I hate to sound like a conspiracy theorist, or think this of my fellow Americans regardless of political lines, but the only thing I can think of is this has gone beyond all rational emotion in an effort to stir up an anger and an "us v them" mentality, get the young voters and the minority voters that previous polls have shown pushed Obama over the to victory in the last election and were the group most likely not to vote this year.
I honestly think some people are willing to set back race relations to win this election. I foresee many "hoodie events" that turn into political voter' registrations, political rallies, and just pounding away against the right.
In my opinion, I have been creeped out by dark hoodies since the Unabomber. There is a reason he wore one...to hide his face. I don't want to turn this into a hoodie issues, but it seems that many are going to use is as yet another example of racial profiling.As a woman who runs/cycles I know that if I am out alone, I better be aware of what is going on and I am also aware of what to wear. Light colored clothing, not the time to just wear the jog bra with no top, wear a reflective vest, etc. It is just using common sense to protect myself if the best way I can.
If what I have read on some sites is true (certain gang's use the hoodie as part of their "look") I don't think I would wear one if I was a gang-age young man. No sense in bringing trouble. Or keep the hoodie hood down--I have no idea if the temperature warranted full-on hoodie head protection!
I can remember many years ago, back when they taught driver's ed in school and still showed the gory movies, my instructor, (aka Jr. varsity football coach) taking a good 10-15 minutes to explain how to act in front of the police. I know Zimmerman wasn't a policeman, but he could have been off-duty, plainclothes, etc. I am not blaming Trayvon, but the words have been implanted in my brain for over 40 years.
If a policeman pulls you over put both hands on the wheel where he/she can see them. When getting registration out of glove compartment, tell them what you are doing. If you are asked to stop for any reason while out walking, throwing trash away, etc. you stop. You don't throw attitude--you look at it from their perspective where anyone could pull out a gun, knife etc and they would be put in a split second decision of what to do.Guess wrong either way and someone ends up dead possibly.
My point is, I am reading all sorts of stuff about how young black males are having to be taught how to act around police as if it is different than anyone else has to act. We should all act courteous to police, even if some of them are big-headed bullies, or not real police---act nice until proven otherwise. Sometimes you have to just swallow your pride a bit. Sometimes you have to put yourself in their shoes. This goes way beyond this case...many innocent, unarmed young men of all colors are shot by police who thought they were armed, and I always wonder---what was that kid thinking if they were reaching in their pocket, pants, etc. without telling the cops what they were doing?
