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PROGRAMSUCCESSx13APRIL2012PAGE39FishersofMenTheshootingofTrayvonMartinbyGeorgeZimmermanstartedanoutcryofinjusticeheardaroundthiscountryandtheworldthataffectedtheemotionsofmothersandfatherstheyoungandtheoldandeveryothersoulregardlessofracecreedandsocial-economicbackground.Thisincidentbasedonpublicoutcryislabeledtheworstthingthateverhappened.Howeverwehavepinchedourtentpaintedoursignsandputonourshoesandmarchingonslipperyiceatthetipoftheicebergbecausenotenoughattentionisbeingpaidtothehugemassoftheproblemthatexistbeneaththewateroutofwhichthistragicsituationgrew.BothoftheseyoungmentookdifferentpathsintheirlifethatunitedthemonthenarrowsidewalkthatdividedthebackpatiosofthegatedcondominiumsonthatdreadfulSundaynight.Itismyopinionthatweonlykickagainsttheprickswhenwetrytosolveaproblemwithoutresearchinganddiscoveringtherootoftheproblem.Thatisifproblemsolvingisourgoalmaybesomeonlywantstocomplain.AProblemwithoutaSolutionisaComplaint.Weknowalotabouttheseyoungmenbywhathasbeuncoveredbythemediaalthoughnotpresumedtobeexactitpaintsapictureworthnoting.TrayvonMartinx19spastshowstroublespotsthatrevealshimasateenagesearchingforidentitydownsometroublepaths.Hisschoolsuspensionsforabsencesmarijuanatracesandthewomenx19sjewelryfoundinhispossessionareagainx13thetipoftheicebergofthemanythingsthatmayhavebeentroublinghislife.Thebreak-upofhismotherandfatherthetwopeoplehelovedthemostmayhaveplayafactorinhisacting-out.WedoknowthatitwashissuspensionthatleadshimtoSanfordatatimeheshouldhavebeeninschoolinMiami.GeorgeZimmermanpastalsoshowedindicatorsthatmayleadhimtothisdestructivepathwithaguninhishand.BorninafamilyofawhitefatherajudgewhomarriedhisHispanicclerkthelifeofprivilegeinthesuburbsmaynothavefairedwelltoGeorgex19smixedheritagecreatingangerissuesthatleadtohimhavingtworestrainingorderplacedonhimandanarrestforassaultingapoliceofficer.Havingafatherofinfluencehoweverallowedhimtoexpungehischargesandrecordsohecouldpursueacareerironicallyasapoliceofficerandalsopurchaseagunandobtainapermittocarryaconcealedweapon.ThecombinationofGeorgex19sangerproblemsunsuccessfulambitionslifeofprivilegethecoverhismistakesinsteadofcorrectinghismistakescreatedthepersonwhothinksheisentitledtodefyauthorityandtakemattersintohisownhandwhichby-the-wayhasaguninit.GeorgeZimmermanandTrayvonMartinaretwoyoungmenbutnottheonlytwoyoungmeninourcommunitieswhosetroubledpathsledtosituationsofsenselessdeath.AtthestartofthismonthinPasadenaCaliforniaanunarmedyoungmanKendrecMcDadewasshotandkilledbypolicebecauseitwasfalselyreportedthatheandhisfriendhadstolenabackpackfromanotheryoungmanatgunpoint.Thebackpackwasrecoveredintheirpossessionbutthestoryofagunwasfabricatedbythevictim.ThepolicesaidKendrecMcDademadeamovementtowardhiswaistbandwhichmadethemshoot.MaybethisyoungBlackcollegestudentwassimplyreachingtopulluphissagginpantsThentherewastheyoungAsianmanL.GohwhowentintoOikosUniversityaChristianCollegeinOaklandCaliforniawithagunkilling7andwounding3beforeturninghimselfinatagrocerystoredownthestreet.AndtherewasT.J.LaneawhitehighschoolstudentatChardonHighSchoolinOhiowhotookaguntohisschoolkilling3ofhisschoolmatesandwounding2others.WhataboutJaredLeeLoughner22whoshot18peopleataSafewaySupermarketinArizona.HistargetwasCongresswomanGabrielleGifford.6peoplediedincludingJudgeJohnRolland9-yearoldChristina-TaylorGreen.Andletx19snotforgetTimothyMcVeighwhokilled168peoplewhichincluded19childreninthedaycareandwounded450intheOklahomaCityBombingbeforethetroubledpathhetraveledended.ThereisarecordedpolicetapeintheTrayvonMartinandGeorgeZimmermanincidentofacryofHelp.MayIconcludethatitwasthecryofboththeseyoungmenbeforethatdreadfulgunshot.ThereisalwaysacryofHelp.IneachofthelivesoftheyoungmenmentionedabovetherewasacryofHelp.MaybeunheardMaybeignoredEitherwayx13unassistedintime.JesusgaveaninvitationinMatt419sayingx1cfollowmeandIwillmakeyouFishersofMenx1d.HewhocametoLoveHealandForgiveandlivedtheperfectlifeaskedustofollowhimandasaresultwewillpullmenfromtheseasofdespairpaindisappointmentandshamefishthemfromthetreacherousseasthatcausesthemtodestroytheirlivesandthelivesofothers.Ourchurchesare80womenwhichunderscoresthefactthatweneedMentobeFishersofMen.MenwhoarewillingtofollowThePerfectExampleandliveexemplarylivesthatothermencanseeandbewillingtofollow.Menthatstaywiththeirwivesandhonorallwomenbecausetheyrealizetheiractionsareseedsplantedinthelivesofyoungmenforgenerationstocome.WeneedMenwhosewordstodayproduceLovehavetheabilitytoHealandcanfosterForgiveness.OntheoccasionswhenJesusfedthemultitudesheonlycountedthemen.Inoursocietythewell-beingofourMenhasgreatimplicationsandgreatimpacts.WeneedourMentobepresentandcountedamongthefamilyasMenofactionanddetermination.Thereforeletx19sexaminenotjustthetipoftheicebergbutinsteadgointothedeepseasanddiscovertheproblemsthataredrowningouryoungmen.Thenletx19sseekandsupportthoseMenamonguswhobythelifetheyliveshowevidencethattheyareblessedbyGodtobeFishersofMen.