"I Was George Zimmerman" (A "Nation of Change" Writer Reveals)

[KoKo]

I Was George Zimmerman
By Dekker Dreyer
I was George Zimmerman. I can speak from personal experience and tell you why he needs to be charged for the murder of Trayvon Martin.

Last year I was living in central Florida, just 30 minutes from where Trayvon’s lifeless body was found soaking in the rain. My neighborhood had been on high alert because of a series of burglaries. My wife and I had tools stolen from our backyard and the security of my family weighed heavy on me. I owned a Bushmaster AR-15 variant, which is a semi-automatic assault rifle, and I was fully prepared to use it if needed. I was aware of Florida’s stand your ground law and took comfort knowing that I had the right to defend myself if threatened with physical danger.

Over the next week there were more crimes. Our alarms were triggered and I took my gun out of the house and into the yard looking for who did it. I didn’t find anything except a ripped t-shirt. Over those two weeks I called in a few police reports and we heard a few other alarms going off. Police were cruising our neighborhood more often. We felt unsafe. That heightened level of fear makes you begin to look at everyone with suspicion. It’s a situation I don’t wish on anyone.

Then, one afternoon my wife ran upstairs from having been working in the garden. She told me that she was approached by a young black man wearing a hoodie. To say our area was mostly white would be an understatement. This was New Smyrna Beach Florida, where the black neighborhood is literally across the railroad tracks; a shameful hold over of pre-civil rights movement inequality. Seeing a black teenager near our house was something that just didn’t happen. Even we had our fair share of dirty looks and thinly veiled racism pushed our way just because my wife is half Japanese. I’d hate to see how much more in-your-face the venom would’ve been if they knew I was part hispanic.We moved to the area from New York metro because it was a quiet, beautiful beach town where I had family nearby. All the good things about New Smyrna were actively offset by the racial tension. The city did everything short of hanging “white’s only” signs on the doors of local businesses.

The kid had approached my wife and started to ask her something, then immediately stopped and walked away. She thought this was odd and asked me to come downstairs. I did.

Seeing that kid I immediately felt sympathy for him. I felt conflicted, but had to face the reality that he was unfamiliar and had been walking up and down the street looking at houses. I watched him for a while; sometimes he’d stop to look in windows. He had a notebook in his hand and was writing something down as he passed from house to house. The kid couldn’t have been more than seventeen and he was scrawny. If he’d made a move on me I could’ve snapped his neck like crumpling paper. It would’ve been ridiculous to go get my gun. I watched him walk up the street to the main road, meet a car, and return without his notebook. I was second guessing myself the whole time. “He couldn’t be doing anything wrong, I’m just paranoid”, I thought. I just couldn’t ignore my gut feeling and I called the police. My reasoning was that it’s not my job to decide if he’s guilty or not, so I shouldn’t deprive the community of justice because of my sympathetic nature. The crooks could have been hoping that no one would see him as a threat because of his age; making him a perfect scout.

TO READ MORE of his REVELATION go to:

http://www.nationofchange.org/reader/11191

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. I'm sure that it's this fear that is responsible for a group of homeowners

down the way that stops everyone who tries to walk through.

[KoKo]

2. I thought it was an interesting read. Didn't know where he was going at first

read (remember I can only give snips..and probably went past the limit) but, the way he concludes his article is a real "gottcha." HE WOULD NOT DO MURDER... and, that's why I thought this was fascinating read for someone to post about..

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Well, HE might not do murder.

But if it's a group of them, tough talk has a way of getting out of hand.

[KoKo]

9. No...I don't believe that's true with this writer, TBC...he was making

a good point, I thought. Perhaps you didn't read through to the end?

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. I've just overheard conversations like this before.

He might be a very responsible person. If he's white, talking like that will include him into the group without questioning him, but in that group there will be one or more who really believes what they're saying.

Reminds me of an Archie Bunker show where Archie's tough, conservative remarks earns him an invitation to his friend's exclusive man club. And while they're saying the same things that freepers say, they begin to get their robes on and Archie realizes it's a clan meeting.

At least, that's how I remember it.

I'll read the article again, though, Koko. I'm sure he's a nice guy. I just know people in my neighborhood who have given family members a rough time just for walking on the street. Can't say I like it.

[KoKo]

11. I could see where you would interpret it way you did..

But, I think if you re-read you will understand what he's talking about. He was trying to point out his very differences from the Racist Mentality he knows exists in his area of Florida.

Seriously...it's a read that isn't some RW "Paid Off." This guy is posting his own personal experience.

I see you as fair. Re-read. I know I'm guilty of "fast read" and reacting to a Subject Line or a Headline that often reads far different from the meat of the article.

It's how one gets "eyeballs" to read their posts these days...in the New Internet World. So..I understand.

He should have titled his Post: "I COULD Have been Zimmerman" and then folks would have understood his "gottcha" at the end. The title made it seem he was "defending Zimmerman" which he DEFINITELY WAS NOT!

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. Okay, I understand.

[No Elephants]

3. I guess I missed the part of the story where the author shot anyone dead?

[KoKo]

4. No...it was about how the author had a choice in similar situation and didn't murder..

that was the point. He was saying he was in a similar situation but no way would he have done what Zimmmerman did. It's at the end. The title probably sounds misleading ...but, that's the point the author was trying to make. He was in a similar situation and his choice was not murder.

But, I can see reading quickly ..it took awhile to get to the end and so that his point could be misunderstood.


ON EDIT: I think he should have titled his article "I Could Have Been George Zimmerman" That would have been clearer. I hope no one thinks I was posting something in favor of Zimmerman. This definitely isn't an article supporting him by this author.

[KoKo]

8. Hey thanks for that info. He's written for NOC before...

but, I didn't look up his bio. Fascinating.

[No Elephants]

14. Thanks, Koko. I did get his point.

But, I also know that a lot of people don't read past the headline, even on DU.



I did not want anyone to leave the thread with the wrong impression about lefties, or about Zimmerman's conduct and, when I first posted, the thread was not as clear about that at it is now.

[kayakjohnny]

6. I personally know the guy that wrote this.

He is an amazing talent in general, aside from his good writing here. I'm surprised as hell to see this here. I had no idea.

I'll have something to thank him for when I see him again. Google his name and see what else he's all about.

[madfloridian]

7. I found this. I gather this is his art.

http://www.dekkerdreyer.com/blog/occupy-art-series /

Click on the image for larger pic of the Occupy Orlando. Amazing.

[KoKo]

12. OOPS...see Reply #8 which is a reply to you...but mistakenly went to another poster.