A National Tragedy – 2013-07-19
by Mark Ford
The airwaves are filled with endless reporting on the Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman case. It is my conjecture that nothing has penetrated the nation’s psyche like this tragedy has, at least since the O. J. Simpson trial. Reactions have been strong and range from those who feel the acquittal was a gross act of injustice to others who feel “finally justice has prevailed.” It is my best guess that while most have their own opinions on this matter, their deeper grief is over the fact that a young man is dead, and it all could have been avoided. What if George Zimmerman would have stayed in his car and let the police handle it? What if these two young men had laid aside whatever was driving them at the moment and had a civil conversation?
Among the noise and excitement of community members waiting to receive fresh, free produce from the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Free Farmers’ Market is a quiet volunteer named Tim. One by one, Tim removes empty boxes from the crowded room and takes them outside to be recycled.