When last he wrote on the subject of Trayvon Martin Charles Blow focused, appropriately, on the grief of a family in shock. In so doing, however, he emphasized the implausibility of George Zimmerman's self-defense claim by pointing out that Zimmerman outweighed Martin by 100 pounds.
The NY Times has since downsized Zimmerman and reports a weight differential of 20 pounds, completely altering the sense of the self-defense scenario. Yet Charles Blow remains silent on this point (their opinion columnists, as the Times has explained over the years, are not bound by either the rules of their news people or even conventionally accepted reality). If Mr. Blow won't make an honest attempt to report the facts fairly as they emerge, then he is simply cheerleading for one side.
Today he is back to the Martin case, without a correction but with a useful demonstration of just why the national conversation has gone off the rails. Now, per Mr. Blow, the Martin case is a national moment prompting reflection on institutionalized racism in the justice system, the education system, and America generally:
The Martin case, on the other hand, holds the potential to be a high point [in contrast with the OJ Simpson case]. There is nobility in the advocacy for truth and justice for a dead child who would still be alive if Zimmerman had not pursued him. While opinions shouldn’t get ahead of the facts — and we must all remember that what is right and what is legal don’t always dovetail — public pressure for a thorough investigation and fair dealings in this case needn’t and mustn’t be defined as a black issue. It’s a universally human issue.
Furthermore, Trayvon’s death and the public outcry about the case has shined a harsh light on the plight of young black men in America and the shadow of suspicion that hangs over them. It has also renewed the debate about racial-profiling — which is completely incongruous to any basic concept of fairness. Guilt isn’t genetic. Color and culture don’t dictate criminality. Innocence must be the default assumption. No one should be punished for another’s sins.
"Opinions shouldn’t get ahead of the facts"? He isn't letting facts get in the way of his previously expressed opinions.
In any case, he has moved past a grieving family and on to a national search for racial justice. And of course Trayvon Martin's death is now an illustration this Larger Narrative. Hence the media enthusiasm to enhance the narrrative (ABC, NBC, CNN, NY Times) at the expense of tedious facts relating to the loss of one young man's life and the destruction of anothers.
And now the left and right talk at cross purposes - much of the left has so identified the illustration with the Larger Narrative that a criticism of the first is interpreted as a rebuttal to the second. Our national dialogue in caricature:
Charles BlowLike: The tragic Martin death highlights the need for reform of our school and police systems! End stop and frisk!
Tedious Troglodyte: Uhh, Charles, according to the maps and reporting by the Times (catching up!), Trayvon Martin was ahead of Zimmerman with a clear path home. How come he doubled back to confront him instead of hoofing it for home and flipping on the NBA? It used to be daft to think he turned back to confront a mountain in motion, but not anymore. Your thoughts?
Charles BlowLike: Now you're denying there is racism in AmeriKKKa!
I am all in favor of racial justice, and the problems cited by Mr. Blow merit discussion, regardless of the whether the State of Florida or the DoJ can find probable cause to charge and try George Zimmerman. The illustration is not the Larger Narrative. But one is being defended as if it is the other, and the credibility of those promoting the Larger Narrative is not enhanced when they lie 9including by omission) more or less shamelessly about the illustration.
ABANDONED BY HIS EDITORS? Is Mr. Blow walking a lonely road at the Times? Two apparent errors catch my eye. Here he is talking about a Gallup poll that showed blacks were more inclined than whites to be following the case and thinking Zimmerman was guilty of something:
It also found that nearly three-fourths of blacks believe that racial bias was a major factor in the shooting, and the events that led up to it, and that Zimmerman would have been arrested if he had shot a white person.
(Zimmerman was taken into police custody after the shooting but was released and hasn’t been charged.)
On all these measures, nonblacks were more reticent. Only 11 percent believed that Zimmerman was definitely guilty...
"Reticent"? As in, "taciturn, quiet, uncommunicative", reluctant, and unwilling to express an opinion to the pollster? Isn't "skeptical" the word he seeks?
And here is a headscratcher; my emphasis, with a lead-in for context:
Furthermore, Trayvon’s death and the public outcry about the case has shined a harsh light on the plight of young black men in America and the shadow of suspicion that hangs over them. It has also renewed the debate about racial-profiling — which is completely incongruous to any basic concept of fairness. Guilt isn’t genetic. Color and culture don’t dictate criminality. Innocence must be the default assumption. No one should be punished for another’s sins.
And, as the investigation progresses, it may well open the conversation even wider to consider unequal treatment of boys and men — by all authority figures in this country — and the heavy toll that that takes.
Surely he doesn't mean all men, he means blacks and, hmm, Hispanics. It is true that more men than women are subjected to stop and frisk, and more boys than girls are subjected to school discipline, but that can't be his point, can it? A possible guess - since most of these studies show that Hispanic men and boys fare roughly as poorly as blacks and George Zimmerman is Hispanic, well, the topic gets tricky to address.
To be fair, in his latest column Mr. Blow directly describes Zimmerman as Hispanic; he ducked that in his second column and relied on the family's description in his first.
SCHOOL DISCIPLINE: Wow, do I digress. This has nothing to do with whether the state can find probable cause to charge George Zimmerman. However, the notion that America is at crisis because schools somehow think black boys are not as well behaved as, e.g., Asian boys may not sit well on a Saturday morning.
The Southern Poverty Law Center says this:
Regarding the causes for the disproportionately high rates at which students of color are suspended, some argue that minority children, particularly male students of color, tend to misbehave more frequently in school than do White children.
