I have not read nor headed the entire speech but no where do I see the suggestion that Martin's action may have played a role in his death. I am not attacking Martin but that does not justify demonizing Zimmerman by canonizing Martin. He has a history of burglary and violience so there really outs no reason to believe Zimmermann' s description of his behavior is inaccurate. Stand your ground requires you believe you life is at risk so sorry no being followed doesn't meet that standard.
Obama asked us to consider what have happened had the races been reversed, ignoring of course the fact that Zimmerman is Hispanic. The was a case in 2009 where black man shot a 17 year old white kind twice, once in the back and once in the chest. It was in NY with no stand your ground law and the reason given for shooting him he lunged at the man. No busted nos, he never even touched him. The man was found not guilty the only difference is see did get this national out pouring of sorrow and rage.
I would have liked to have seen Obama come out and say that a change in behavior will be needed if we to see a change in perception. Yes we can work on both but see little to evidence he is shooting instead a see the same tax based excuses. So no I do agree we need to work on both at once and as a nation we made great strides in perception but now we need to start doing more that pay the other side of the coin lap service and we need to stop c
alling people racist for mentioning there is another side. The problems with the black kmcommunity cannot ever remain not only the fault of the whites but taboo for them to mention.