Can't We All Just Get Along?

It says right in the sign they
report suspicious activity.
Not follow it around.

By now, we have all heard about the horribly tragic case in Florida involving Trayvon Martin, the 17 year old boy who was shot dead by George Zimmerman, neighborhood watch member.  Neighborhood Watch Member?  Do I capitalize that?  Is that a real position or title that needs capitalization?  Maybe if you're a gun wielding Neighborhood Watch Member, it gets capitalized....I'm not sure of the etiquette.

Regardless of my capitalization, a 17 year old is dead and George Zimmerman is one of the most hated men in America right now.  I heard on talk radio today that 73% of Americans think he should be shot arrested.  Imagine being that guy?  Sitting on your couch, just knowing that much of the country hates you?  I can't stand it if I think my Mom is pissed at me for an hour.  Geesh.

Anywho, I'm not going to get into who's right, who's wrong, and whether Geraldo Rivera should apologize for saying Trayvon was killed because he was wearing a hoodie.  Does anyone out there even care what Geraldo Rivera says anymore?  Isn't he very 80's at this point?  That moustache?  Who listens to a guy with that moustache?

Oops, that's not Geraldo.

Woops, that's not him
either.  Sorry.

Damn it, what is wrong with
my computer....

There he is.  Much better.

What was I talking about? 

Right, a 17 year old kid shot to death.  And yes, I am going to call him a kid because he IS a kid.  I think there are many 21, 25, 27 year olds out there who are still "kids".  But this one is gone.  And there are friends and family suffering and it sucks for everyone involved.  I don't know what this kid did to Mr. Zimmerman.  Now it's sounding like there was some sort of fight, but Trayvon may have been wondering why this stranger was following him.  We just don't know.  But I just keep wondering what the outcome would have been if Mr. Zimmerman had just stayed in his house and let the police check things out.  Do you think he is wondering that?

I will be the first to admit that I am one nosey bitch.  I know.  It's shocking, right?  I am always looking to see whose car door that was, or what the noisy-ass dog next door is barking at or who that "kid" is, walking in my neighborhood with his pit bull.  And yes, there was one night that I called the police, because a car full of "kids" parked in front of my house at 11:30 at night and started wandering around my yard while I was home alone with my kids.  But you would do that too, right?  No? 

BUT...

I didn't go outside and start following them around.  (although in the stories I tell my friends, I may have embellished a little bit to sound like a bad-ass).

I didn't grab my gun and follow them after the 911 dispatcher told me he didn't need me to do that (although I did grab a knife from the kitchen, peer through the curtains to watch every move these creeps made, and imagine what my game plan would be if I heard them trying to get in through the back door.  But don't we all do that?  No?  Again?  Really???). 

Because I assumed 911 didn't need me to do that.

I assumed it wasn't my job to do that. 

Nor did I want to do that, because I didn't want to get myself into a dangerous situation. 

And I'm pretty sure the Po Po doesn't need a big mouthed Mom, talking like a bad-ass but then running for her life when things got heated.  (Although the whole situation would make for a fantastic blog post, don't you think?  Especially because I am sure my perps were just a bunch of "kids" trying to party in the woods or something, and I would undoubtedly look like a giant fool.  Sure, now you agree with me.)   

But you never know, and I tend to get a little creeped out if I'm home by myself.  I can't deny a call here or there to Chris asking him to come home because I thought there was a murderer/possessed tree/dingo and/or alien in the house.

As more and more information comes out, it sounds like there was a lot of poor decision making going on that night.  And as always, we don't know the whole story.  Every day, there are new details emerging, new witnesses, new loud-mouths in the media, firing everyone up with their moustaches and crazy talk.  And we all react.  How could we not? 

How about this? 

How about we all mind our own business?

How about we leave the policing to the police?  I mean, it's right in the word.

How about we all treat each other with respect?

How about we look for the good in people before assuming that everyone is out to get us?

How about we do what the police tell us to do, and not walk directly into a sticky situation?

How about we not include the crazy guy with the gun who lives down the street into our Neighborhood Watch?

I mean, let's use our heads people. 

OK, stop laughing. Yes, I did just hear myself.  I will be the first to admit that this is would not be easy.  Especially for me.  What the hell would I write about?  My whole day,   half my day,  part of my day would be shot.  I'd have to start reading books, writing poetry or volunteering or something.  The horror......

And quite frankly, there is no way in H E L L that I am taking my eye off the lunatic that lives a few doors down from us.  I am convinced that he is up to no good, and while I am not going follow him around at night, I will catch him.

Doing something. 

OK, I am quite sure that in reality, his only crime will be letting his his annoying little dog crap on our neighbor/friends lawn, while claiming it isn't him, but I have my eye on him none the less.  We live in a neighborhood where many of us know each other, and I'd like to think we all look out for each other. I don't know what extremes my neighbors would go to, in order to protect me.  But I don't know what extremes I would want them to go to either. If there's a weirdo trying to talk to my kids, do I want them to come over and check it out?  Sure.  Do I want them to start following people around the neighborhood, while packing heat?  I don't know that I do.

Regardless of how you feel about this case, or who you think was wrong, or what you would have done differently (because don't we all think we would do just the right thing, if that were us?), the fact remains that someone is dead and that is a shame.  Plain and simple.  Maybe we can all just step back, take a deep breath and get back to playing Draw Something and never mind what Floosie Susie is doing down the street.  Although, did you hear that she....... ahem....never mind.

Just sayin'......

On a lighter note, will you vote for me please?  It only takes one quick click.  That's all.  I was #7 today, in the Humor section, which makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, thank you, thank you, thank you!