Research on student behavior, race, and discipline has found no evidence that African-American over-representation in school suspension is due to higher rates of misbehavior (McCarthy and Hoge, 1987; McFadden et al., 1992; Shaw & Braden, 1990; Wu et al., 1982). Skiba et al. (2002) reviewed racial and gender disparities in school punishments in an urban setting, and found that White students were referred to the office significantly more frequently for offenses that appear more capable of objective documentation (e.g., smoking, vandalism, leaving without permission, and obscene language). African-American students, however, were referred more often for disrespect, excessive noise, threat, and loitering - behaviors that would seem to require more subjective judgment on the part of the referring agent. In short, there is no evidence that racial disparities in school discipline can be explained through higher rates of disruption among African-American students.
And the Skiba et al study from 2002 will be convincing to those who want or need to be convinced. I liked this, about subjective versus objective disciplinary problems (p. 18/26):
White students were significantly more likely to be referred to the office for smoking, leaving without permission, obscene language, and vandalism. In contrast, black students were more likely to be referred to the office for disrespect, excessive noise, threat, and loitering.
It is difficult to judge which of these two sets of behaviors is more “serious.” Different observers might well come to different conclusions about whether obscene language and vandalism are more or less serious than disrespect or threat. Yet there are clearly different patterns of referral for the two races.
It may difficult to judge, but we make these tough calls every day!
Smoking - a nuisance and a long term threat to others by way of second hand smoke. Minor.
Leaving without permission - I like the upcoming contrast with "loitering", which is being in place without permission. Absence may make the heart grow fonder but other than heart attack risk it is not threatening those in the vicinity of the non-presence.
Vandalism: threatening to property; if I am ever bolted to a school wall, I'll get nervous.
Obscene language: Dammit, they got me here. Could be threatening and is surely disrespectful.
Disrespect: Sounds like poor inter-personal skills, if not necessarily threatening.
Excessive noise: Same as above.
Threat: Sounds, well, threatening.
Loitering: Again, this is a 'definitely maybe' on the threat scale.
And for all anyone knows, the teachers give the black kids a pass on smoking and focus on preventing them from killing each other. Or they hand out guns to the white kids and urge them to have at it. It's only a guess but I don't have the impression our liberal media or academics want to dig deep on this one.
And dare we ask about "tomming", "acting white", and other seemingly self-imposed burdens borne by black boys? We dare not.
TIMES HELD HOSTAGE, DAY SIX: Other than Mr. Blow and the Media Decoder blog entry on the fired NBC producer, the Times maintains its eerie silence; no Times reporter has had a bylined story on the Trayvon Martin killing since April 1.
If there were racial justice Blow would be stacking aisles at WalMart. Once again the NYT has made a regrettable AA hire.
Posted by: clarice | April 07, 2012 at 09:54 AM
I know some are tired with me maguire's fascination with this. But he is putting everything out there and creating the go to record for this case.
Too bad that when the race riots start, a large portion (well 12 percent of the population) are too blinded by their bitter inferiority complex and an additional 24 percent of the population are sleazy dishonest democrats.
There's gonna be, he'll there already is blood in the streets. The president wouldn't have it any other way.
Posted by: Donald | April 07, 2012 at 10:01 AM
Well he was their graphic artist, just like Frank Rich was their drama critic, and Dowd
their hatcheck girl
Posted by: narciso | April 07, 2012 at 10:02 AM
Mr and hell.
Posted by: Donald | April 07, 2012 at 10:02 AM
Sorry. Communists
Posted by: Donald | April 07, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Whatever happened to being for good old fashioned JUSTICE sans adjective? Implication being that justice isn't worth much without the qualifying adjective e.g. racial {payoffs to Al and Jesse) social (payoffs to Al and Jesse and any other racketeer on the left) community (payoffs to The One et. al.) und so weiter ad infinitum ad nauseum.
Stick with justice, a tough enough ideal to strive for without all the dam Left qualifiers.
Posted by: Gregory Koster | April 07, 2012 at 10:07 AM
Not that's no 36 percent are democrats, but you know they for like dozens of sub groups
Posted by: Donald | April 07, 2012 at 10:10 AM
Missed opportunity to title the post "The Largerer Narrative".
Posted by: AliceH | April 07, 2012 at 10:11 AM
I was charmed by that too ([email protected]:11).
Posted by: Jim,MtnView,Ca,USA | April 07, 2012 at 10:17 AM
That's a perfectly cromulent word, Alice;
THe problem is similar to when Ames or Philby
were in their respective services, any investigation they could derail, the same with
this reporter, who spins things one way;
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/05/2735630/friends-lawyers-wage-campaign.html
We have a similar problem with the Gitmo detainees devil's advocate Carol Rosenberg,
Posted by: narciso | April 07, 2012 at 10:17 AM
It appears that Blow has access to at least a synopsis of the school records which account for the case of arrested beatification of Grillntats Obama. The puerile leap from lying about a specific instance to lying about general circumstance was accomplished with the practiced ease (read "stumbling ineptitude") which characterizes the innate dishonesty that is a basic requirement for employment at the NYT.
In a better world, Blow might have asked some searching questions concerning a pop culture which furnished Grillntats with models unworthy of emulation.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | April 07, 2012 at 10:22 AM
"ironically, the word cromulent is not itself cromulent."
LUN
Posted by: Jim,MtnView,Ca,USA | April 07, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Too bad Mr. Blow couldn't climb outside of his boxed-in mindset, and see the truth: their won't be further progress on race relations until the black community utterly rejects the race hustlers (aka Al, Jesse, & Co.)
