4. I have a tendency to blame others for my wrongdoings.
Almost from the beginning of his trial on second-degree murder charges for the killing of Trayvon Martin, it was clear that George Zimmerman’s defense team planned to put the victim, Trayvon Martin, on trial. Trayvon was described as the aggressor from the outset (although it was Zimmerman’s pursuit that set off the chain of events that followed).
Zimmerman, through his lawyers (he did not testify during the trial), claimed that he acted solely in self-defense for fear of his life. Nevermind the fact that I am not familiar with any coroner’s report that lists “death by broken nose” (which was basically the only injury Zimmerman suffered).
The defense defaulted to an all-too-familiar tactic in court, which was to pander to the hidden belief of many that young black males are violent criminals, thus they are to be feared. It was much easier for a (basically) all white, all female jury to capitulate to those fears and believe that the dead black boy was to blame for his own death—after all, he was “armed with the sidewalk.”
This tendency to blame others for wrongdoing is not limited to George Zimmerman.
From the beginning of time, humankind has sought to blame others for our wrongdoings. It started in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent.
We love playing the blame game, and I am not immune. I often blame others for my wrong, but that’s just not right.
I, along with the rest of mankind (including George Zimmerman), must learn to own up to my mistakes, admit when I’ve done wrong, and seek to make it right. It doesn’t help anyone for me to blame someone else for my failings.
This leads to the final thing that I have in common with George Zimmerman …
