Why is this so fascinating?

[Sherman123]

I figured since we're close to the end of the trial it might be a good time to ask this: Why are you personally so interested in this case? I mean that sincerely.

Obviously there are (unfortunately) thousands of other murder cases every year and probably more than a few dealing with self-defense or actors with different racial backgrounds. I understand that this case became sort of a proxy battle over gun rights and has tapped into a culture war somehow, but I've always struggled to understand how it can suck in so much emotion. There are more than 85,000 posts on this single trial from scores if not hundreds of different users many of whom have kept their attention focused on this for more than a year now. Many of you also seem to have been watching almost every major court hearing which is a herculean feat of devotion for a trial process that has spanned a year.

Personally that is mind boggling, I've paid passing attention to the case when I catch a news tidbit or an article headline that looks worthwhile but it's been very cursory. There is just so much else going on in the world (and to be fair I suppose my life personally) to give a second degree murder trial in Florida too much attention and it just doesn't pique my interest.

But I have more than a few friends who follow this stuff religiously and I'm interested to hear from anyone who cares to share why this case means so much to them. I'm also curious if many of you also followed the Casey Anthony, Jodi Arias, or similar trials when they were ongoing.

 

[Josie]

Because the only reason it came to trial was because of political and racial motivation and manipulation. This trial will be remembered and I wanted to be part of it.

 

[Erod]

I shouldn't be at all. None of us should. It's just another case like thousands across the country that are essentially not much different.

But when Jesse and Al descend on the town trying to make this look like an 1800s lynching, and the President of the United States makes the claim, "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon," then the case is no longer what it originally was.

The media and our government have turned this into a Black versus White political melee. Despite the fact that there isn't even a white person involved!

 

[davidtaylorjr]

Because the only reason it came to trial was because of political and racial motivation and manipulation. This trial will be remembered and I wanted to be part of it.

Exactly.

 

[ocean515]

I figured since we're close to the end of the trial it might be a good time to ask this: Why are you personally so interested in this case? I mean that sincerely.

Obviously there are (unfortunately) thousands of other murder cases every year and probably more than a few dealing with self-defense or actors with different racial backgrounds. I understand that this case became sort of a proxy battle over gun rights and has tapped into a culture war somehow, but I've always struggled to understand how it can suck in so much emotion. There are more than 85,000 posts on this single trial from scores if not hundreds of different users many of whom have kept their attention focused on this for more than a year now. Many of you also seem to have been watching almost every major court hearing which is a herculean feat of devotion for a trial process that has spanned a year.

Personally that is mind boggling, I've paid passing attention to the case when I catch a news tidbit or an article headline that looks worthwhile but it's been very cursory. There is just so much else going on in the world (and to be fair I suppose my life personally) to give a second degree murder trial in Florida too much attention and it just doesn't pique my interest.

But I have more than a few friends who follow this stuff religiously and I'm interested to hear from anyone who cares to share why this case means so much to them. I'm also curious if many of you also followed the Casey Anthony, Jodi Arias, or similar trials when they were ongoing.

Perhaps there are some who want to see if justice will be served for the person the impartial President of the United States claimed could have been his son...

:neutral:

 

[CycloneWanderer]

I think people have an innate interest in situations where there is percieved injustice. People like fair play. When that doesn't happen, people naturally get upset even when they are unninvolved in the situation. It speaks to the value of fair play we share as Americans (you could argue all people share this value). Granted, the specific unfairnesses people perceived may have been different depending on what you believed and some injustices were not real, but it is the perception that counts.

 

[polgara]

Perhaps there are some who want to see if justice will be served for the person the impartial President of the United States claimed could have been his son...

:neutral:

Good morning, ocean515. :2wave:

Yep, impartiality is important on a hot-button issue, isn't it? Does he also speak for the others who have died in the same way in the past year? :thumbdown:

 

[iliveonramen]

I think this case and others like it are just real life drama with high stakes. It's the reason scripted court drama's are so engaging. At the end of the day the events of that day are being determined by a jury of Zimmerman's peers and a verdict given. Sure...Juries get things wrong but in the eyes of the laws the Jury decides what happened that day.