Posted by: iqvoice | April 07, 2012 at 10:26 AM
Stick with justice, a tough enough ideal to strive for without all the dam Left qualifiers.
Amen, amen, & amen!!!! Here's a great Dennis Prager video making that same point.
Posted by: Janet | April 07, 2012 at 10:28 AM
Well then we're well and truly screwed.
Now, off to my first trail ride with the new bike.
Posted by: Donald | April 07, 2012 at 10:29 AM
Is Blow just craven or stupid, yes, it's like Widlanski's forensic analysis of Friedman, in 'Battle of the Minds' Flathead doesn't know enough Arabic to figure out that Haddad was not involved in the Sabra and Shatila matter,
but just enough that he knows to peddle that angle, and that story, made him, like Watergate made Woodward, but with more tragic
consequences,
Posted by: narciso | April 07, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Criminy, Narc. That ghastly article was in the NEWS section.
Posted by: AliceH | April 07, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Blowhard would get little notice in the hood, in fact his rather effeminate appearance would likely put him at some risk.
Posted by: Gmax | April 07, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Oh dear lord Georgie's going with the "shaken baby defence".
Poor little Georgie,did the nasty black boy "shake" you too hard?
Unbelievable.
You know...and this is just a thought....all evidence points to Zimmerman resuming his neighbourhood patroling duties once this whole thing blows over.I'm sure other potential Zimmermans want to test the bounderies of their own lax gun laws.
If I were a black teen..........and this is just a thought.....i'm condoning this.... I would arm myself and get ready to take out any motherf****** that followed me.
But that's just me.That's how I think.
Posted by: Dublindave | April 07, 2012 at 10:37 AM
sorry...not condoning it...
Posted by: Dublindave | April 07, 2012 at 10:38 AM
TM does the blog world award a trophy to best headline writer? If they do, your mantle must be getting pretty crowded.
Posted by: Chubby | April 07, 2012 at 10:39 AM
Sorry, here's the right title,
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Battle-for-Our-Minds/Michael-Widlanski/9781451659030/print
he eviscerates Pillar, Schueuer and Tenet, 'the three monkeys' of intelligence policies, but seeing the effusions of McGovern, Madsen and Larry 'terrorism is a manageable issue 'Johnson, one wonders how
we have not been more of a mark
Posted by: narciso | April 07, 2012 at 10:39 AM
Dear narciso: In the Blow craven or stupid competition, I vote for "cynical and corrupt." Where would Blow be without the raaaaaaaaacccccciiisssssstttt schtick as his crutch? What does he care about the truth? Since when do the stars of journalism get penalized for lying, so long as the lies advance The Cause? Try to imiagine any other career that would pay Blow so well as the TIMES has
Posted by: Gregory Koster | April 07, 2012 at 10:40 AM
In Chicago, even the criminals aren't safe:
"5 people shot Friday night, Saturday morning across city
About 11:30 Friday night, an 18-year-old man was shot on the 1100 block of South Francisco Avenue in the Lawndale neighborhood on the West Side, police said. He was getting robbed by two armed men when someone down the block shot at all three, police said."
LUN
Posted by: L Brown | April 07, 2012 at 10:41 AM
((conventionally accepted reality))
I gotta remember that so I can use it. CAR. CAR. CAR.
Posted by: Chubby | April 07, 2012 at 10:43 AM
Aaaahhhh...coffee!
Posted by: Rocco | April 07, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Aaaahhhh...
coffeebeer!Posted by: hit and run | April 07, 2012 at 11:01 AM
DublinDave, dublin' down on encouraging thuggish behavior, because, well, that's how he thinks.
I called it last night, there would be mockery of mention of "shaken baby."
This case isn't funny. Aggravated assault isn't funny. Being put in fear for your life isn't funny, and DublinDave is on the aggressor's side of "not funny."
Posted by: cboldt | April 07, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Weissbier and Weisswurst - great breakfast, indeed.
Posted by: cboldt | April 07, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Speaking of the Urban Dictionary, a buddy of mine got two new entries accepted, nearacle and lifespam.
It was a nearacle that I got through that speed trap doing 80 without getting busted.
Lifespam: The length of time an ad/brochure/campaign/joke lasts before becoming annoying.
Posted by: Manuel Transmission | April 07, 2012 at 11:13 AM
After weeks of following this story and reading between the lines I'm convinced this is not about justice, or even TM and GZ. The uproar from the left is about 3 fundamental perceived advantages/issues:
1) You can't continue to extort money (reparations, etc.) and special considerations (Affirmative Action, etc.) from Whitey if you don't keep him feeling guilty. This will never go away until liberals get over their guilt complex.
2) The black community, generally, is in denial of crime statistics. The big crime here, in their eyes, is that GZ, the neighborhood crime watch captain, did not ignore TM; it's racial profiling in their eyes even to have seen TM wander through the neighborhood.
3) And, yes, the Obamacrats have found a wedge issue to try to exploit.
Posted by: LouP | April 07, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Much like the desire to create a national dialogue on bullying so a real problem can become the rationale for a desired solution, blow is offering up another problem that can be the excuse for the desired change in focus for our schools.
I did mention on the other thread having encountered one of the beer summiteers yesterday writing a graphic foreword to one appears to be a seminal book in blow's desired shift. Desperate to draw attention away from the real focus.
I have been pondering the implications of all this and that pesky oath bo made not just once. Even got a redo. I guess his oath was to the operating document he envisioned when he got done with his transformation.
chubby-message for you on previous thread.
