"It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one."
-Voltaire
So I'm not a super political person. I hate getting in the middle of things and causing strife between people. But, I do feel strongly about justice and so I just wanted to get this off my chest.
A man is innocent until proven guilty. But the minute you bring in race, gun control, or any other controversial issue that man is deemed guilty no matter what. People with closed minds rarely open them long enough to see the truth in front of them. I am as guilty of that as anyone else. I admit. When I first heard about the Martin/Zimmerman case, I was one of those who jumped to race being the issue. Without doing any research I condemned Zimmerman in my mind of cold blooded murder. However, since the trial has come to an end I've made an effort to look at the facts- to clear my mind of preconceived notions and then judge the facts from a completely neutral place.
Zimmerman was not white.
There were many cases of kids around Martin's age who had burglarized houses recently.
The police were contacted before the confrontation took place. Would a man who wanted to murder a kid call the police first?
Zimmerman did not chase Martin before Martin ran.
Zimmerman was in fact put on the ground by Martin (size isn't an issue. I've seen a small person take out a much larger person with the right training, adrenaline, etc).
Martin did attack first.
Zimmerman did kill Martin.
An innocent kid died. That is not okay in any sense, and I am heartbroken for the family who has to live without their child. I don't think Zimmerman should've ever pulled that gun out- things should've never gotten that far. However, after looking at the facts. That Zimmerman didn't even SAY Martin was black until asked by the police, and the simple fact of being attacked first by Martin, I would say not guilty. Zimmerman has to live every single day with the fact that he is responsible for taking an innocent life. I truly believe that that is all the conviction he needs in this case. The media made this into what they wanted. If a white kid had died, I would dare to say this trial wouldn't have been as big as it was. Where is the racism in this trial? I find none. Where is the gun control issue in this trail? I see nothing. Stop making this a poster for political agendas, and let the justice system simply work in the way it was designed to work. Open up your minds people. Let go of what you thought, what you heard your mom or dad say or the lady next door, and make up your own mind. Don't be a bandwagoner- jumping on the racial train as easily as this. Don't make the loss that his family faced into something twisted that was never the issue in the first place. People probably don't like me, a white girl, saying that, but sometimes the truth isn't something we want to face.
All of this makes me deeply saddened. And it truly opens my eyes to what we have been pardoned of. I have not killed anyone, but my sins, and my imperfections have sentenced me to death. I deserve to be "put in jail" for life, to no longer live a life that is fulfilling and full of joy. But, God has pardoned me. Instead of seeing me as a person deserving of an eternal life of death, he sees me as a beautiful human who he has wiped clean. No matter what the world judges, God is the ultimate judge. Justice will always be found in Christ. He has the last word. The judge and the jury. Where God gives grace, we tend to judge. It's time to have God's view of sin. To pardon those who are no worse than us. To pray for justice here in this world, and thank God for justice in the end. Justice covered by his grace to those who believe.
Those are my thoughts. I beg you to please take them or leave them, but don't try and make this into something it's not. You are entitled to your own opinion, and I fully respect if you've come to a different conclusion based on the facts. Take it. Leave it. I just felt like I needed to speak my mind in this instance.
Jackie
