KELSEYVILLE — I had to read this column several times in order to consume the implication of prejudice of white toward black. It is abhorrent how this staff reporter can instill such hatred toward whites because of the Zimmerman verdict. Zimmerman was acquitted by a jury of his peers. If I did not see the picture of this writer I would have thought it was the likes of Al Sharpton fueling his hatred.
I am an American of Hispanic descent. Four generations of citizenship in the United States, served in the Army during the Vietnam era, 17 years old. My brother served 16 in the Korean War and my son, 22, served twice in Iraq and once in Afghanistan. Are we white? No! Are we children? No. Are we black? No! We are people of color! Zimmerman is a person of color. Is Ms. Dems afraid to say it like it really is? Is she afraid to anger the Hispanic community that is by far larger than the black communities? The press jumped on this story because the name was Zimmerman and when the story really broke, he was Hispanic. Let me remind Ms. Dems that, Tiger Woods was asked what racial origin he was. He indicated quickly that he was black no matter what else he was mixed with.
Therefore, as a Hispanic, like Zimmerman, call it what he is, “a Hispanic that killed a black person.”
Don”t think for one second that I have not been around prejudice. While in Europe and South America I experienced the threat of prejudice for just being an American. Profiling and prejudice exists everywhere and it is how we deal with it that makes a difference. I would suggest she read the book, “White Girl Bleed a Lot” by Colin Flagerty.
The impunity of her thoughts should anger the white community and I would not blame them. Let me remind her, reverse hatred gets nobody anywhere.
Last but not least, Mr. (Senor) Zimmerman was not convicted, because he broke no laws. Carrying a concealed weapon, patrolling his neighborhood, for good reasons and defending himself from death or severe injury is not illegal.
Though I regret Trayvon”s death, the consequences of attacking someone from behind and trying to kill or maim can have severe consequences to your health as it did in this case. He was not a child as many want to imply, he was a man like many of us men who lost their lives before reaching the age of 18, for their country. Believe this, we also carried candy.