Posted by: rse | April 07, 2012 at 11:16 AM
It's been a long Lenten season. You're a good Catholic hit.
Posted by: Rocco | April 07, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Speaking of the wider point;
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303299604577323750859163544.html?mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_Lifestyle_5
Posted by: narciso | April 07, 2012 at 11:29 AM
And yet, how do we explain the fact that homicide offending rates for blacks are more than seven times higher than the rates for whites?
Racism? How does that work, exactly?
Stunning statistic. And it can't be related to the rate of serious misbehavior, because there's no evidence to support that (and apparently we're not going to add up the "threat" category and quantify it), and as we all know, crime has no color.Posted by: Cecil Turner | April 07, 2012 at 11:31 AM
--This case isn't funny. Aggravated assault isn't funny. Being put in fear for your life isn't funny, and DublinDave is on the aggressor's side of "not funny."--
I said it before and I'll say it again; I'm picking up Jane's mantle and hoping that the malignant weeDublinDave is accosted, fears for his life, kills the perpetrator and is unjustly imprisoned for defending himself.
Only a serving of their own sh*t educates slime like wee Davey boy.
Posted by: Ignatz | April 07, 2012 at 11:33 AM
--Racism? How does that work, exactly?--
They're all innocent, CT.
Don't believe me?
Go to any prison and ask em.
Posted by: Ignatz | April 07, 2012 at 11:35 AM
"DublinDave, dublin' down on encouraging thuggish behavior, because, well, that's how he thinks."
"Self defence" arguements aren't as attractive when applied to the black community,right?
"This case isn't funny. Aggravated assault isn't funny. Being put in fear for your life isn't funny, and DublinDave is on the aggressor's side of 'not funny."'
What about taking the life of a 17 year old?
I keep hearing about Zimmermans cuts,Zimmermans broken nose,Zimmerman fearing for his life,blah blah blah poor Zimmerman,but very little about the fact that this scum took the life of a 17 year old walking back to his house.
All the legal contortions people are getting into just to give Zimmerman a decent defence doesn't detract from the God's honest truth that if you're a 17 year old black boy being followed by a man in a car at night time,and then on foot...........you are f***ing doomed.
That's the truth.
I asked the women of this group how they'd feel is they were being followed by a man at night time and I didn't get a single response.Maybe it's a lack of moral courage,who knows,but of all the other women IRL i've asked,everyone of them have given me the same answer;terrified.
If Trayvon lashed out I completely understand.He was frightened.He wasn't a thug,he was scared.
You know what else I understand? A person knows instinctively that if they follow a stranger at night time, bad things are going to happen.Go out tonight and pick a guy and follow him.Seriously,i'm not kidding,try it,go out tonight in your city or your neighbourhood,pick a guy and begin to follow him.
You'll be ten seconds into it before you realize this is a really,really bad idea.
George Zimmerman knew exactly what he was doing that night he followed Trayvon Martin.He knew a conflict was going to errupt because that's what happens when you follow strangers at nighttime,they f**king freak out,run or defend themselves.
Zimmerman didn't mind because he had a loaded gun.He knew an altercation,any altercation would
afford him the opportunity to use that gun.He even telegraphed his intentions to the dispatcher when he told him,"they always get away with it".
Not this time,George.
Posted by: Dublindave | April 07, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Janet, that Dennis Prager video that you linked to was outstanding.
Posted by: Chubby | April 07, 2012 at 11:36 AM
all evidence points to Zimmerman resuming his neighbourhood patroling duties once this whole thing blows over
What's that evidence Dave? Did you hide it in the same place you hid all the other "evidence" you cite.
Maybe we should start at the beginning. Do you know what the word "evidence" means?
Posted by: Jane | April 07, 2012 at 11:46 AM
What evidence exists that had Zimmerman come across a white teenager that fateful night behaving in the exact same manner that Martin was behaving that he would have done anything differently?
Posted by: hit and run | April 07, 2012 at 11:46 AM
You know, wee Dublin Dave, I think you're right, that Zimmerman is a foul coward.
To demonstrate your superior morals and the courage of your convictions, why don't you post under your real name that Zimmerman murdered Trayvon Martin so that we can send that factual assertion to Mr. Zimmemrman's attorneys?
Were I them I'm sure I'd eventually be looking high and low for such brave characters.
Got deep pockets wee Davey?
Posted by: Ignatz | April 07, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Oh, have your fun. When the caffeine kicked in I spotted that, along with a few other eyesores.
It will live here in the comments, however.
It's an honor just to be considered, but... a guy who consistently has amusing headlines over at his blog is Paul Krugman. Troubling.
Had he not doubled back he could have enjoyed the game. Zimmerman surely contributed to a ghastly situation, but so did Martin. And that sets aside disputes over first words/first contact/first punch. Martin still walked back.
Posted by: Tom Maguire | April 07, 2012 at 11:53 AM
So, I must ask you Dublindave, how did you aquire your mind reading skills?
I mean, you can look into Zimmerman's mind so clearly and know what he is thinking. You apparently know better than Zimmerman himself, who was put on a voice stress test while he was telling his story, and passed without problem, thus indicating he was speaking truthfully about what happened.
And I find it facinating that you completely understand TM's "lashing out" because he was "scared." Yet you don't have any sympathy or understanding how scared GM was with a guy over him smashing his head into the ground?
Just curious.
Posted by: Ranger | April 07, 2012 at 11:54 AM
"all evidence points to Zimmerman resuming his neighbourhood patroling duties once this whole thing blows over."
What evidence is that?
