Physics

[saturndevouring]

I read that Richard Feynman was a brilliant physicist because he was able to see the problems with equations by not getting lost in the math but applying the formulas to real scenarios.  I know nearly nothing about physics so I can only assume that's correct

Comments

[saturndevouring]

The 'Death Wish' remark was an attempt at humor. Poorly executed and timed? I'll happily except those criticisms, but it was hyperbole.

Here are the facts as I read them from Mr. Zimmerman's statement: He followed Trayvon Martin. When Martin approached his vehicle, rather than identify himself and inquire into Martin's actions, he simply rolled up the window of his car. He then continued to follow him.

Now, as someone who has been approached by neighborhood watch groups before (I did a lot of housesitting in college, business I receive via my aunt, a hairdresser) I've always found that while they can be curt, they do identify themselves and explain why they are doing so.

Had they simply followed me and never bothered telling me why, I think it's fair to assume I would have been unnerved and anxious.

As per Zimmerman being trustworthy, maybe I'm being cynical, but I don't think most people who admit that they instigated an incident that led to the death of a teenager.

My father used to work with police officers frequently. I went to many social functions with him as a teenager, and the officers uniformly advised my father, who had recently purchased a firearm from one of them, if he felt he was in danger, he should get his gun but always contact the authorities and NEVER, their word, pursue a suspect.

I was raised around firearms. I own none myself, but know how to operate and use them. I have a respect for them that I find too many do not. Had Zimmerman simply asked Trayvon "What's up?" when he approached his vehicle, I am 99% certain this would have been avoided.

My post was written largely out of frustration and anger. I did not intend it to be whole in expressing my views on the situation. I welcome an exchange of perspectives, but I have looked into this case further than watching ten minutes of coverage on MSNBC.

[fpb]

All right.
http://www.americanthinker.com/printpage/?url=http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/../2013/07/why_the_zimmerman_prosecutors_should_be_disbarred.html
http://legalinsurrection.com/2013/07/alan-dershowitz-vs-angela-corey-over-misleading-affidavit-of-probable-cause/
http://spectator.org/blog/2013/07/15/trayvon-crime-school-miami
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2013/07/trayvon-martins-involvement-in-local-burglaries-covered-up-by-media-school-police-prosecutors.html

And you Might then have a look at my remarks to another victim of the same media lies: http://tekalynn.livejournal.com/362162.html . As for MSNBC, if you want to be swindled do go on listening to them.

[saturndevouring]

Fabio, no offense, but you do realize that my comment about watching ten minutes of coverage on MSNBC was a joke? I dislike TV as a news source because it often appeals to the glib and sensational, and few incidents can be summed up so simply.

But as for Martin's past, I was aware of his transgressions. I am also aware of Zimmerman's, which includes, among other incidents, battery of a police officer. Neither men were saints.

However, I am basing my take on the incident on four facts that not even Zimmerman denies:

1) Zimmerman had the weapon.

2) Zimmerman followed Martin and, when approached, did not identify himself nor explain why he was following him.

3) Zimmerman's tone (I have heard the call) coupled with his word choice and past behavior.

4) Zimmerman called the police.

There is an old adage that it takes two to tango. I find it impossible to entertain the idea that Zimmerman calmly and politely asked Trayvon who he was and what he was doing.

I also, as a 2nd Amendment agnostic, feel that gun owners and especially carriers should be held to a higher standard the same way law enforcement are with regard to how/when/why they discharge their weapons.

As I said in my original post, I find it appalling that he was not found guilty of ANY wrongdoing, when I think his behavior played a major part in what took place (and let me emphasize this) in not identifying himself and his intentions when the chance arose, the entire tragedy could likely have been avoided.

[fpb]

You are welcome to your opinion - which, as I pointed out (and you should have read) involves massive perjury from Zimmerman, the local police, and John Good, falsification of evidence from the police, and a other idiocies too numerous to count. I started out believing them, at the start. Then I was forced by the crushing weight of the evidence to change my mind. But please, if your opinion is so valuable to you only because it is yours, do cling to it.

[saturndevouring]

Fabio, I'm not trying to be flippant, but I DID read all of articles you provided links to and most of the information I read I'd already been made aware of. I knew of Martin's criminal past. I knew that he was beating up Zimmerman when he was shot. I never saw any information that would lead me to think this was entirely about race.

I am basing my opinion of the case based on the four facts I mentioned, which come from the call Zimmerman made and the statement he issued to the police:

1) Zimmerman had the weapon.

2) Zimmerman followed Martin and, when approached by him, did not identify himself nor explain why he was following him.

3) Zimmerman's tone (I have heard the call) coupled with his word choice and past behavior.

4) Zimmerman called the police. And that's ALL I think he should have done.

The second one is key for me, because had Zimmerman not, as he said in his statement to police, "rolled up his window" when Martin approached his car but rather introduced himself and asked Martin (for example) if he needed directions, I think it perfectly reasonable to assume the fight (and thus death) would not have happened.

I don't, and didn't, for a second assume Trayvon the innocent choir boy and Zimmerman the frothing racist eager to kill anyone who looked like a threat (read: black). I have heard that from numerous people and, yes, it annoys me to no end.

Also, as I've said, I feel that a person who carries a firearm should be held to a higher standard because of the danger the weapon poses.

This is just my opinion, and I think it appalling that Zimmerman was found guilty of nothing, when I think his actions played an undeniable part in what took place.

Lots of people disagree, but I must insist I did not form my opinion over a few minutes of TV news and just look for facts to fit my narrative. I understand how my original post could have been read as merely echoing the conventional anti-Zimmerman crowd, but while I agree with them that the punishment did not fit the crime, I feel the crude way both sides have tried to simplify the issue bring us no closer to solving the problems we still have.