That's some pretty heavy stuff.

 

[MaggieD]

I figured since we're close to the end of the trial it might be a good time to ask this: Why are you personally so interested in this case? I mean that sincerely.

Obviously there are (unfortunately) thousands of other murder cases every year and probably more than a few dealing with self-defense or actors with different racial backgrounds. I understand that this case became sort of a proxy battle over gun rights and has tapped into a culture war somehow, but I've always struggled to understand how it can suck in so much emotion. There are more than 85,000 posts on this single trial from scores if not hundreds of different users many of whom have kept their attention focused on this for more than a year now. Many of you also seem to have been watching almost every major court hearing which is a herculean feat of devotion for a trial process that has spanned a year.

Personally that is mind boggling, I've paid passing attention to the case when I catch a news tidbit or an article headline that looks worthwhile but it's been very cursory. There is just so much else going on in the world (and to be fair I suppose my life personally) to give a second degree murder trial in Florida too much attention and it just doesn't pique my interest.

But I have more than a few friends who follow this stuff religiously and I'm interested to hear from anyone who cares to share why this case means so much to them. I'm also curious if many of you also followed the Casey Anthony, Jodi Arias, or similar trials when they were ongoing.

It's got everything...gun rights...stand-your-ground/self-defense laws...racism...second-guessing to charge Zimmerman based on, I think, black indignation and demonstrations...the whole enchilada.

 

[soot]

Why are you personally so interested in this case? I mean that sincerely.

I'm not.

I'm curious about it, I have my opinions, and I've discussed it here in a number of different threads.

But if the judge were able to seal the verdict and we were forever left hanging as to the ultimate outcome I wouldn't care even a little bit and I'd just move along and continue talking about the 101 other things going on on this forum that mildly interest me.

 

[ocean515]

Good morning, ocean515. :2wave:

Yep, impartiality is important on a hot-button issue, isn't it? Does he also speak for the others who have died in the same way in the past year? :thumbdown:

Hi Polgara! :2wave:

When are they going to let you back to the "HI" part of Ohio?

To your point, I could be wrong, but I don't seem to have caught similar comments that would suggest the President has "spoken" for the others...

 

[polgara]

Hi Polgara! :2wave:

When are they going to let you back to the "HI" part of Ohio?

To your point, I could be wrong, but I don't seem to have caught similar comments that would suggest the President has "spoken" for the others...

The surgeon has "decreed" that I may return home early next week...double yay! What a nice smart man to recognize my aggravation at being a "hostage" to the system! :lamo:

I thought I might have missed any comments that BHO might have made on behalf of the others. Too bad for the others, I guess. :shrug:

 

[ocean515]

The surgeon has "decreed" that I may return home early next week...double yay! What a nice smart man to recognize my aggravation at being a "hostage" to the system! :lamo:

I thought I might have missed any comments that BHO might have made on behalf of the others. Too bad for the others, I guess. :shrug:

Well, I guess you will have tales to tell upon your return.

I'm thinking perhaps the President could not detect that any proper "winds" were present when others were up for consideration...

 

[Jango]

Its not fascinating.

 

[Caine]

I am a huge fan of Self Defense.
As a police officers for 7 years, I recognize that police cannot defend the citizens against every threat to them adequately, as the old saying goes, "Never a cop around when you need one", which I despite those who actually complain in that manner because they are usually just selfish little bitches. But I digress.....
This case has the potential to have an effect on the use of self defense, not just in Florida but in the rest of the U.S. as well.

Then when you factor in the racial aspect, to include the race pimps and ABC editing the non emergency call to make Zimmerman sound racist, mass distribution of the 12 year old photo of Trayvon Martin to give the appearance that the "victim" was just a little innocent boy with candy, I then become outraged at what the media can do to a simple incident of self defense.

Then when you factor in the politics involved due to the media's blunders, people like Obama and Rep Frederica Wilson, and others weighting in before an arrest had been made without knowing any of the actual facts of the case, creating a situation where the state is FORCED to file charges despite the police department's investigation, skipping the grand jury to ensure the case goes to trial, a judge granting a warrant for his arrest based upon the PATHETIC affidavit that was produced for the warrant in this case....