Posted by: Danube of Thought | April 07, 2012 at 11:55 AM
"What's that evidence Dave? Did you hide it in the same place you hid all the other "evidence" you cite.
Maybe we should start at the beginning. Do you know what the word "evidence" means?"
Well,Jane,leaving aside the fact that you thought George Zimmerman had been arrested and lying to a detective conductng a murder investigation wasn't a crime....lol brilliant.....you recently asked me to prove that the "partial birth abortion ban" curbed reproducitve rights for women.
ROFLMAO.
I was kind,tried to save you some face,but alas.....
Posted by: Dublindave | April 07, 2012 at 11:57 AM
DumbAssDave, unlike the rest of us, cannot only read minds, he can read the hearts of others, and pretty much all "non-Pregressives" are vicious racists merely waiting for the opportunity to kill. Never mind data, facts, or evidence, He knows.
Posted by: JorgXMcKie | April 07, 2012 at 11:57 AM
A good summary of the employment number manipulation from our pal, John Lott at LUN. Worthy of the fine analysis our crack team here at JOM has been doing.
(I actually got to meet Lott at a lecture he gave at Ohio $tate a few years ago.)
Posted by: Manuel Transmission | April 07, 2012 at 11:59 AM
"If Trayvon lashed out I completely understand.He was frightened"
If he was frightened he would have continued on the unimpeded path home, instead of doubling back and approaching from behind and attacking a man who was no longer following.
But we can be assured that Dublin Dave is one mighty tough hombre. Just read what he says about himself.
Posted by: Danube of Thought | April 07, 2012 at 12:00 PM
As for Georgie resuming his neighbour hood watch duties,assuming he recovers from his shaken baby syndrome,I see know reason why he wouldn't.
His defence is that he did nothing wrong,so the logical conclusion to draw from that(inductive reasoning is allowed isn't it srb?)that he'll continue patrolling the neighbourhood.
Posted by: Dublindave | April 07, 2012 at 12:01 PM
In some what more amusing news, Huck starting his gig with Cumulus, some people just have
money to burn I guess, 'Dr. Evil' is all for it, although No. 2, is agnostic.
Posted by: narciso | April 07, 2012 at 12:02 PM
--.....you recently asked me to prove that the "partial birth abortion ban" curbed reproducitve rights for women--
No she didn't you slimey little liar.
She asked you to explain your reasoning.
Her mistake was in assuming you reason.
Posted by: Ignatz | April 07, 2012 at 12:08 PM
--I actually got to meet Lott at a lecture he gave at Ohio $tate a few years ago.-
MT,
John Lott, unlike Ace, is a hero.
Posted by: Ignatz | April 07, 2012 at 12:09 PM
THey keep 'searching for the pony,' over there
http://www.buzzfeed.com/nycsouthpaw/missing-from-the-historical-record-obamas-handwr
Posted by: narciso | April 07, 2012 at 12:10 PM
His defence is that he did nothing wrong,so the logical conclusion to draw from that(inductive reasoning is allowed isn't it srb?)that he'll continue patrolling the neighbourhood.
I can also reason by induction that you've never known anyone in your life who has had any kind of traumatic experneice. It is very common for people who have experience trauma to specificly avoid activities and experiences related to that trauma, even if they did nothing wrong or had no active part in the cuase of the trauma.
Posted by: Ranger | April 07, 2012 at 12:10 PM
Here is a good picture for the left...watering the victim-revenge-tribalism tree.
Posted by: Janet | April 07, 2012 at 12:11 PM
And yet, how do we explain the fact that homicide offending rates for blacks are more than seven times higher than the rates for whites?
Per my comment a few threads ago, that stat is produced by about 1/30 of the general population.
It reminds me of a powerful paper someone here linked nearly three years ago about psychopathy and how the percent of the population afflicted with it expanded dramatically as a result of the War on Poverty. The implication was that psycopathy was genetic and the 'hood was infested with psychopaths who fathered substantially more children throughout the 'hood than their single family peers. We appear to be reaping that harvest.
Posted by: Manuel Transmission | April 07, 2012 at 12:13 PM
I've hit a nerve,I can tell.
I think people know instinctively that Zimmerman was wrong to follow Trayvon.
A further push in the direction of logic......it's hard to believe that Zimmerman didn't know that an altercation would ensue if he followed who he believed was quite possibly a dangerous criminal.He was also aware of the loaded gun in his holster.
Posted by: Dublindave | April 07, 2012 at 12:14 PM
Reticent. Reticent's a really great word but rarely used anymore, and when it is, it's often used incorrectly. OK, here's an example of proper use:
"I'm reticent. Ooh yes. I am reticent", says Mrs. Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn when asked to opine on Prof. Harold Hill. Were Charlie Blow a fan of The Music Man he would have known what the word means.
Posted by: Ratskeller | April 07, 2012 at 12:17 PM
I can also reason by induction that you've never known anyone in your life who has had any kind of traumatic experneice. It is very common for people who have experience trauma to specificly avoid activities and experiences related to that trauma, even if they did nothing wrong or had no active part in the cuase of the trauma.
Sure,but statistically speaking post trauma shootings occur primarily among professionals.Vigilantes,those who actively go out and seek conflict seem to be entirely ommited from this disorder.
Maybe it's because you've already come to terms with yourself that you're going to kill someone,that there seems to be very little post-guilt.
Posted by: Dublindave | April 07, 2012 at 12:22 PM
"all evidence points to" ≠ "I see know reason why he wouldn't"
In fact, "I see know reason why he wouldn't" ≠ evidence at all.
