Trayvon Martin: How to Stop the Bullying
What we are witnessing as events occurring in the wake of the tragic killing of Trayvon Martin at the hands of self-appointed vigilante, George Zimmerman, are both disgusting and absolutely absurd. As there is no reasonable justification for not having arrested Zimmerman yet, I am forced to conclude that the justice system has failed the Martin Family and the American public yet again. It is very apparent that compassionate concern for the well-being of others and a sense of justice and fair-play are not motivating factors for the members of the Zimmerman family who spoke-out, a prosecutor’s office that cannot seem to make an arrest, an NRA that constantly finds the worst cases, places, and times at which to lend support, many in the media who are milking this for all its worth, and those who have chosen to contribute to a defense fund of George Zimmerman, as if he has somehow been victimized in all of this.
Rule #1 for any business is to stay in business. So, it doesn’t surprise me one bit that the case is being tried in the media. News media outlets are known to ride the wave of one big story until the next presents itself. So, news outlets have ‘experts’ doing voice enhancement and video-analysis, along with exclusive interviews as a means of engaging the public. From the beginning, this was an open-and-shut case. Anyone with half-a-brain could clearly see that the killing should have resulted in an arrest. Up-to this day, the evidence presented has been skewed to give George Zimmerman a fighting chance in the minds and hearts of the viewing public. Perhaps, they are hoping it gets to the point where George cannot get a fair trial anywhere in America. Still, while I think this practice of creating news-media bias is quite disgusting, it has been the way news operations have conducted business for years and it is the price we pay for national attention in the news.
They say – George Zimmerman is suffering from PTSD as a result of all this. Well, I am no expert, but if I had to take a guess as to the cause of this ‘PTSD’, I could say it in one word – guilt! George Zimmerman is surrounded by friends and family who are obviously willing to do anything and everything within their power to protect him – right or wrong, even if it means obstructing justice. So, not only does George harbor the feelings of guilt associated with the killing, he now has to cope and contend with the lying, deception, and trickery orchestrated in his defense. This is likely eating him up inside and with no means of restoring inner peace, he may even become suicidal. In the event something like that does occur, few will make the connection. So, it is really in the best interest of everyone that Lady Justice has her day. The proper application of justice is a restorative measure that has a way of healing the wounds for all affected. To run from justice is to run from the very thing that could bring about the healing that everyone seeks.
Obviously, there are few in this situation with an understanding the aforementioned principle of justice or this fiasco would not have dragged-on as long. So, since it has been proven time and again that the criminal justice system does not work for the American public (in general) and Black Americans in particular, we have no choice but to develop means and methods of protecting and seeking justice for ourselves. History has shown that violent confrontation is not an effective means of solving problems. It only results in more people getting hurt or killed. So, the use of guns in taking the lives of humans is part of the problem – not a solution. Dumb meets dumber when we decide – “Oh, he has a gun, so I will get a gun too.” To attempt to prove to someone that fire burns by setting something ablaze yourself every time they start one is completely illogical.
What tends to work is to discover what motivates people to action and use that as a means of getting what you want. The child who will not eat his vegetables is either offered a cookie as a reward or denied a cookie as a punishment. Where the child is strong-willed, you simply take every child’s cookies away. Thus, the will of the child is broken in realizing he will lose the support of the group. Those who seek justice for Trayvon Martin must realize that we are dealing with bullies who are not moved by a sense of compassionate concern for the well-being of the community or even fair-play and the desire to have each man have his day in court. We are dealing with people who think that whatever they do is right, simply by right of the fact that they have the power and they feel they are better. So, how dare the Martin family question their authority, much less their reason and logic?
These are bullies we are dealing with. They don’t feel things in the way you and I feel. They get a sensation from bumping into people and knocking them down, not helping them up. Attempts to take away their cookie will result in their taking someone else’s cookie, since they feel they are cowboys who are entitled to cookies. So, you have to take away all cookies as a means of keeping these bullies in-line. In the case of justice for Trayvon Martin (and anyone else who cannot get justice), it means a boycott. It means placing sanctions on the state of Florida. We will not spend money in the state of Florida until you decide to do what’s right. We will not vacation there. We will not visit your sports arenas or your movie houses. We will not buy cars or homes there, until this situation is resolved. We might not show up for work. We will choose one grocery store from which to buy food and one gas station from which to buy gas. The rest of you can spend your time figuring out why we are upset.
The chanting, rallying, and hoodie-wearing provided a positive outlet for the anger and frustration felt by the nation over the loss of yet another one of our children. Now, along with supporting a tired and anguished Martin family that has not had time to grieve the loss of their son, we must take action that works. When the money dries up, bigger bullies will begin to surface. These are the kinds of people whose phone calls leave puzzled looks on everyone’s faces for wondering what happened. “Oh, wow! George’s dad brought him to the station to turn him in today. How did that happen? He says he is going to support his son, but that the public deserves to know the truth of this matter – whatever that should happen to be.”
Everyone has a gun. So, the anger and frustration that results in threats of violence will not solve anything. A quiet, dignified show of strength will get the attention of the world. “You gotta’ be real careful. Don’t mess with those people. They will stop eating. They will stop buying gas. They will stop performing for you. They will stop advising you. They will stop all dealings with you. They will stop talking to you. You want to see it get real dark outside. Let something happen to one of their babies. So, be extra careful with how you handle them.” Carelessness and a lack of respect is often an outgrowth of one’s inability to set clear boundaries and consequences. The free for all must end. When we get ready and willing to lay down the law, others will obey. The challenge is – we must first have discipline ourselves. Prayer, meditation, and a better diet are all tools that could be used to expand our awareness and enhance our ability to discipline ourselves. It is time we finally get justice for Trayvon and take some first steps toward stopping the bullies that are attacking and killing our children every day in America.
Copyright. James Will Power. 2012
James Power is a writer and metaphysics lecturer from Baltimore, Maryland. His work appears on Youtube at: www.youtube.com/metachannel and e-mail correspondence can be sent to: jameswillpower@gmail.com.
You may republish or repost this article, so long as the above credit is given.
