We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.
Though I try to do and say things that are right, like all humans, I err at times. I’ve always tried to be a big enough person to admit it when I’ve been wrong. My face is red today as I address one of those errors.
Strong negative reactions I received from some of my best reader friends have caused me to do a lot of thinking about my blog the other day about the death of Trayvon Martin. The comments of Amber West have been particularly powerful in my mind, since she lives in the Orlando area and probably knows things about the local scene, the local law enforcement figures and the local news that most of us don’t get from the national media.
In addition, it now appears there are new facts in the story. There seems to be a reasonable doubt as to George Zimmerman’s innocence.
Rereading my original post, I realize it looks like I have already judged the man to be not guilty of any crime. That’s a judgment I was—and am—in no position to make. I now conclude that he probably does need to be judged by a jury of his peers, who can decide his guilt or innocence on a more substantial presentation of facts than those upon which I acted.
My reason for my post of last Wednesday was to try to dampen the flames of near hysteria surrounding the case, flames heated by the gasoline thrown on them by Al Sharpton, the Black Panthers and others. I didn’t want to see this man rushed through a kangaroo court and tried and found guilty by popular opinion inflamed by so many across the country who were not in possession of direct knowledge of the actual facts.
If my original post appeared to say Trayvon Martin’s life didn’t matter, I apologize to anyone who read it that way. I particularly apologize to my dear friend Kristen Lamb, who had nothing at all to do with the post, but who has been inundated with negative calls and emails because of our association.
As a Christian, I don’t want to see any innocent life taken—Trayvon Martin’s or George Zimmerman’s or anyone else’s. For this reason, I did not and still do not want to see George Zimmerman crucified in the court of public opinion, his verdict rendered by the media. It now appears, however, thay a grand jury does need to consider whether or not he should go to trial. If that grand jury says yes, then all the pertinent facts need to be heard by a jury of his peers.
David N. Walker is a Christian father and grandfather, a grounded pilot and a near-scratch golfer who had to give up the game because of shoulder problems. A graduate of Duke University, he spent 42 years as a health insurance agent. Most of that career was spent in Texas, but for a few years he traveled many other states. He started writing about 20 years ago, and has six unpublished novels to use as primers on how NOT to write fiction. He is currently putting the finishing touches on his non-fiction Web Wisdom: Godly Inspiration from the Inbox and starting his new fiction work—a series of novellas set during the period from 1860 to 1880—using methods he and @KristenLambTX developed when they cofounded Warrior Writers Boot Camp.
Contact me at davwalktx@yahoo.com or tweet me at @davidnwalkertx
David N Walker 
Hi, David. I read both of your posts, and I must say that I am impressed by your sincere apology here. While I agree with many of your readers that it is important that we withhold judgement of the entire situation until all evidence has been presented (or, more appropriately, until after a trial has been held to determine any guilt or innocence), I was reminded of a piece I read recently about how situations like this have far-reaching effects, whether we realize it or not. Again, I am not sure Zimmerman is innocent and acted out of self-defense, or that Trayvon was as harmless as has been portrayed. What I AM saying is that we as a society might benefit from a little soul searching about our own inner prejudices in an effort to someday remove racial tensions from our collective vocabulary. Here is the link to my friend’s piece, if you like.
http://www.theadoptionmagazine.com/2012/03/27/the-talk/
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Thanks for your thoughtful response, Dawn.
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Thanks, Amber. You were largely responsible for my writing this second piece. You brought up facts I’d nevr heard or seen and caused me to wonder if I’d written something I shouldn’t have.
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David, thank you for posting this. I didn’t comment on the other because I, too, felt we should not judge when we don’t know all the facts. If we’re on the jury, then we can have that right. Sometimes we must just feel compassion for both sides. Life lost and life taken is never a good thing from either side. It’s tragic.
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Thanks, Karlene. My intent in my original post was to try to throw some cold water on the flames that seemed to be fanning into almost a lynch mentality, but apparently I didn’t express that intent very well.
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Saying “I’m sorry” is sometimes very difficult. Good for you,David.
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Thanks, Patricia.
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Thank you for this important post, Bro. I hadn’t commented on your previous one, but was surely bothered by it. I think that Amber West and others had some really important points. I am impressed that you wrote this one, apologizing for some of what you said in the other one. That takes a lot of humility. I do not think that any of us are here to judge each other. Gloria put that very well. Love you ….
Barb
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Thanks, Sis.
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Big of you to admit you might not have the big picture. And, remember, this is why Kristen wrote that post about author platform and tackling controversial subjects. She told me right over the phone NOT to write the post I’d been planning to use. That no matter how well intentioned, it would be polarizing. That’s when I backed off. Because I didn’t want that drama. Why invite it in? Some people can do it. It doesn’t fit my brand, and I don’t think it fits yours as a Christian — the judgment part is for other folks and higher powers. Later.
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Thanks, Renee. You probably saved yourself some angst.
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I hope you are okay.
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Well said, David. I realize much thought went into both posts. This particular incident aside, many times a message is slurred when media and militants (white, black, purple, brown, gay, hetero, ad infinitum) gain a reputation for inciting, and inviting retribution before the facts are known.
I wish (and pray for) a day when the news is “just the facts, Ma’am”, opinions are positioned as opinions, and the militants no longer have the power to incite riots because “we the people” are just that — people, fellow citizens of the United States who judge not each other but ourselves.
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Amen, Gloria!
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