Is Manson’s Horror Coming True?

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By BitcoDavid

Not a Ford Escort, but you probably already knew that. Image: Cloud 9 Classics

Not a Ford Escort, but you probably already knew that. Image: Cloud 9 Classics

Jack and I took the trusty Ford Escort into the shop today, to get the brake lights fixed. The talk within the dingy concrete walls – of course – was all about the Trayvon Martin Case. Sadly, it wasn’t sympathetic. All over the country, yesterday and today, there have been protests ranging from quiet vigils to outright riots, decrying the verdict and supporting the family of this young man, shot down in cold blood.

But, just as there has been an outpouring of sadness for Trayvon, there has been an equal share of bitterness, enmity and venom towards him, and I’m ashamed and embarrassed to say that it has been coming from the White community. Or – in fairness – certain factions within the White community. Not surprisingly, a portion of that ire is being directed toward the Obama White House.

Up next, Honey Boo Boo. Stay tuned. Image: SuperStock

Up next, Honey Boo Boo. Stay tuned. Image: SuperStock

Far outnumbered, but never outgunned, I tried to defend Trayvon. In doing so, I felt the need to leave the race issue out it, and instead focused on his youth. I thought I could crack the hard shell of these Zimmerman-ites, by reminding them that Trayvon was just a boy. Well, these guys might be able to fix a rainy day, when it comes to 15 year-old rust-buckets, but they seem to have no empathy with regards to 15 year-old kids.

The media has taken the verdict in mouth, like a pack of starving wolves gorging on a crippled gazelle. Here’s some related news, that American media has chosen to ignore, in favor of dangling this latest shiny object in our entranced faces.

Ms. Alexander at her sentencing, May 11. Image: GlobalPost

Ms. Alexander at her sentencing, May 11. Image: GlobalPost

In a case surprisingly similar to Zimmerman’s, but inverted in gender and color palette, a Florida woman was sentenced to 20 years – the mandatory minimum – for firing warning shots at her estranged and abusive husband. This story differs from Zimmerman’s in that she’s Black and female. In Florida, that counts as your first two strikes, right there. Marissa Alexander was a mom, a first time offender, and she had already taken out a protective order against the man who had repetitively beaten her and her daughter. She did not shoot to kill, or even wound, but rather fired a warning shot, letting her would be attacker know she was armed. She tried to use the Florida Stand Your Ground law as her defense. Her attempt at availing herself of what was clearly intended as a protection for White males, failed miserably, and now her daughter is a jail orphan.

Zachary Gamble and his son, Luke Image: Mail Online

Zachary Gamble and his son, Luke Image: Mail Online

CBS has deigned to cover this story, rather than sitting in front of their computers and regurgitating the Zimmerman story. Kudos to them.

On yet the other side of Manson’s Helter Skelter, back in March, 4 Black men apparently beat a White, former Marine to Death, in a suburb of Atlanta, GA. Four suspects, Arthur Batchelor, Tarell Secrest, Jason Hill and Sean Hall, have been arrested on charges of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault and Aggravated Battery in the death of Zachary Gamble. They are being held without bail.

This story was a complete surprise to me. I, who digest news like most people digest cake, never knew anything of this story. That’s because the only coverage I can find comes from the Brits. Here’s the link to the Mail Online.

The Scottsboro Boys, 1931. Wrongly convicted and sentenced to death, the Supreme Court twice ruled against the state of Alabama before the "boys" were released.

The Scottsboro Boys, 1931. Wrongly convicted and sentenced to death, the Supreme Court twice ruled against the state of Alabama, before the “boys” were released. Image: Kings Academy.

Let me set the record straight. America is a racist nation. Always has been. There are 2 sets of laws out there, and Blacks, women, the poor, youths, Hispanics and Indigenous peoples always suffer the weight of justice, more so than do White males and the wealthy. The Zimmerman verdict is a travesty, and a tragedy. Trayvon was guilty of nothing other than being a young Black male in America. My heart goes out to his family.

But the real guilty party here isn’t Zimmerman, the prosecution or even Florida herself. If blame can be affixed, it must be to the passage of stupid, racist, hateful and fear driven laws like Stand Your Ground. It is impossible to be carrying a gun, and claim innocent self defense. You go to a car dealer to buy a car. You go to a barber to get a haircut. If you’re carrying a gun, you’re looking to use it. The very definition of self defense is obliterated when you walk out your front door armed with deadly force – and deadly intent.

If you want to fix America, you need to start with her inherent racism, but you need to also address her fear based legislation and her unconditional love affair with guns.

BitcoDavid is a blogger and a blog site consultant. In former lives, he was an audio engineer, a videographer, a teacher – even a cab driver. He is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and a Pro/Am boxer. He has spent years working with diet and exercise to combat obesity and obesity related illness.

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Comments (4)

    • bitcodavid

      Thanks, Marsha. I read it. I’m not saying all White people are racists, and I’m not even saying this case hinged on racism, as some may believe. All I am saying is that some of what I’ve heard in the streets, regarding both Trayvon and Zimmerman, sickens me.

      • anotherboomerblog

        Actually, I DO believe this case hinged on racism. What you don’t know about me is that when I was a redneck teenager I was nut brown and was often mistaken for Mexican or Indian. If I was not in an area where people knew who I was, I was treated lower than low. I actually understand what it is like to have shopkeepers not want you in the store, to be considered the child of a lesser god because I looked different. It happened in Alaska too – people thought I was Aleut. In fact, one of my supervisors INSISTED I was Aleut. (shrugs)

        EVERYONE has some racism in them. We are primates and we survive as a species by determining “them” from “us.” I have my own issues, but I know enough to think past them. Most racists don’t even know how racist they are.

        The only thing we can do is argue facts, however, people filter even the most basic facts and come up with conclusions that fit their world view. So do we. (same sign)

        • bitcodavid

          Oh, this is a good comment. 2 quick anecdotes of a similar nature. 1) Although not a story of racism, per se, when I visited my father’s home town of Pottsville, PA, as a teen – I looked… well, rather Woodstock Hog Farm. I walked into a little mom and pop, looking to buy a pack of cigarettes. The proprietor pulled out his gun and said, “You’re not gonna rob me, you f*ckin’ hippie.”

          2) When I was at BU, I was finishing up late one night, and happened to be the last one in the building. As I was leaving, a young man – I assume, another student – came running up, yelling for me to hold the door. These doors automatically locked, and the only way in, was if someone leaving, held the door. This gentleman must have had a class at the same time at night, as I did, and had forgotten something in the building. I held the door for him, and that was the end of it. But, as I was walking to my car, I thought – what if he’s trying to rob the place. My first thought was – who cares. I mean after all, it’s not like I’d stand to lose anything. But my second thought, really put the fear of God into me. “I wouldn’t even have questioned that, were he not Black.” That was when I began to discover just how endemic racism is, in America. Me. Raised as a Civil Rights Liberal, a love everybody hippie, a guy who had actually been in Civil Rights marches, had subconsciously judged another individual based on the color of his skin.

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