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sikorsky

(96 posts)
19. Taking a huge risk to post this here
Wed Mar 21, 2012, 08:02 PM
Mar 2012

I'm not sure I can even make these comments without being wrongly labeled a racist or worse, but please don't confuse the messenger with the message.

There's obviously no justification for this shooting if reports are accurate, so what I will be saying here isn't meant in any way to excuse it but rather to demonstrate how events can create the kinds of mindsets that lead to this
and similar tragedies. I doubt anyone here thinks opinions and prejudices arise by themselves without some impetus from others...after all, how many children are born hating -anything-?

Things happen and those things influence what and how people think about others. People tend to viscerally react to external stimuli, it's just human nature.

There was a lot of attention to this particular event
http://www.newson6.com/story/17171733/female-victim-in-home-invasion-dies-at-tulsa-hospital-police-name-suspect

When these things make it into the 'news', the take-away for some is they can be the next victim and their sociological attitudes and perspectives are thus influenced according to that (unfortunately real) possibility.

Yes, it's stereotypical, but do stereotypes exist for no reason? I don't think so, I'm a gay man whose appearance, mannerisms, behavior and indeed my "lifestyle" aren't even close to those often associated (especially by homophobes - the stereotype) with those attributed to gay adult males.

But I certainly know many who DO fit that "mold", so I can see where the prejudice comes from as well as how irrational it is and I have to admit that in this area, the behavior of some of
my gay friends often comes under the heading of "with friends like this..."

To me and to many others, excessive PDAs (to denote one aspect of public behavior) are off-putting regardless of the genders involved, not that I would ever condone harm to anyone for it but the
sad truth is that they sure don't do us any favors politically.

Doesn't it explain how some people are afraid of certain others who happen to be dressed and acting in some particular way? After all, isn't racism (like homophobia) simply embracing stereotypes as fact and a rationale for discrimination? I can't think of any way to stop them except
by just disappearing any perceived excuses for them.






It hasn't yet been proven that either the 'stand your ground' law, or overt racism was the main sikorsky Mar 2012 #1
NOTHING has been proved, true, because ... SamG Mar 2012 #2
But your conclusion denies your premise (that we don't yet know. Isn't that confusing?) sikorsky Mar 2012 #3
My "conclusion" ? That we are OUTRAGED ! SamG Mar 2012 #31
Um, it kinda has... Taverner Mar 2012 #4
"Stand your ground" is also the reason the killer wasn't taken in and questioned n/t arcane1 Mar 2012 #5
I believe he was handcuffed, taken to the station and questioned, *then* released. n/t X_Digger Mar 2012 #8
Good, I missed that part arcane1 Mar 2012 #9
Factually incorrect ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2012 #14
Yep, X_Digger corrected me earlier arcane1 Mar 2012 #30
No it does not. If you think that, you do not understand the law. sikorsky Mar 2012 #6
What the law says, and how the public interpret it are two different things Taverner Mar 2012 #12
Anyone who has taken FL firearms training knows better ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2012 #15
You're correct...I don't respect the laws that say I can't marry my partner. sikorsky Mar 2012 #16
Obviously you're not getting my point MrScorpio Mar 2012 #7
Anyone who can look at the facts we know in this case: 1) The shooter was a self appointed Vincardog Mar 2012 #13
You are incorrect in your points ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2012 #17
I'd like to see some examples of "questionable prosecution." Hoyt Mar 2012 #23
Obviously, there's a difference of opinion here MrScorpio Mar 2012 #25
I had no idea that Stand Your Ground laws were ALEC sponsored. shcrane71 Mar 2012 #32
I'm certainly inclined to think Trayvon would like to have had the -option- to exercise it. sikorsky Mar 2012 #18
Oh… So, you're saying that he shouldn't have brought Skittles to a gun fight, right? MrScorpio Mar 2012 #21
I won't laugh because you might actually be serious. sikorsky Mar 2012 #22
So what *were* you saying then? Chorophyll Mar 2012 #34
Exactly, that's the NRA's dream dmkinsey Mar 2012 #36
It strangely reminds me of the Soviet NKVD under Beria Taverner Mar 2012 #28
By the preponderance of the available evidence, it has. baldguy Mar 2012 #27
I hope something good can come out of this tragedy. siligut Mar 2012 #10
So very, very true -- Hell Hath No Fury Mar 2012 #11
Chilling. n/t EmeraldCityGrl Mar 2012 #20
Taking a huge risk to post this here sikorsky Mar 2012 #19
Not sure I fully understand your point... EmeraldCityGrl Mar 2012 #24
I didn't explain it well at all because I didn't differentiate between tawdry and unlawful acts. sikorsky Mar 2012 #26
To set your mind at ease... MrScorpio Mar 2012 #29
Very well said, MrScorpio. Chorophyll Mar 2012 #33
This tragic incident has forced this country to examine itself lunatica Mar 2012 #35
Open carry is better than concealed carry; people with guns should not grapple with others. FarCenter Mar 2012 #37
Thanks. This is a thought-provoking post. shcrane71 Mar 2012 #38
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