<p>And, apparently running and being dead. And, that Zimmerman shot him and used his legal carry gun.</p>
<p>IMO the trial by media just got upped a notch. There is now the “homeless black man” Sherman Ware --Zimmerman handing out flier for justice for him story floating around. </p>
<p>I guess this is not surprising once the media elevated the case to a RACE case. Now the pool of grand jurors and conceivably trial jurors get the tidbit that Z (supposedly) went to bat for a homeless black guy versus the very police force that “let him (Z) go.” </p>
<p>How would you like to be a prosecutor trying as a practical matter to prove this negative–that it didn’t happen? And, all it takes is for one person (not necessarily Z himself) to say they have personal knowledge that it happened. </p>
<p>What do you do when a RACE case goes “bad” on an evil racial motive? I wish this could have been focused on the dangerousness of carry and self-defense (without retreat) laws. THAT might have achieved something.</p>
<p>My gut feeling is that this case is more about ageism than race.</p>
<p>If Trayvon was a 40-year old, wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase, I don’t think Z would have suspected him. If Trayvon was a white 17-year old with a hoodie up, I think he would have aroused Z’s suspicions just the same. Especially if he had had visible tattoos or piercings or something like that. This would be consistent with Z’s claim that he said “f***ing punks.”</p>
<p>Unfortunately, in my view, tattoos and piercings are mainstream these days. I am thankful that, at least so far, my sons have not shown any interest in either. </p>
<p>About the “f-ing ???” recording, I’ve heard only one version that sounded like “f-ing coons” to me. The versions played on television, with the vulgarity bleeped out, are completely indecipherable to me. The second word could be any word at all, as far as I’m concerned. A commentator said that people should seek out the recording on youtube, or somewhere where the first word is not bleeped out. I did this, and it does sound like “f-ing coons” to me. But this is not absolutely clear, and if I were on a jury, I could not feel sure enough to convict anyone of anything on the basis of this recording. The phrase is muttered under Z’s breath, and the second word could very well be something else. There are plenty of possibilities. Besides, does anyone really still use that word? It seems archaic to me. Maybe it’s still used in the south?</p>
<p>I think it will be very hard to prove a hate crime. But as far as what happened, an innocent 17-yo being gunned down, I see two possibilities. Either Z is guilty of an unjustified killing, or he is not guilty because of the SYG law. In the first case, he should be convicted. In the second case, he should be found not guilty. In either case, closing the case without a full investigation and a trial was absolutely wrong, and the public outcry was needed in order for this to happen. If the law allows something like this to happen, then the public needs to be aware that these laws are being passed.</p>
I was just going to post this. I’ve only ever read that term in books and it was so unfamiliar that it took me a minute to “get” it. Maybe it’s a New York thing, but I have never, ever, in my entire life heard that term used when it didn’t refer to a small animal or a woman whose eye make-up had gotten away from her.</p>
<p>I would also like to know if this is a southern thing.</p>
<p>On the c-word, I would add that grew up in the midwest and lived my adult life in NY and elsewhere on the east coast. I am also twice Z’s age. I’ve never heard of that word being used in real life. Would someone Z’s age have the word in his passive, let alone active, vocabulary?</p>
<p>Born in Texas (N. Texas KKK country–think L. Jeter) in 1950. As I grew up my maternal grandmother (from Greenville --once again L. Jeter) used “Nigra”–she thought she was being more polite than N*****. </p>
<p>As late as 1965 the town slogan on the Greenville City stationary and the large sign over the main street read: “The Blackest Land and the Whitest People.” Stores on the main street still sell postcards showing the sign.</p>
<p>Coon (derogatory for black if said by non black), coonass (Cajun). “Cooning” was also a term used by blacks in the 50-60s for “Uncle Tom-ing” blacks especially in taking film roles.</p>
<p>Didn’t Z grow up in Virginia? Can’t speak to what he’d have heard.</p>
<p>So what? According to the sign in my bank, these prohibitions are so that the cameras can get a clear shot of the face. That’s not the same thing as saying that they’re an indicator of criminal intent or behavior.</p>
<p>GEORGIA Code Title 16 - Crimes and Offenses,16-11-38.
(a) A person is guilty of a misdemeanor when he wears a mask, hood, or device by which any portion of the face is so hidden, concealed, or covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer and is upon any public way or public property or upon the private property of another without the written permission of the owner or occupier of the property to do so.</p>
<p>That was my point. Hoods, like sunglasses and hats, can disguise a person’s identity, which is why they may have become associated with suspicious behavior.</p>
<p>Context would be important. If it was a warm evening, a hood may arouse suspicions. If it was raining, not so much.</p>
<p>I noticed that my son does not put his sweatshirt hood up even in the rain. He does not care if his head gets wet.</p>
<p>I agree with NYMom … I haven’t heard that derogatory used in decades. And I travel places where it would be more likely used. If Z uttered the word, he was reaching W-A-Y back. It’s not impossible, but the odds are against it. JMHO.</p>
<p>“GEORGIA Code Title 16 - Crimes and Offenses,16-11-38.
(a) A person is guilty of a misdemeanor when he wears a mask, hood, or device by which any portion of the face is so hidden, concealed, or covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer and is upon any public way or public property or upon the private property of another without the written permission of the owner or occupier of the property to do so.”</p>
<p>It doesn’t say here that it’s a Capital Crime punishable by Vigilante Justice.</p>
<p>Yes, given how young Z is, he may not even be aware that this word has been used as a racial epithet. Unless there is a regional (FL or VA) usage that I’m not aware of.</p>
<p>Z was born in 1983 or 4, right? The lovely 1990s gave us the Rodney King beating and racial riots, the OJ trial (with vocal claims that OJ “got away with murder” due to the jury composition) and the dragging execution of the black man in Jasper, Tex. Not exactlly national racial harmony and bliss.</p>
<p>But, Virginia was the only state in the 1990s that had a black governor when Bush Sr. ran for re-election. Also, the U of V was just starting its efforts to truely diversify the faculty and student body. </p>
<p>To me, its a toss-up on what Z might have heard growing up. However, “coon” is derogatory because it equates blacks with racoons who are “the sneak thieves” of the animal world. </p>
<p>If a juror is of an age that “gets” the reference and thinks that is what Z said, it could go very bad for him.</p>
<p>I’m not claiming that Z grew up in a time of racial harmony, 07DAD. I’m just questioning whether he was likely to use the c-word as a racial epithet, given that it seems archaic to some of us here.</p>
<p>Maryland newspapers reported in February that residents of a small street named Coon Hunt Court have successfully petitioned to have the name changed. One of the residents stated, “When I hear the name I think of lynchings.”</p>
<p>NYMomof2–I’m not arguing one way or the other. </p>
<p>In my opinion, this is another area of pure speculation as to what Z subjectively knew. But, “coon” IS going to reasonate with some of the jurors, if (or when) they hear that tape.</p>
<p>By the way, google search the full 2 word phrase Z is alleged to have said in google images. Take safe search off. Get ready to see how coon is not archaic to many. </p>
<p>There is a SouthPark episode that is titled—you guessed it–Coon, and, yes, that coon.</p>