Posted by: hit and run | April 07, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Blow, like Bob Herbert, is proof that NYT management is happy to have a resident black op ed writer spouting off whatever nonsense he feels like. Herbert finally shuffled off the scene--as will Blow. Then a new Black Chia Pet will show up and take the "black slot" on the NYT op ed page.
Posted by: Comanche Voter | April 07, 2012 at 12:39 PM
It is inconceivable that the George Zimmerman of Dublindave's imagination doesn't have a bloody trail of killings to his name.
Posted by: hit and run | April 07, 2012 at 12:40 PM
So DublinDave, just so we can be clear, when do you think a woman's "reproductive rights" should end? For example, if there is a live birth but the umbilical cord is still attached, is it okay for the woman to change her mind and have the doctor slit the baby/fetus's throat?
Because that is essentially what partial-birth abortion is.
Also, since aborted fetuses are not human life, but only a "choice", (and choices are always good!), do you think we should send the fetuses to the soup kitchen so they can be made into chili for the homeless? That would be the Green Solution, you know. Better than just filling up the landfill with millions of fetuses every year.
Posted by: iqvoice | April 07, 2012 at 12:44 PM
One does get the sense that Dublindave is doing a lot of projecting here. He knows how the mind of a sociopathic killer works a little too well.
Posted by: Ranger | April 07, 2012 at 12:46 PM
Hey Dave you called Jane a dope for not knowing it's a crime to lie to an investigating police officer.
Do you have a citation that in FL it is?
It may be, I don't know, but I'm not the one making the assertion.
It's a crime almost everywhere to lie to one about who you are and of course it is a crime to lie after being sworn in or taking an oath and the Feds have criminalized lying to them, but do you have an actual cite for what you claim?
I can't find one in the CA penal code.
Posted by: Ignatz | April 07, 2012 at 12:54 PM
DElusion comes in many forms, note Bachmann and Santorum's team comes from HuckPac, so
when you taste that show leather;
Mike Huckabee is ready to be president of the United States,” Schmidt said. “He has maintained electoral viability while maintaining his media career. The fact that he’s now going to have a big audience and a daily platform, and that he delivers a conservative message without a lot of venom and bile, will be a benefit.”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/74907_Page2.html#ixzz1rN7M4xjc
Posted by: narciso | April 07, 2012 at 12:55 PM
What slays me is the lengths to which liberals will go to excuse an aggravated assault by Martin. (And the apparent acceptance of that as justifiable, even if it leads to great bodily harm.)
Might make me rethink my position on concealed carry (from the current: too much trouble).
Posted by: Cecil Turner | April 07, 2012 at 12:59 PM
Well,Jane,leaving aside the fact that you thought George Zimmerman had been arrested and lying to a detective conductng a murder investigation wasn't a crime....
SO were those cuffs on Zimmerman because they were playing a sex game dubdave? Lay it out for us.
I too would like to see where in the Florida criminal code it is a crime to lie to a cop. Why don't you ever provide the source of all your wisdom?
lol brilliant.....you recently asked me to prove that the "partial birth abortion ban" curbed reproducitve rights for women.
Actually I asked you to prove your allegation about President Bush, which you can't and didn't.
Shall I LOL too? Sorry, but you are too dishonest to even laugh at.
Posted by: Jane | April 07, 2012 at 01:08 PM
I'll be the first to admit this is a stupid question, but I just can't stop wondering who came up with the $ for Martin to have that grillwork done. That's not free, right? Does it require a dentist? Parental permission?
Posted by: AliceH | April 07, 2012 at 01:16 PM
He knew a conflict was going to erupt because that's what happens when you follow strangers at nighttime,they f**king freak out,run or defend themselves.
Attack and defense are not the same thing, Wee Davy. If somebody gets behind you in line in the supermarket and you punch her (can't imagine you taking on a man) in the head, that's assault. If somebody is walking behind you on the street and you hit her, that's assault.
Besides that, you left off a couple of things that can happen when one person follows a stranger at night:
There can be a tense but polite exchange, like "Excuse me, I'm with the Neighborhood Watch, could you tell me where you're going/I'm staying with my dad's fiance ____ in unit ____."
Or the stranger can keep walking until he reaches his destination. I'm no expert, but I've been behind literally thousands of people on various streets at night time, and that is by far the most common result. We both just keep walking.
I suppose that's because none of the thousands of strangers I've found myself walking behind over the years have been as much of an asshole as you are.
Posted by: bgates | April 07, 2012 at 01:20 PM
MT,
Lott lost me with this:
He may be hanging his hat on "exact" but the BLS is open about its methodology concerning seasonal adjustment.
IMO - the charade factor re the BLS concerns its existence. Close to real time data regarding employment has been collected by the SSA for a very long time. There is no logical reason why the BLS should not be a small collation group tasked with accurately disseminating information provided by employers and the self-employed to the SSA. It is no longer even an effective propaganda tool for the pols responsible for maintaining its existence.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | April 07, 2012 at 01:21 PM
I just can't stop wondering who came up with the $ for Martin to have that grillwork done. That's not free, right?
I'm sure we'll hear about the racial injustices of our dental system at some point before all this is over, Alice.
Posted by: bgates | April 07, 2012 at 01:21 PM
"who came up with the $ for Martin to have that grillwork done."
Perhaps the same "friend" who "gave" him the jewelry?
Since we're speculating.
Posted by: Jim,MtnViewCA,USA | April 07, 2012 at 01:22 PM
the problems cited by Mr. Blow merit discussion
I dream of a day when the number of black people killed by whites drops to zero, and the number of white people killed by blacks each year drops to the low 3 digits.
