The Verdict Is In...

I have been stir crazy for the last 24 hours once the verdict was reached in the State of Florida vs George Zimmerman. This is a very sad time because we see what fear continues to do to our country. It allows us to create laws that allow us to take matters into our own hands and not be accountable. I know many people want to debate the merits of "the case" but what about debating the merits of "life". Trayvon Martin, a young boy was shot.  When did we all forget that was the most basic element of this tragedy. A young boy was shot because he was profiled and then pursued. What if this was your young son?? STOP, please fill in your son's name ___________  What if this was your son or daughter... would you be outraged??  And yes, let us be happy for what we have and hug our sons / daughters / cousins / nephew / nieces closer but let's also remember that with senseless laws and acts like this some people won't be able to hug their children anymore. And if that precious right was taken away from you...how would you feel. If you truly are personalizing this case, then push for change at all levels...not for it all to go away.


It would be helpful if people didn't try to SPIN this case and distract us from the simple point made above. Don't trivialize the case by citing random parts of the case or of the law, talk to me about what's right and what's wrong and how we would like to live as a society.  The law is what it is, a jury was selected, and verdict was decided.

For anyone that constantly uses these talking points as technicalities, here's my response:

1) Its the "LAW".
- Agreed, I can't believe that laws exist out there that don't hold people accountable for their actions. Stand Your Ground should not exist in a modern country like ours. The definition of "imminent danger" is too broad therefore this law is crazy. I am in danger everyday there is a person with road rage, looking suspicious, or steps on me on the train/bus/bar/club. My response in a civil society is I am not going confront them, create an altercation, and then claim I in fear of my life and kill that person.
-To people out there living in states where Stand Your Ground laws exist: 1) Know your laws, 2) Hold your politicians accountable and change the laws 3) Live were your officials support your beliefs 4) If you stay, follow your local laws and do what you need to do to not be a victim of a technicality

2) The case is about what you can prove
- Agreed. I can prove a man was armed. He contacted the authorities and was given instructions to not pursue. He pursued a young boy. A young boy contacts a friend and indicates he's being followed. An altercation occurs. An armed man kills an unarmed boy.

I can prove choice and thoughts were made which caused this altercation. Let's not forget life is about choices - Who chose to pursue despite being given instructions to wait for the authorities? Who decided to carry a firearm?  At each one of these stages, you had a choice and there are consequences based on those choices...and if we are a country that doesn't see that these choices can and will lead to bad outcomes then we do not really care or value life anymore.

3) He was overcharged
- Yes that could be the case also. But the law... I am sure still says to a jury that you have "options" to do the right thing.  It seems many agree that the person choose to pursue the victim and a deadly outcome occurred. Many indicate that this action deserves at least manslaughter...that still doesn't explain why a jury should not convict him of the lesser crime.  Even if he was overcharged, they do not have the right to punish the District Attorney for being overzealous if that was their opinion of what happened.

--In the investment world--
There are many legal and taxation technicalities in the financial world and I have the same stance in this industry also. I respect the hedge fund and investment community and if there are loopholes that don't make sense then those need to be addressed also. We need to determine what kind of world we want to live in and ensure that the outcome is fair and equal to everyone.