The first punch started the fight.  Martin had plenty of time to get home.  His father was 100 yards away.  His  girl friend told him to run.  He decided not to do so.

When liberal commentators absolve Martin of all responsibility they perpetuate the "victimology" of blacks.  Take ownership.  Recognize your share of the problem.  My same friend told me, "A problem well stated is half solved."  Denying a problem solves nothing.

Hags



3 comments:

terry said...

no one commentatorthat I have heard or read has been willing to acknowledge Trayvon's share of responsibility for his death? Did I just quote that from your piece? What is it please be specific Hags? walking home he should have hurried more? As far as i know walking home is legal? Starting a fight with someone following you (not proven of course) isn't smart but that's his share of responsibility for DYING. If someone followed my son home at age 17 and my son took a swing at him I wouldnt blame him. So where again didn't race play a large role in this!

Baxter said...

"The first punch started the fight?" Really? The fight wasn't started when a creepy dweeb stalked a kid and arrogantly confronted him, knowing that he had a hidden, loaded handgun if things got out of hand?

Your bar-room buddy is right and I wish Trayvon had been as wise. But there are "fighting words" and aggressive behavior that will cause the best among us to strike out.

Hags said...

Terry,

I get your feelings and I share them. I wish the kid had not died. But what was he doing on the guy's chest repeatedly punching him? Was he trying to protect himself? It is ridiculous to think that Trayvon had some right to pummel Zimmerman. That isn't a right.

The law is that if you fear you are going to die or be severely injured you can respond. I think it is crazy to carry a gun. I am not in support of Zimmerman or the outcome. I wish the kid were still alive. All I am saying is that he shares in the responsibility. If his goal was to protect himself he could have left when Zimmerman hit the ground.

Or is your position that if someone follows you then you have the right to kick the shit out of him?

Hags