Posted by: bgates | April 07, 2012 at 01:26 PM
If tonight after having a few drinks at our neighbors over in the cul-du-sac I am walking home and spot someone with whom I am not familiar seemingly wandering from house to house...
I would probably say something to him. "Can I help you?" "What are you doing?" I would keep an eye on him. If I can't identify him either visually or by talking to him, I would call the police.
It's acceptable -- and in our neighborhood expected -- behavior. If I was over in the cul-du-sac and someone witnessed a stranger wandering around my house in the dark, I would thank him for doing the same thing. And if he told me later that he witnessed such an event and did nothing, I would think much less of him.
And on my walk home tonight I will cut through some yards. If Duane comes out and starts yelling at me ("get off my lawn!"), I will humbly admit to trying to cut through and apologize. If he comes down off his deck and starts following me because he doesn't recognize me and wants to make sure I'm not causing trouble,I won't punch him.
Posted by: hit and run | April 07, 2012 at 01:26 PM
Acruallyignatz, all she asked for was a link. Which does not exist, so ole save dissembles. Cause he's a lying pussy.
Posted by: Donald | April 07, 2012 at 01:28 PM
Ave dissembles.
Posted by: Donald | April 07, 2012 at 01:28 PM
--He may be hanging his hat on "exact" but the BLS is open about its methodology concerning seasonal adjustment.--
Rick,
Lott in my experience does hang his hat on 'exact' and for good reason.
His gun stats have been the object of many attempts to discredit and undermine and to my knowledge have never been shown to be poorly done. And he has always been completely transparent in his methods and data.
Posted by: Ignatz | April 07, 2012 at 01:29 PM
I think Dublindave is fascinating. Here we have a real live racist explaining his thought processes in a blog without any self-consciousness. It reminds me of the time that the late great Robert Byrd from West “By God” Virginia explained to Tony Snow that there were “white n*****s” without turning a hair.
Posted by: Moneyrunner | April 07, 2012 at 01:30 PM
I may frame that 1:20PM comment, bgates.
No copyright problems I presume?
Posted by: Ignatz | April 07, 2012 at 01:33 PM
--I think Dublindave is fascinating. Here we have a real live racist explaining his thought processes in a blog without any self-consciousness.--
No kidding, Moneyrunner.
In the extraterrestrial Dublin that weeDavey boy inhabits, blacks are such savages one can't even walk behind one without a certain violent confrontation ensuing.
Posted by: Ignatz | April 07, 2012 at 01:36 PM
If there were racial justice Blow would be stacking aisles at WalMart
Statements like this bother me because working at Walmart is an honest undertaking generally performed by pleasant and diligent people, judging by my interactions with them. I think Blow and his fellow Pinchtanic passengers are extremely lacking in the minimum requirements. They should be picking up trash at the side of interstate highways while being closely supervised by a representative of the state.
Posted by: Captain Hate | April 07, 2012 at 01:49 PM
Hear, hear, CH. Ditto "would you like fries with that". Honest work.
Posted by: AliceH | April 07, 2012 at 01:53 PM
Yes that one bugs me too, Alice. Glad you're on board with that pet peeve.
Posted by: Captain Hate | April 07, 2012 at 02:02 PM
"How come he doubled back to confront him instead of hoofing it for home and flipping on the NBA?"
Because he was being followed. Some people when they're being followed try to run. Others walk fast, which is what Trayvon Martin told his girlfriend he was going to do. Others turn and confront the person following them, which may or may not be wise depending on the circumstances, but certainly is within the range of normal behaviors in such a situation. Trayvon was obviously scared, but he did not necessarily assume the person following him had a gun and was about to use it. Should he have assumed that? It's his fault that he turned to see who was following him, and that means he deserved to die, or slightly alternately, that he was actually the one who attacked Zimmerman, because no innocent person could possibly ever be motivated to turn around and see who is following him?
Posted by: Kathy Kattenburg | April 07, 2012 at 02:17 PM
Regarding why Martin doubled back: Martin's girlfriend says she told him to run away. However, there are many indications that Martin was at least a wannabe thug. Why not go back and prove what a tough guy he is by beating up Zimmerman? He'd have something to brag about to his girlfriend and get some street cred. Martin was quite a bit taller, a big advantage in a fight, and AFAIK he did not know Zimmerman was armed.
Plus (again AFAIK), the only record we have of that call is what Martin's girlfriend says she said. Perhaps she actually encouraged Martin to go back and teach Zimmerman a lesson about respect, and now is lying (understandably).
Posted by: PapayaSF | April 07, 2012 at 02:17 PM
Yo Dublindave, lemme know where you live!
I think I wanna swing by and teach you the Knockout Game, after I spark up a little herb and pocket whatever women's jewelry I can get my hands on.
Posted by: NO_LIMIT_NIGGA | April 07, 2012 at 02:19 PM
Yo Kathy, wut da fuck kind of high school football player do you think can't manage to walk or run a block to his house in 10 minutes?
Cos that's what you gotta be arguing if you sayin Trayvon didn't intentionally double back to try to one-punch the cracka that was following him.
Posted by: NO_LIMIT_NIGGA | April 07, 2012 at 02:24 PM
So the reporting was fake but 'accurate'- again.
Posted by: ~FR | April 07, 2012 at 02:24 PM
On page 86/152 of the Daily Callers Trayvon Martin Tweets, he RT's @KissMeEndlessly: pus ass crackas. Who's the racist here?
http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/26/the-daily-caller-obtains-trayvon-martins-tweets/
And here's a picture of TM flashing what I believe is a gang sign.
