Olivant, I understand what you're saying re: opinions. However, that's why we're discussing it on a bulletin board and we're not testifying in court. It's mostly conjecture at this point; however, there are two things that are evident:

1. Trayvon Martin was unarmed.
2. Zimmerman had a gun.

First, secular liberals are no different when it comes to their beliefs influencing law. They just don't do it under the banner of religion. Third, there's issues in the conservative cause (abortion, gay marriage, etc.) that can be supported without bringing religion into it. Third, while one shouldn't lump every religious person (including us Mormons) with the outspoken Evengelical types who misread the opening chapters of the Bible involving the creation, the secular science-is-our-god crowd seems to forget that science hasn't answered as many questions, or proved or disproved as many things as they like to think. They seem to forget the "theory" part in the "theory of evolution."



I've already said Zimmerman was overzealous in his community watch, crossed the line by confronting Trayvon, and should be charged with either manslaughter (if not 2nd degree murder). What else do you want?



First, I take issue with the word "preach." Second, I said - or at least meant - a person shouldn't be judged solely on their worst moments. Third, I never said anything about "unsubstantiated facts" in regards to Gibson. I'm well aware of what he has said over the years. And while I don't excuse it, I don't make him out to be the monster others do. Fourth, I probably shouldn't have made the declaration that Trayvon's death is "no big loss to society." However, at this point, I'm pretty convinced that he physically attacked Zimmerman. Which makes him a thug, despite the fact that Zimmerman shouldn't have confronted him in the first place. It seems very unlikely that Zimmerman just got out of his car thinking, "I'm gonna kill this kid."

And that's the difference. I'm not so sure.

There are lots of cop/hero wannabe's like Zimmerman out there with chips on their shoulders and itchy trigger fingers. They are just waiting for a chance to "save the world". I think he was a ticking time bomb, and Trayvon happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. If it wasn't Trayvon, then six months or a year from now, it would have been someone else.

Zimmerman definitely strikes me as a wannabe cop/hero. I have no problem believing that he approached Trayvon thinking his "authority" was going to win the day. But when it turned physical, the wannabe hero panicked and went for his gun. His mouth had tried to cash a check his ass couldn't cash, as they say.

Ivy, I've pretty sure you wouldn't even remotely defend the half-hispanic Zimmerman if he had followed home and killed a young white Mormon kid. Your bias, which is based on stereotypes that are not wholly true or false, dismisses much if not all of your impartiality in this case.

Most everything in the 911 tapes leads to Zimmerman being the mentally-unsound aggressor. At the least we know Trayvon was not out "thuging," and seems ran into a ticking time bomb in Zimmerman.

If it had been a white Mormon teenager who had run into that ticking timebomb, you'd have no qualms about the kid defending himself from it. You certainly wouldn't spend 2 pages defending Zimmerman.

Why do you think Zimmerman has so many supporters?

What Zimmeraman supporters are you referring to? Other gun-toting drug-store cowboys who didn't graduate college either?

We've got some over on the RD. You guys think I'm bad because I'm not totally on the Trayvon side.

The ballistics and forensics reports will illustrate just how proximate the gun barrel was to the victim. That will tell us alot about any physical encounter between the two. Don't forget that state statutes state and define the predicates that accrue to a crime. They also state and define what is premeditation and what is intent. If this matter reaches a jury for its deliberation, the charge to the jury will include these statements and definitons. The jury's decision may very well turn on such information despite any emotion-based inclination they may have.

Stop bringing up what is going on at the RD board. For one, I don't give a damn. We have our own standards here on the GBB and expect all members to respect them.

He has his supporters, especially here in Central Florida.

And they have their reasons for feeling bad for him.

I agree. I know in court or the jury process it is a totally different thing but on a BB like this, I don't see any reason why we can't speculate.


TIS

In that case I'd like to present as evidence Adam Corolla's "Everything bizarre happens in Germany or Florida."

It just never becomes irrelevant.

True, but some of the posts on this subject have been on the verge (if not actually)of vituperation and racist. Passion is one thing, but I recommend that Board members attempt to be cogent, at least and that their speculations have a basis (even if tenous) in fact.

Oli,

I agree with you there.



TIS

Do you really talk like this in real life?

Sometimes. But I usually reserve my best for the Board.

The Florida thing above is certainly true. I swear, every time I hear about something crazy happening, 8 times out of 10, it's in Florida.

"Florida - America's Weirdest State"
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/04/24/florida-americas-weirdest-state/

Watching the nightly news from Miami always elicits the same exact reaction - a slow shake of the head and the following words, "Only in f***ing Florida."

It's so true. Guys like Carl Hiaasen and Dave Barry have made absolute fortunes writing about the craziness in Florida. And they've both stated many times that the stories write themselves.

What do you expect? They all moved from Throggs Neck!

It's undeniable that a good portion of the Florida crazies were originally Northeasterners.

Ironically, Oli, I have neighbors in my condo complex in Delray Beach who are from Millvale, PA, which I'm told is just outside Pittsburgh.

Are they Steelers fans?

Of course .

sick
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...l#ixzz1rjxuCTKm

Those three should be buried alive .

Jeff Neely who is the GSA administrator who was responsible for the recent trip by GSA workers that racked up over $800,000 in expenses was before Congress today. In response to several questions by Representative Daniel Issa, Neely asserted his fifth amendment refusal to answer.

One of the questions he refused to answer was "What is your title at GSA?"

Well, you can't pick and choose. If you answer one, you pretty much have to answer them all.

It's not uncommon for gangsters to refuse to even answer what their name is when they're called before a grand jury. In short, if you're gonna clam up, you're better off not saying anything at all than trying to play footsie with a prosecutor. Because prosecutors are generally more intelligent than criminals.

this story is even worse.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...at-cleaver.html

It's cases like the ones above that makes me stare in disbelief that anyone would have a problem with the death penalty. Some people deserve nothing but a one-way trip back to their Maker.