Rep Allen West is one of many who reacted strongly to the initial news of the shooting of Florida High School student Trayvon Martin. Yet, as is so often the case, it could well be that George Zimmermann, the man accused of shooting the teenager who allegedly did nothing but walk through a neighborhood at night dressed in a hoodie and carrying nothing but a bag of Skittles, may indeed turn out to be the victim of a gross injustice.
Never mind that the Rev Al Sharpton and other notorious race hustlers are calling for Zimmermann's blood. Even the President of the United States has gotten into the act, leading to two contenders for the GOP Presidential nomination, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, to accuse him of turning it into a political issue. This lead in turn to one of Obama's staffer David Plouffe to attack the two candidates, calling their remarks irresponsible, reprehensible, and hard to stomach, according to The Other McCain
And of course, this has lead to more predictable calls for gun control laws, including a call for an investigation of Florida, and other states, Stand Your Ground laws, a demand recently made by no less a figure than New York Democrat US Senator Chuck Schumer.
Now come to find out Martin may not have been so innocent after all, while Zimmermann may indeed have acted in self-defense, according to one eyewitness, which is now rumored to be why Zimmermann was not arrested at the scene to begin with. In fact, it is now being reported that Zimmermann desisted in following Martin at the urgings of 911 dispatchers, whereupon Martin attacked him from behind and was on top of him on the ground, beating him.
Nevertheless this has not dissuaded Sharpton, nor has it convinced any of the other race-hustlers and race-baiters of either race. In fact, just recently came the news The New Black Panthers offer 10,000 dollar reward for capture of Zimmerman
As if this was not enough, Zimmermann's address was tweeted by no less a public figure than film director Spike Lee .
Moreover, there is even some suggestion that Martin's photo might have been altered in order to make him look less intimidating, a way for the media to engender wider sympathy for Martin and further stoke the fires of populist rage. Well, hell, those papers aren't going to sell themselves, you know. Sometimes it takes work. An artistic flair, so to speak.
As might be expected, Obama and the Democrats have remained strangely silent about all these latest developments. But on the other hand, hey-spring is in the air, and there's an election right around the corner. Nothing to gin up the old liberal base quite like a good old fashioned racial controversy. And if it leads to riots, mayhem, destruction of property, or even the murder of a certain "white Hispanic" with a Jewish sounding name, what the fuck? Anything for the cause.
As for me, whenever I see a number of "urban youth" dressed in hoodies approaching me from down the street, I know what to do, now more than ever.
Cross the fucking road.
