Blind Justice
I HATE politics. I HATE getting riled up about current events. I HATE taking positions that appear so judgmental. Then I read an article like the one this morning on the defense strategy in the latest “Stand Your Ground” shooting in Florida.
“Loud music”
“SUV”
“Black”
“Teenager”
“Thumping bass”
“Menacing expressions”
“I wasn’t going to ask for favors anymore.”
If you pass a law that then invites the accused to defend himself using racist code words, how can you say the law isn’t racist?
So, yes, I’m judging the law in Florida. If it successfully allows a white man to shoot someone because he feels he has the right to ask perfect strangers to turn down their music then has the further right to take matters into his own hands when they won’t comply with his request and seeks to defend himself by conjuring images of the dangerous music-thumping Black thug, and we don’t see that as racist, then we are the ones who are blind.
Luanne
I agree with you on all points, including about hating politics. But this case is so insane I am glad you spoke up!
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Thanks, Luanne. I read a blog post recently about being brave and I thought how hard it is to hit the “publish” button on posts like this. So the support really helps!
joe hawes
I’m with you completely on this one. See today’s NYT for an article on the trial. Even the defendant’s fiancée disputed his version of what happened.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I’ll take a look at it . . . if I can stand getting even madder!
Marisa
You are so right–if there is anything that gets the hairs on the back of my neck standing up, it is the path being forged by this stupid law and the precedent it sets. I’m so glad you spoke up.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Thanks, Marisa – I appreciate the support of blog posts like this that make me kind of nervous.
Marisa
Maybe the nerves are just because you know you’re on to something. 🙂