Pumping Fists and Broken Hearts - My Take on the Zimmerman Verdict.

Ever since the day that Trayvon Martin was killed there has been tension surrounding the case.  That tension is even more pronounced since George Zimmerman was found "not guilty" on Saturday night.  I have seen comments from musicians saying that justice was not done and someone on the other side of the coin who said that justice was done when Zimmerman pulled the trigger.

Well, I have an opinion too...  I believe that "neighborhood watch volunteer" George Zimmerman created his own exigency which led to Martin losing his life.  In layman's terms, "exigency" means an emergency.  Creating a situation where force, especially lethal force, must be used is forbidden within law enforcement.  There is much "case law" that prohibits exigency creation.

Here's the thing; it doesn't matter what you or I think of the verdict.  It doesn't matter that people around the nation are protesting the verdict.  What's done is done.  We have a system in place that is built on the premise that defendants are "innocent until PROVEN guilty."  Sure we know that Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin, but the exact details aren't so clear because only those two were present (and dead-men tell no tales).  The prosecution must prove "beyond a reasonable doubt" that a defendant committed X crime.  That didn't happen in State of Florida Vs. Zimmerman, and Zimmerman is a free man - just like our system is designed.  The reason we have our "flawed" judicial system, aside from The Constitution, is so that innocent persons go free even at the risk that guilty persons go free.  It would be a much more miserable place to live if you could be locked away for years or life merely on the accusation of committing a crime (no, I'm not going to tackle the whole Guantanamo Bay thing here).

Protest if you must, march if you must but ultimately George Zimmerman has to live his life knowing those things that he only knows; he can't be tried again.  We also have protection against "double jeopardy".  What would make a greater impact is asking that Florida or your own state create or modify laws for greater clarity when it comes to self-defense; that private citizens are also held accountable for their actions in cases where they created their own exigency.

As we see time and time again however is that laws don't change peoples' hearts.  Sitting idly by, or sitting around bitching that our community sucks changes nothing.  As Gandhi said, we must be the change we wish to see.  We must view others, ALL OTHERS, as having as much value as ourselves.  When you see someone eye to eye, and see they are of great worth this changes everything; from the way you treat your significant other to a stranger panhandling.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

- MLK Jr.

How are you going to shine and love today?