It becomes a Lynching.

And I don't really appreciate it when a simple law enforcement matter becomes a political maneuver.

 

[the_recruit]

Agreed Sherman, I don't understand the fascination with the Zimmerman trial.

It seems to me that the vast, vast majority of people who are following the trial closely have "picked a side". They identify with Zimmerman or Trayvon in some way and they feel that they're on the same "side". It's almost like a weird sporting event where people are rooting for Zimmerman or Trayvon to win and they detest the opposing "side".

I think you'll see evidence for this when the verdict is passed. Regardless of who wins, you'll see "fans" of the losing side declare that the jury got it wrong, that their side should have won. How could you possibly make the claim that the jury got it wrong when you haven't seen all (or even most) of the evidence the jury saw?

If I were smart, I would have started selling Trayvon and Zimmerman merchandise - you know like jerseys, beer-cozies, those Number One hands people wave around at football games. :lol:

 

[Excon]

Because the only reason it came to trial was because of political and racial motivation and manipulation. This trial will be remembered and I wanted to be part of it.

As O'Mara commented ...

“It was a wonderfully created and crafted public relations campaign by the people who are assisting the Martin family,” O’Mara said. He named Martin family attorney Ben Crump as being responsible for creating this misleading PR campaign and said that he should admit to that.

“Do you think that George Zimmerman would have even been charged had Ben Crump not been pulled into this?” Savidge asked.

“No,” O’Mara replied flatly. “I think that it was a made up story for purposes that had nothing to do with George Zimmerman and that they victimized him.”

O’Mara said that there was a concerted effort to “smear” Zimmerman as a racist and a murderer “when he wasn’t.” He added that the state should have taken the charges to a grand jury, but they decided to hold a press conference and announce the charges instead.
Zimmerman Attorney Mark O’Mara Blasts ‘PR Campaign’ That ‘Victimized’ Defendant As ‘Racist’ On CNN | Mediaite​

“It was a wonderfully created and crafted public relations campaign by the people who are assisting the Martin family"
@ 02:12
CNN Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com​

CNN's 2-3 minute highlights.

"Turned into a racial event."
O'Mara: Justice will come with acquittal - CNN.com Video

'Extremely difficult' for the parents - CNN.com Video

O'Mara: Zimmerman case 'perfect' for me - CNN.com Video

O'Mara: No trial if not for Ben Crump | "It was a made up story."
O'Mara: No trial if not for Ben Crump - CNN.com Video

O'Mara reflects on prosecutor, judge - CNN.com Video

O'Mara: Case is not about civil rights - CNN.com Video

O'Mara describes his 'perfect jury' - CNN.com Video

O'Mara: Jeantel was a reluctant witness - CNN.com Video

What's next for George Zimmerman? - CNN.com Video​

 

[Excon]

I think you'll see evidence for this when the verdict is passed. Regardless of who wins, you'll see "fans" of the losing side declare that the jury got it wrong, that their side should have won. How could you possibly make the claim that the jury got it wrong when you haven't seen all (or even most) of the evidence the jury saw?

We got another one who doesn't understand Florida's rules that require the evidence be released to the public.
We have seen more than the Jury has seen.
We know what they saw and what they didn't see.
So when you understand that, then yes, it can logically be argued that the Jury got it wrong if the find him guilty.

 

[the_recruit]

We got another one who doesn't understand Florida's rules that require the evidence be released to the public.
We have seen more than the Jury has seen.
We know what they saw and what they didn't see.
So when you understand that, then yes, it can logically be argued that the Jury got it wrong if the find him guilty.

Go Team Zimmerman!!! U Rah Rah!

 

[Excon]

Go Team Zimmerman!!! U Rah Rah!

You are in the wrong, so you attempt to mock others. That makes you appear foolish.

 

[the_recruit]

Oh noes!

 

[Excon]

Oh noes!

:doh

Just deflection from your being wrong.

 

[the_recruit]