Posted by: Rocco | April 07, 2012 at 02:25 PM
It's his fault that he turned to see who was following him, and that means he deserved to die, or slightly alternately, that he was actually the one who attacked Zimmerman, because no innocent person could possibly ever be motivated to turn around and see who is following him?
Do you suck at thinking because you suck at writing, or vice versa?
I think you wanted to suggest the following:
* That Martin would not have been at fault for turning to see who was following him, an uncontroversial opinion; and
* Martin could not have attacked Zimmerman, because an innocent person would have motivation for turning around and seeing who was following him, which is stupid.
We think it is reasonable to suspect that Martin attacked Zimmerman based on all the evidence that has come out about the incident. Martin having the right to turn around has nothing to do with it.
Posted by: bgates | April 07, 2012 at 02:31 PM
Leaving without permission - I like the upcoming contrast with "loitering", which is being in place without permission.
I remember some leaving to go to jobs
Posted by: Neo | April 07, 2012 at 02:41 PM
Clean up on Aisle 5.
Posted by: sbw | April 07, 2012 at 02:42 PM
No Limit Niggas Lyrics
Artist: Kane & Able
Album: Am I My Brother's Keeper
[C-Murder]
Say twins you know how we go do a fucking show
Get that bitch rowdy how crazy they be acting out there
Niggas can't control theirself be like uh
They call me C-Murder and I got TRU tagged on my motherfucking back
Ever since I started rapping all my real ass niggas come and follow my lead
Got my balls and my word nigga ask Young Bleed
We come do a show in your motherfucking city
They call me the baddest cause No Limit act shitty
Beats By The Pound make them ignant ass beats
When a nigga like me bring the shit to the streets
Because the ghetto is my home nigga I'm ghetto raised
I'm unpredictable ask the nigga with the braids
My motherfucking music be jumping out of record stores
Nigga where's your proof motherfucker check billboards
To all my tank dogs that's bout it
Then throw off your set and get this motherfucker rowdy
Chorus
We be No Limit niggas and we bout it
We come to a club and get the motherfucker rowdy x2
[Kane & Abel]
6 shots of hennesey I'm feeling right in this bitch
Hit the dash flow off Mike start a fight in this bitch
I got the crowd jumping gangstafied shit pumping
Tell that bitch and that hoe I'm trying to do something
I cracked the optimal open in the middle of the club
Don't give a fuck about the popos niggas smoke some bud
Let's go half on a 40 sack show me some love
I stucked a pistol in the club for them wannabe thugs
TRU niggas smoke dank all the way to the bank
All the hustlers picks the baddest so love to bank
Kane & Abel kick butt knuckle up don't give a fuck
We bout it and I'm gon' get this motherfucker rowdy
Chorus x2
[Fiend]
I was dropped from the clouds above given a gat and some slugs
Killing whatever bugs that ain't a soldier does
For the love of drugs half of my paper go to bud
Ebonic you speaking in the club uh nigga what
Everytime I buzz the tank does when I it
With the type of skills to knock a baller off his pivot
I admit it I'm one of the baddest that ever lived
You ain't seen nothing wait till I'm full of that shit
Take a pull of that shit
And you can meet the pieces
My ironic thesis first heard on a player's leases
Lyrical adhesives making these niggas meet Jesus
I guess we just got them to pieces like greases
To my tweakers it's a piece of dope you was needing
My vocals got wannabe slugs bleeding
It's believing get you tore up by my shotty
Fiendzotie forever bout it staying rowdy
Chorus x3
[C-Murder talking]
Yeah another example of that gangsta shit
C-Murder in this bitch Kane & Abel the F. I. Fiend
Shit just another motherfucking day another dollar
Get it right cause we bout it peace
Posted by: NO_LIMIT_NIGGA | April 07, 2012 at 02:43 PM
It's amazing that all these liberals have to simply make up facts because the real ones prove they got it wrong - and they keep coming back and do it over and over. They should all change their names to "sylvia" and be done with it.
Why is it so important to persecute some Latino guy?
Posted by: Jane | April 07, 2012 at 02:45 PM
Clean up on Aisle 6.
Posted by: sbw | April 07, 2012 at 02:47 PM
Martin "turned around" while Zimmerman was still on the phone with the 911 operator.
Then Martin ran. Then the call ended.
Then Martin "doubled back" and the confrontation leading to Martin being shot ensued.
The idea of "turning around" out of interest in finding out who's following happened before the "doubling back".
Posted by: hit and run | April 07, 2012 at 02:49 PM
"We think it is reasonable to suspect that Martin attacked Zimmerman based on all the evidence that has come out about the incident. Martin having the right to turn around has nothing to do with it."
Anything is possible, but the overwhelming body of confirmed, indisputable evidence we have says that it is not credible to believe that Martin was the aggressor and that Zimmerman shot him in self-defense.
Here is yet one more devastating piece of evidence, which I am certain no one here has seen yet, since no one here has mentioned it, and I know you would be taking this seriously if you had seen it:
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2012/04/07/video-trayvon-killing-eyewitness-on-cnn-i-offered-to-show-police-scene-of-the-crime-they-declined/
Posted by: Kathy Kattenburg | April 07, 2012 at 02:56 PM
"I see know reason why he wouldn't."
A few hours ago it was "all evidence points to" the fact that he would.
The narrative keeps reeling and backpedaling. It has not a single credible spokesman.
Posted by: Danube of Thought | April 07, 2012 at 02:58 PM