I think by now, we have analyzed and re-analyzed what we know and was presented at trial as evidence regarding George Zimmerman’s actions. Time we take a look at the other part of the equation. Do remember I am not an “expert” and these are just my ideas.
I am dismissing for the moment the possible influence of “Thug Life.” While there are several indicators that he at least partook on the whole image of the gansta/rapper/hyper-aggressive, I do not have enough data to make a full decision. However, I have no doubt that it may have influenced his final acts.
It takes two to Tango.
Go to Stupid Places, Do Stupid Stuff, Win Stupid Prizes.
Or plainly:
Avoidance, Deterrence, De-Escalation.
Again, I have no idea what was in Trayvon’s mind or why he chose to engage in the way he did, but he had the chance to avoid the confrontation by running like crazy. He was a fit young male who was in his school’s football team and not far from his fathers house.A fast getaway is more than an appropriate choice. Some funky guy on TV and podcast keeps saying “Distance is good. More Distance is More Better” and those are words to live by.
He could have “deterred” George Zimmerman by getting off the phone with his friend and asking what did he want and announcing in a loud voice he was calling 911 (and even doing so.) Quiet is never good in my opinion. The louder one gets in cases like this will tend to attract attention from potential witnesses, a thing that people with evil in their minds do not like. Do remember that Zimmerman’s cries for help did attract attention from the neighbors.
And attacking Zimmerman via “Ground & Pound” was clearly a harsh escalation of the chain of events that led to George Zimmerman feeling he legally needed to use deadly force to stop him. Nothing good came out of it.
“Your number one philosophy for personal security should be a life long commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.
Avoidance: The act of avoiding or keeping away from (Three Stupid Rule.) If you can safely retreat from the encounter, by all means do so. For instance, if you are out for a walk and feel threatened or intimidated by an occupant of a car, you should retreat in the opposite direction that the car is traveling.
Deterrence: The act of discouraging someone from taking hostile action against you by being aware of them and their possible intent.
De-escalation: The act of decreasing in intensity. To not let your ego or emotions get the best of you, to refrain from escalating the problem into more than it already is. As a CCW you may need to back down from non-life threatening, argumentative encounters in order to not allow things to spiral out of control. When these things do not work, then and only then may you need to show or use the gun. Just because we are carrying does not mean that we need to use the gun. You want to do whatever is reasonably possible to avoid using the gun. But when your well researched, well thought out “line in the sand” has been crossed you need to act without hesitation.”
Roger Phillips, Suarez International Specialist Instructor.
These are words to live by.
We may never know what was in his mind, but the coroner’s report states a 9mm JHP was in his heart.
Lawl
Oy!
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WRONG MOVES BY TM
(1) came out of the dark and closed upon GZ..within striking distance
(2) asked loudly if GZ had a problem,and struck GZ as soon as GZ started to answer his question
(3) did not dis- engage from fight when yelled at by john the witness
(4) did not reduce his attack when GZ was under his control, where he could have asked again what GZ had a problem with….
(5) allowed GZ to draw his weapon and fire…the rest is history
TM should have not lived his life as a punk. Live like a punk , Die like a punk. The world is better without him in it
Since his friend, Rachel Jeantel placed him “in back of his father’s place,” 400 feet away from Zimmerman while Z was on the phone…..he could have just….gone inside.
What did Trayvon do wrong?
Until he assaulted Zimmerman…nothing. Technically. Until then…everyone could have walked away.
But in reality…… he should have just gone home.
What Trayvon did wrong was acting like he was a gang banger in the ghetto. You have to know where you are, just like it’s not a good idea for a guy with a pink shirt to enter a biker bar, it’s also not a good idea to start beating up a man who might have a gun. Trayvon lived like a thug, died like a thug. When Oprah compares Trayvon to Emmett Till, whose crime was whistling to a white woman, she makes me want to puke. If Trayvon had whistled at Zimmerman, he would still be alive. But as we know, he was a bad boy, and in this politically correct country, calling evil “evil” is no longer good.
He might been acting, he might not, we simply do not know but only presume. We know what he did and the final cost it had.