CHECK IN if you haven't followed one minute of the Zimmerman trial.

[reformist2]

I have zero interest in this case. In my opinion, it is not a microcosm of race relations in America. Obviously if you knew the victim or the defendant I can see having an interest in this case, but otherwise, it seems like a huge distraction.

[Coyotl]

1. Here.

And I have read two previous threads on the topic.

[hamsterjill]

2. Haven't watched at all.

Have heard a few snippets of information when I accidentally hit the "CNN" button on my car radio, but have been too busy fighting the war on women in Texas!

[Neoma]

3. I didn't really watch the trial.

A few clips here and there, but I kept up via comments I guess.

[Jesus Malverde]

4. I'm guessing there is a correlation to TV ownership.

With no television feeding you drama, this case is hardly interesting.

TV networks, love the topic, it's popular reality drama fare they can fill hours of advertising time with for FREE.

I have no TV and no interest.

[Journeyman]

5. I didn't see it so much as a distraction as I did another instance of a known concept. . .

Young black men have been senselessly murdered in this country for racial reasons for over four centuries. Prosecution of his slayer was not going to put a halt to this heinous crime. For that, we need a more fundamental change in our society. And the possibility of acquittal for the defendant -- indeed, the possibility Trayvon Martin himself would end up in the docket, and his life brutally assaulted again -- is an ever-present reality in these proceedings. So the day-to-day play of this courtroom drama held no compelling interest, beyond a fervent desire to see justice done. A reality, I'm sorry to say, I had little expectation of seeing.

If there was to be any sense made of Trayvon's death, and some sort of value realized from it, my hope lay in this event somehow effecting a change in these cruel Stand Your Ground laws. But that hope was shelved before the trial even began, when these draconian laws were taken out of consideration.

I perceive the trial itself now as having been more about privilege than race. Certainly, the murder was racially motivated. But from what I've heard and read -- the lackadaisical prosecution, the connections of the defendant's father, and reluctance of the police to investigate or assist in the prosecution -- all this seems more a function of class and privilege than it does race.

[reformist2]

14. Good points. I do care about those issues.

[monmouth3]

6. Not one minute. I went on vacation and am better off for it...n/t

[Puzzledtraveller]

7. same

[datasuspect]

8. agreed

bills don't pay themselves.

[pansypoo53219]

9. jazz hands.

the defence picked jurers well.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

10. I didn't follow any of it.

Its was a horrible tragedy, and SYG is a horrible law, but I have no appetite for minute by minute court room drama and analysis, and a very low regard for the MSM's ability to walk and chew gum.

[Quantess]

11. I followed only a little bit of it.

Less than an hour of my time. I was disappointed by the verdict, but now I'm ready to move on.
I'm ready to start sending Zimmerman threads to the trash, because I've had my fill.

[one_voice]

12. A distraction?

It wasn't a distraction for me. I watched the trial, I watched a man that I think killed a child get away with murder. If you consider that a distraction....

I spent yesterday with my nephew, we were celebrating his birthday. He just turned 10. In about 5 years there will be people that will look at him in the same way that Zimmerman looked at Trayvon that horrible night.

Thank God I don't live in a state that has a SYG law, though it seems self defense works just as well.

No, for some of us, it wasn't a distraction, but a very scary view of our country. I couldn't help but tear up a few times, I will never know his life. You see I'm white and he's black.

Nope, not a distraction for me.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

13. Funny how that works for some.

Issues that present problems for African-Americans are casually dismissed and labeled as "distractions", issues that present problems, or threaten the white middle class way of life require immediate attention and all hands on deck.

[leftstreet]

16. +1

[OneGrassRoot]

15. What do you mean you have zero interest?

And that it's not a microcosm of race relations?

Do you deny there is institutionalized racism in this country -- regardless of how that may have been part of this particular case?

This case has huge implications. Your comment strikes me as very odd. I can understand not watching TV or reading about it for a variety of reasons, but having "zero interest" isn't one.