Bang! Bang! What Was That?

Shoot first, and ask questions later. That about sums up the philosophy many Americans live by. Those killed are generally black.

We still have no idea what really happened. What we do know is that it all ended with Trayvon Martin lying dead on the ground. Shot to death. The victim was a young black man with a boyish face. The shooter was a Latino named George Zimmerman. He claims he acted in self-defense, but Trayvon’s parents doubt that, as do a growing number of other Americans.

So what’s the truth? According to the police blotter, Trayvon supposedly attacked Zimmerman and beat his head forcefully on the sidewalk. Then came the gunfire. A police video made a short time after Zimmerman was taken into custody does not show any wounds on his head, and his clothing is clean and in good order.

Who attacked whom?

The police report claims that Zimmerman had grass on his head, that he was bleeding from the nose and that he had received first aid in the police cruiser for head wounds. In contrast, the police report also says they originally arrested Zimmerman, charging him with “Homicide/Negligent Manslaughter/Unnecessary Killing to Prevent Unlawful Act.” Under Florida law, they had insufficient evidence for an arrest and, therefore, set him free.

What is totally unclear is who the aggressor in the encounter had been. Did Martin feel threatened because Zimmerman was pursuing him? Did Zimmerman feel threatened because Trayvon Martin confronted him? Did they face off twice or only once? Was there really a physical altercation, or did Zimmerman simply overreact?

When racism is combined with guns, someone usually ends up dead, and the victim is more often than not black. That was also the case here. Zimmerman immediately saw the hoodie-wearing teenager as a potential criminal and decided to pull the trigger rather than wait for the police to come — something he had been advised to do by the police when he initially telephoned them to report a suspicious character.

Anyone with any common sense in the United States is asking why a “neighborhood watchman” would be running around with a loaded gun, shooting to kill at the first opportunity. Why does this happen repeatedly in America? Filmmaker Michael Moore gave a poignant answer to those questions in his film “Bowling for Columbine.”

In many respects, the United States is more like a developing country than people are willing to admit: Many Americans are marginally educated (to the point of being functionally illiterate), unemployment has skyrocketed (a fact camouflaged by those who claim to be self-employed), and the rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer. Social tensions are, therefore, on the rise, and many people increasingly fear for their property and their lives. So, they arm themselves, live in gated communities and hire private guards who would rather shoot first than expose themselves to possible danger. That was the atmosphere in which Trayvon Martin died.

President Obama has asked that the case be thoroughly investigated and that answers be given. That’s right and proper. But if nothing changes in American society, and if the gun insanity continues there, it won’t be long before the next teenager will be lying dead on the pavement.

It’s time for a change.