Common Folk Collective

Let the shit show begin. It’s trial time.

I hate to be pessimistic but it’s difficult to imagine much of anything positive coming out of this trial. It’s going to be very difficult to find much of anything resembling justice buried under the media circus and frenzy for the limelight by all involved, lawyers and judge included. It’s hard to imagine it’s going to be anything but polarizing, further distancing us from any truly rational bipartisan debate, all sides firming up the stances they’ve already taken or even having them pushed further to an extreme. Gun control, race relations, civil liberties.

But who I’m really feeling for is the family and friends of Trayvon Martin, having to mourn the loss of a son and friend amongst so much spectacle. I also feel for Zimmerman’s family, no one wants their son to be a killer or murderer and I’m sure incidental family members will have their name dragged through the mud as well.

While we’re at it, let’s give a shout out to all the families who’ve wrongfully had the lives of loved ones taken by the hands of vigilantes or over zealous law enforcement, families that have had to mourn while dealing with accusations thrown at the deceased and the numbing fear from when your “protectors” become the ones you need protecting from.