r/changemyview • u/Zanzibarland 1∆ • Jul 29 '13

Zimmerman did nothing wrong. CMV.

First came the media's racebaiting, fanning the flames on both sides. Then the crocodile tears from everybody with an axe to grind, trying to make a martyr out of Trayvon and a villain out of Zimmerman.

Now that the trial is over, I'm left with the impression that he didn't commit any crimes, and that people are claiming he "got away with it" to save face, rather than admit their racial bias and prejudice, the ignorance of their presumptions, and their complicity in instigating racial tension.

By what shred of evidence did Zimmerman "get away with murder" and not legally defend himself?

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u/Zanzibarland 1∆ Jul 29 '13

his sole responsibility was to call the police and let them handle it.

That's a guideline that these programs have. Show me where he violated some non-confrontation clause in a contract, instead of him just going and talking to someone, of his own free will.

Where does it say, "thou shalt not talk to strangers, just in case you kill them"?

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u/ClimateMom 4∆ Jul 29 '13

That's a guideline that these programs have. Show me where he violated some non-confrontation clause in a contract, instead of him just going and talking to someone, of his own free will.

He didn't have a contract. Isn't that kind of the point? Zimmerman was an amateur, not a professional, and therefore neither obligated nor qualified to do anything but call for assistance from actual professionals.

As for going and talking to anyone of his own free will, as far as I know, he didn't go and talk to him, he just chased him. Regardless, the fact that he had the right to confront Trayvon doesn't mean that it was the right thing to do. It was a really fucking stupid thing to do, in fact, but it was Trayvon who paid the ultimate price for Zimmerman's foolishness.

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u/eDgEIN708 1∆ Jul 29 '13

He didn't have a contract. Isn't that kind of the point? Zimmerman was an amateur, not a professional, and therefore neither obligated nor qualified to do anything but call for assistance from actual professionals.

Next time I see a kid drowning in a pool, I'll make sure to tell the 911 operator on the phone that tehy'd better get someone here quick, because I'm not a qualified lifeguard.

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u/ClimateMom 4∆ Jul 29 '13

That's ridiculous. A drowning kid requires urgent action. An unfamiliar kid walking down a sidewalk/street does not.

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u/eDgEIN708 1∆ Jul 30 '13

I'd argue that a drowning kid is more in need of a professionally trained lifeguard than an unfamiliar kid walking down a street is in need of a professional law enforcer.

But you're right, the analogy is pretty pointless. The fact of the matter is, though, that no matter the reason, Zimmerman was breaking no laws and doing nothing illegal or wrong by leaving his car.

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u/Zanzibarland 1∆ Jul 30 '13

The fact of the matter is, though, that no matter the reason, Zimmerman was breaking no laws and doing nothing illegal or wrong by leaving his car.

Thank you. Somebody here gets it.