The Hunger Games Starring: Trayvon Martin
By Terrence Grundy aka AVOG
(A Voice of God)
I just finished reading the Hunger Games (Hunger). I also just finished reading the facts about the Trayvon Martin slaying. And I must say I’m astonished with the eerie similarities. It appears that America has a blood lust. Or at the very least an unhealthy fascination with murders of teenagers; and not just the mere murders of teenagers but killings based on racial, social and economic differences.
Death of poverty-stricken teens and racial killings are the highlight of both these stories. Tragic bloody deaths and wailing heart-broken families keep us captivated. We can’t turn away! we long for more and more scandalous details about the demise of these young vibrant but underprivileged citizens. “Who’s right? Who is wrong?” are the questions we ask. We demand, “Justice!” And, some of us proclaim “Justice rendered!” We ponder, “Did they deserve to die?” and if so, “Did they deserve to die in that way?” but mostly we want to know, what’s next? will the impoverished people riot against the rich law makers? will the wealthy ruling classes stiffen the laws against the lowly law breakers?
I realize you, the reader, have been bombarded with facts and statistics of both these stories so I won’t recap them in their entirety. I only will say Hungers’ story is based on random destitute teens being selected to participate in an arena where they have to kill each other. They have to survive to feed their families and communities. The tragedy of the Trayvon account is about a black teenager, Trayvon Martin, being tracked by Mark Zimmerman because he looked suspicious; and later Zimmerman shoots Trayvon to death claiming self-defense. But I’m sure you know about these two tales. Because again I’ll say it: America is fascinated with the murdering of our teenagers based on racial, social and economic differences.
How else would you explain that moviegoers poured into North American multiplexes for the hotly anticipated futuristic sage The Hunger Games which obliterated the competition with a jaw-dropping $152.5M opening weekend, shattering records in the process? And how would you explain over two million signatures being collected via Change.org demanding that Mark Zimmerman be arrested and charged with Trayvon’s shooting. Based on the sheer number of signatures on the petition, it’s safe to say, millions of Americans are following this teen tragedy. And they are intrigued with it.
The success of both of these tragic stories brings up a few questions. Where is our society headed? What is the future fate of our children? How far will we go to entertain ourselves? How much money will, the movie: The Killing of Trayvon Martin, make? Or will it be called, The Shawzim Redemption or To Kill a Teen? Whatever the title, will it render more than Hunger? I think it will. Because we must remember a key point to all this comparison: One happened on the big screen as a science fiction fantasy, the other is reality (literally) on our door steps. And we know how much reality TV appeals to our country. Realism mixed with tragedy. And throw in sentiment. Sprinkle controversy. And add a pinch of racial conflict, heated hatred, police mishandling, cover-up, shake and stir and instantly you have a triumphant stage show.
But this is more than just a show. Both these situations, Hunger and Trayvon have so many underlining messages. They both give a glimpse of what’s in our hearts when we champion movies like Hunger and when we choose sides in relation to the Trayvon killing. In Hunger we find ourselves cheering when an individual (teenager) is killed. But we tell ourselves that were only cheering because the character dying was wicked or insisted on trying to kill our hero. We put our hands together in approved justification. Inside we tell ourselves,” She had to do it!” or “That’s what they get!” We leave the movie theatre or put the book down feeling good about enjoying it; or in some cases loving it. The same with the Trayvon tragedy, we justify his killing on the same factors: “Zimmerman had to do it” or “that’s what he gets!” We even add, “The law gives him the right!”
Hey, I’m no judge. You’re not on trial for loving these stories. And for full disclosure, I read Hunger in hours and will see the movie like millions of other Americans. No, I’m not judging you. Furthermore I placed my John Hancock on the Trayvon Martin, “Arrest Mark Zimmerman” petition. Don’t judge me. I’m not the bad guy. And Just like in the movie we forget who the real bad guys are. I want to say, it’s you. And that it’s me. But I won’t blame the player. I blame the game. More to the point: The Game Makers. In the movie, these people make all the laws for every society. And the main law requires teenagers to participate in the hunger games led and orchestrated by the hated Game Makers. In the Trayvon tragedy it also has a villain. And like Hunger, it’s not the necessarily the person doing the killing. It’s the rich who make the laws.
In Florida a law was passed that states: Fla. Stat. § 776.012. Use of force in defense of person
A person is justified in using force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other’s imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if:
(1) He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony;
So the general rule is that deadly force may be used only to “imminent death or great bodily harm,” or “the imminent commission of a forcible felony.” A person may only use deadly force if he “reasonably believes” that the aforesaid factual conditions exist. These standards are the norm throughout the United States. These are laws voted on by the people but put on the ballet by the wealthy - marketed by the wealthy - interpreted by the wealthy.
According to ABC news, after he killed Trayvon, Zimmerman quoted the Florida’s “stand-your-ground” law. Zimmerman understood this law and was looking for opportunity to partake in it. These laws and laws like them really stem from fear. Fear of the poor and of the black youth. In this society blacks are feared. And if I had to explain why the fear is so prevalent, I would have to say it’s because of the strength and the stamina of the black American; and that goes double for the black teen. That’s why it is acceptable to kill them. Society is terrified. The fear sets precedent for Black America: it’s guilty until proven innocent. It’s punish and then prove. Shoot first. Question it later. Because “Stand Your Ground” makes it legal to kill with no questionability and no accountability; making, “poor black teen hunting season” open all year round.
