What you say is true, unfortunately, people judge alot on how the defendant or victim look during the trial. I was a victim of a convicted rapist when I was a very young girl, not understanding the workings of the setting up of the trial by jury, the DA told me (before the trial) what to wear, what to say, what type of facial expressions to have, (actually I was told to have none, ie; no smiling, frowning, smirking,etc.) Our judicial system is sometimes so orchestrated during trials that most people(juries included) make judgements that are not based on true facts and judge on looks, demeanors, etc, etc. The last witness yesterday, (I believe) was "playing" on the jury. She was no dummy, I believe she was and will use her "street smarts" today on the stand also. Does anyone else believe that this case is given alot of publicity b/c of the national gun issue going on now? I wonder why Obama made a statement to the national press about this case? It's not like this kind of thing doesn't happen all over the country. Orlando has one of the highest murder rates (by guns) in the country.

I believe it is more about race and "profiling" than guns.

I agree - race and profiling.

I think it is about both.

If I felt afraid of someone, or thought someone was behaving suspiciously, being a woman, I would leave them ALONE and call the police. Unless they were trying to hurt my family or me and who knows what I would do. I would probably have profiled him as a young punk wearing a hoody walking around in the middle of the night. His color could have been purple or bright green. I would look at and wonder what that kid was doing in a hoody in the middle of the night.

I would end up being hit with my own gun or shooting someone or something I didn't aim at. I am an emotional women.
I know what I can do and what I can't do. I don't want a gun in my home, everyone gets madder than hell at someone at some time in their lives and they do NOT behave rationally. EVERYONE.

It is a mess, the whole situation. Again, not easy to figure it out.

The confrontation between Zimmerman and Martin took place at about 7:10 in the evening which is not the middle of the night. Martin had the hooded sweatshirt on as there was a light rain falling.

True, it was dark at that time in February.

By now we have the testimony of the police who said that indeed, Zimmerman' clothes were more wet on the back than the front and also had grass blades on the back. That, plus the closest eye witness claiming that it was Trayvon on top and Zimmerman on the bottom seems to bolster Zimmerman's story.

The other obstacle that the prosecution has to overcome is that even if Trayvon were on the bottom, how did he get face down which was how his body was found? Eyewitness testimony says that the bottom figure was face up during the fight. Also, Trayvon was shot from the front. So, if Zimmerman was on top and shot him in the chest, he would also have to roll him over for him to become face down. None of the witnesses saw anything that would resemble moving the body, nor would there be any reason for Zimmerman to do this.

Maybe more will be revealed, but as of now, the best evidence seems to support Zimmerman's story.

I'm getting the strong impression that the prosecution is "going through the motions" (as they say), regarding this case. I believe Zimmerman's story. But, I also think he shouldn't be following 'suspicious" persons and also carrying that gun around. Although I don't know what previous incidents might have happened to him or the stories he had heard growing up with a father who's a judge. Besides the fact that he was a member of that community's watch program. There might have been prior reports of illegal activities in that specific area. If one has ever been a victim of a crime,(I don't know if he was) but, it tends to make them suspicious of persons seen lurking around, just saying.

If a person seemed out of place in your neighborhood....
 

It is very hard not to profile. Even if in your heart you want to never judge anyone by their age, the way they dress, their piercings and tattoos, their level of cleanliness, their body English, their car, their packages, their jewelry, their shoes, etc. etc. etc. Our brain is set to summarize. It probably is hard wired to summarize. I do not like any snakes although not a single snake has done me wrong.

If our young granddaughter was visiting and had a meeting to drive to in Orlando, it would be hard not to give her some not so politically correct directions about staying away from certain areas and again, not being alone with people you don't know etc. etc. It is a protective device wired in to most of us although we want our children to be fair to all and find good qualities in everyone.

Adolf Hitler and his bunch of evil folks makes me pause and cringe a little inwardly when I am saying I am German descent to a new Jewish friend. And yet one of my dearest friends was a survivor of the Holocaust. Thank God.

I do get it. I do. It is so hard not to think things sometimes and generalize about folks.

I think most of us try very hard not to pre judge.

I doubt anyone would know about your bias, prejudices, and generalized stereo typing until you act on them physically or verbally. It is very likely that both men did just that. We will see lots of these faults die with passing of our generation.

It would be great to think that the prejudices that our generation has will die with us but I just don't think it is going to be true. I have had lots of opportunities to talk to the younger generations and am always amazed how much prejudice still exists in ALL races.

You are right, but I do feel it is less prevalent for each generation I.e. 50 years old, 40 years old and so on. So, it will not go away, but since my generation is infested with prejudice, it will certainly be a leap in the right direction. I am happy I have lived long enough to see the direction we are headed.

Good point

Anyone find these homeowners cowards who did not go outside to stop the fight between Zimmerman and Martin, or do you feel they did the right thing staying in the safety of their homes and calling 911?

I think he is, he called police, police said not to follow him, I think he provoked Martin, that's when the fight happened and so on

With the exception of having a weapon, how is what George Zimmerman was doing [that night] any different than our own Community Watch Program ?? ...and, since anyone can get a conceal carry permit, are we absolutely sure none of our Community Watch folks carry on duty ????