By Troy Foster
Like all of you,
I’ve heard so much about the verdict in the George Zimmerman case. So many people are passionate on both sides. On one end, the argument that justice should
be served when a kid minding his own business gets gunned down by an
overzealous neighborhood watchman.
Logical. Compelling. On the
other, someone who is getting beat up by a stranger in a neighborhood that has
had recent criminal activity, and fears for his life should be able to defend
himself. Also logical. Also compelling.
There are a lot
of side issues out there. Did the
prosecution fail to present the case?
Was Trayvon yelling or was it Zimmerman?
Or both? Was Trayvon the
aggressor? Or was he just defending
himself after being followed by who he thought was a creep? Should Stand Your Ground and other laws be
changed? And the list goes on.
I don’t pretend
to know the answers to these questions.
But, one thing that I’m convinced of is that all of these questions are
distractions. Distractions from the
fundamental question – What happens to our pure, loving, trusting kids? They are color blind, they aren’t afraid of
each other – there isn’t fear. I see
this everyday in my family; my sons (one black, one white) love each other.
So, what
happens? Why do people fear others
because of how they look? I don’t even
dispute that George Zimmerman was afraid; if he was, why? I don’t dispute that Trayvon reacted in a way
that made Zimmerman more afraid and that Trayvon was probably afraid. But why?
Because we taint
them. All of us. We are so wrapped up in our own worlds that
we don’t make it a point to relate to people that aren’t in our circles. Our concern, our empathy and compassion don’t
extend as far as they should. And our
kids learn that. If we were, scenes like
Sanford would unfold differently. The
George Zimmerman in that world would have asked the boy if he was lost or
needed directions; and the Trayvon would have respectfully answered “no thanks
sir, just heading to my dad’s.” The end.
We can deal with
the distractions – change the laws, protest the justice system, bring federal
charges, criticize Trayvon, Zimmerman, the prosecution, the witnesses, and
argue about what really happened. But
all of that won’t change the real problem.
It won’t eliminate the fear – in fact, this will probably just
exacerbate it.
To reach any
solution, no one is going to be right.
And we all have to work together – in educating our kids and learning
from them (see that love above). The
minute we forget that we all cry the same tears, laugh the same laughs, feel
pain and joy the same – so do our kids.
