<p>I think she was saying he wasn’t using “cracker” as a racial term. He was using it to mean a rapist or pervert.</p>
<p>WARNING – FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY</p>
<p>I just got off the phone with a friend (female, Black) who is a principal at a public HS. “Cracker” is on the same zero tolearnce list as N, kike, spic, honkie, greazer.</p>
<p>If there is any humor in this it is gallows humor. If ass cracker means male on male rapist, TM may be viewed as homophobic.</p>
<p>Oh, I understand, when you said you had never heard it, I took that to mean you weren’t aware of the term. I live outside DC, and I have a mixed race friend who frequently uses the term.</p>
<p>The term I heard used here in California by my kid’s generation is “creeper” - with the same meaning; someone pursuing unwanted sexual contact.</p>
<p>Teenage slang: probably not something to place too much emphasis on precise meaning.</p>
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I wasn’t aware of the specific term used here before, but I was aware of the word “cracker” in the historical context. But have never heard it spoken. I think we have a different menu of insults here.</p>
<p>My friend uses ‘cracker ass cracker’, not ‘creepy ass cracker’. Its a racial slur. I’ve never understood it to take on a homophobic meaning. That would be news to me. But I will ask him the question.</p>
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<p>I agree that those who “know” that it was self defense may be agenda drive, just as those who “know” it was not self defense. That’s why we have trials and juries and don’t just open it up to a popular vote, say like on *the Voice. *</p>
<p>sschickens—How would that be homophobic? I think if someone is following a teenager he might reasonably wonder, “why is this adult man following me? What is his intention/agenda?” Frankly it’s street smarts to wonder why someone would be essentially stalking you.</p>
<p>we do have very different perspectives. it seems some perceive TM worrying that a man following him could himself be “up to no good” and possibly a rapist only says something negative about TM?? wow.</p>
<p>It’s only an insult if you’re thin-skinned, zoose.</p>
<p>Original version was specific to poor, ignorant, white Floridians which suggests Ms. Jeantel might of slept through more than just Composition.</p>
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That is really, really interesting. An older man following a much younger one could be a perv. Don’t we all teach our kids to watch out for strange men?</p>
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Well look what the cat dragged in . . .</p>
<p>“Don’t we all teach our kids to watch out for strange men?”</p>
<p>Yes we do. And some of us encourage our kids to take self-defense classes … hand-to-hand … in the event they might need it one day.</p>
<p>In darker moments, I think about getting a call from our local state policeman … a friend of mine … saying my D was being followed through her neighborhood by some guy she didn’t know, had confronted the man, and had been killed as a consequence.</p>
<p>"That’s why we have trials and juries and don’t just open it up to a popular vote, say like on the Voice. "</p>
<p>Isn’t trials and juries just simply a smaller version of a popular vote like on the Voice? Except, it must be unanimous to have an outcome.</p>
<p>really it’s all in our perceptions which are based on our own world view coupled with the evidence at hand. to me, it makes perfect sense that TM was SCARED of this creepy guy. Remember GZ never id’d himself as a neighborhood watch and was a creepy stranger as far as TM knew.</p>
<p>I am saddened to see how much Trayvon seems to be on trial. He is not.</p>
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<p>And Apple isn’t involved - at least we don’t think Apple is involved. Bill Gates might be.</p>
<p>My son grew up in the cell phone era. Our discussions were (1) stay in a lighted and/or public area, (2) call 911, (3) make noise and call attention.</p>
<p>A street smarts lesson might also include awareness of where you are and whether running or hiding may be viewed as some indication that you are up to something wrong.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/districtcourt/jury-instructions/criminal/pdf/3580-evidence-consciousness-of-guilt.pdf[/url]”>http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/districtcourt/jury-instructions/criminal/pdf/3580-evidence-consciousness-of-guilt.pdf</a> </p>
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<p>Not if the jurors follow all the instructions from the court as to the law. And, it should be based upon only the evidence admitted at trial. But, I’ve been on a jury.</p>
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No he isn’t, but his actions that night do inform the legal outcome. If (and I don’t know, I’m just using an unambiguous scenario for discussion purposes) he was angry and really did jump Zimmerman, beat him up and bash his head into the ground, that would lead to a different legal outcome for Zimmerman and he actually is on trial here. I don’t get the whole walking around with a gun thing at all, but if it’s legal in Florida, then that’s what it is. Had Zimmerman not had the gun maybe he wouldn’t have felt brave enough to do anything but go to Target.</p>
<p>lindz - That’s what I’d like to know. I’ve never heard it used in that context. I’m trying to understand what TM meant by using that term. From my experience, it’s an obvious and well-traveled racial slur. Others say it can mean something else completely. I’m not passing judgement on TM in any way.</p>
<p>Everyone on CC who are dismayed that the young lady is not as articulate nor as literate as other " rising seniors", should take a step back. She is 19 years old and just completing 11th grade so she likely has some learning difficulties + multiple dialects spoken at home. None of this negates what she heard over the phone. </p>
<p>She is traumatised by the killing of her friend and didn’t want any part of a murder trial - who can blame her?</p>
<p>One difference there, ttp, (in re post 373), is that it is a jury’s obligation to hear all the evidence and the judges’ final instructions, then go to the jury room to try to reach a decision; not to make a decision before or during the presentation of all evidence. And yes, that decision must be unanimous for a conviction.
On the voice a person could make up their mind without hearing all the singing, and completely unilaterally.
To Jam- try to see a subtly here on how some have seen the friend in a negative way. Not all of the negativity is based on her difficulty with English- but much is how her difficulty could possible affect the jury. They may have difficulty hearing her, or understanding her, or they may question if she understands the questions well. Because of any of these factors, they may not be as convinced by her testimony as they could be. An example- when the atty asked her what culture uses the term cracker, she answered “pervert”.
What? That doesn’t answer the question. A juror might be skeptical about her clarity of thought. As a result, she may not be as persuasive.</p>