The Trayvon tragedy is happening every day. But most of these occurrences get little attention and is definitely not going to get a movie deal. Hunger circumstances, where poor teens are being killed are happening in every city. Black teens and poor kids are being killed and locked away in institutions every day. Similar to Hunger, poor black teenagers have been placed in an arena. They’re handed items (weapons, drugs, etc…) and told to kill each other; instructed that, there can only be one winner; instructed you have to kill or be killed. And after being regarded as 2nd and 3rd class citizens for the majority of their young lives, they buy into the game. Adding to the problem, young black teens have seen their fathers, brother, uncles and grandfathers humiliated in these reality life games; subsequently when there harassed, called derogatory names, locked behind bars(while the authorities unravel all the facts) and it doesn’t seem to them like racism. It’s the norm. I don’t mean normal. I mean the norm. And when you’re used to something happening to you, you presume it to be normal.
In the movie Hunger, district 12 is the poorest district. It was viewed by the wealthy law makers as the most minuscule of people. District 12 is modern day, Black America. Black America is treated as 2nd class and sometimes 3rd class citizens. In the Trayvon story a White/Hispanic man killed a black teenager. If a black man killed a white teenager he would have immediately been arrested. He would have been booked into jail until the authorities unraveled all issues and pulled together all facts. And not a soul would have (besides the immediate family) voiced any objections. Living in America, Black Americans understand how these things are done. Black Americans understand that when someone is killed (especially a white by a black man) be prepared to go to jail. It’s what’s going to happen. Whoever did the killing will spend at least 48 hours in jail. And this must be legally in the guidelines of the authorities because it’s done every day.
What a joke! I don’t imply the declaration is a joke. To suggest or think that it applies to Black America is a joke. It’s a gag, a prank and more to the point, a tease. Black Americans even smirk and sometimes drop to the ground clutching their bellies in uncontained genuine laughter at anyone who would really think this applies to them. I think the scientific technical term for it is: Fool. I don’t mean to be pessimistic or fatalistic, just realistic. Note: the great equalizer is money. If you’re black and have it (money cash, bread capital or big bucks) then these truth may apply to you: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. If you’re black without green please disregard last sentence. They don’t and won’t apply to the poor or Black Americans. Don’t believe me? Ask Trayvons dad. I would tell you to ask Trayvon but…
…A little over a month ago now he was murdered. But I tell you, a Trayvon is happening somewhere every day. And unlike the book Hunger, this is real life. Teens are fighting each other and fighting for existence just like this book and now movie Phenom. Trayvon is dead. He was killed in the streets. He was killed in the war. Yes it is a war. It’s a war on drugs. It’s a war on poverty. It’s a war on terrorism. It’s a war between the races. Its war! Like it or not. And in war there are casualties. Is Trayvon a hero of his war? Will Trayvon be given soldiers’ burial, flags hung at half mass? And will he receive a Medal of Honor? Trayvon was killed in action.
Killed in Action (KIA) is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. Trayvon was killed by hostile forces. The United States of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to hostile attack. Trayvon fired no weapon. KIAs do not come from incidents such as accidental vehicle crashes and other "non-hostile" events or terrorism. Trayvon was not killed by accident. KIA can be applied both to front-line combat troops and to naval, air and support troops. Someone who is killed in action during a particular event is denoted with a † (Unicode U+2020: Dagger) beside their name to signify their death in that event. Trayvon the star of Hunger, based on the definition of KIA he should be denoted with a † by his name. Will he get it? He meets all the requirements. Read them again if you don’t believe me.
Time will tell if Trayvon receives any honor. And eventually, a grand jury will issue a report based on its investigation. In the meantime, there are two competing narratives. In one narrative, Zimmerman followed Martin, attacked him, and then murdered him. Let’s call this the “M narrative.” In Zimmerman’s account, he followed Martin, caught up with him, and then left; while he was leaving, Martin attacked him, knocked him to the ground, and began slamming his head into the pavement. Let’s call this the “Z narrative.” Who will win? Answer: The wealthy. The Game makers will win. The House always wins.
But with winning comes consequences. Nobody likes to lose. But people lose; its life. And we have to accept it. But sooner or later we all get fed up with getting cheated, conned and duped. Finally we scream: enough! And then what will happen? Well, we are able to take a glimpse of the future of this country and see what will happen, if you’re willing to look. All you have to do is examine further into the trilogy of Hunger. Because in the book Hunger, one of the main points to the story is about rebellion, demonstration against the establishment and uprising. It all starts with a glint of protest. Also concerning the Trayvon tragedy, like Hunger, thus far there has been a glint of protest. And that glint can only lead one way, toward: protest, rebellion, uprising, revolt and change.
In conclusion, both Hunger and Trayvon’s slaying are generating a lot of awareness. They enchant us, entertain us and pull at our hearts. More to the point, Hunger did it to generate money. Trayvon’s slaying, well, it is what it is. But now that our attention has been attained, our interests have been peeked and our hearts have been touched. We must not let this momentum weaken. We must choose: Love or Hate. We have to see the true underlying message. And again I’m astonished. Not by the similarities but the extreme differences. Because the world says hate and God says love! And yes our country, America, has deep rooted hate. Trayvon and Hunger have exposed these hates and laid them out for all to see. Hate of different ethnic groups. Hate of the different classes. Hate for the rich. Hate for the poor. Hate for the law makers. Hate for our brothers. We have to discover the message in the madness. And the the only way we will survive, together, is if we turn from hate, prejudice, injustice, selfishness, greed, jealousy and fear and turn to God. It’s really simple. All we have to do is follow his command in 1 John 4:21: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
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