It was a tragedy that gripped the nation. A 17-year-old youth, Trayvon Martin, was shot dead. But there are two victims in this shooting, the other is the shooter, George Zimmerman.

First, some background about the principals that sheds light on the night of Trayvon's death.

Perhaps you've seen images of the innocent-looking teen. Trayvon is usually understood to be an ideal son who excelled at school, an all-around good kid. Even President Obama said, “If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon.”

But that picture was four years old. The 17-year-old Trayvon bore little resemblance to that commonly shown photograph and he was anything but a student-of-the-month type.

The real Trayvon, not the media Trayvon, was by no measure a good student. During this year alone he was suspended three times.

The details of his first suspension are not known. But his second suspension was for the possession of stolen women’s jewelry and a screwdriver that a school security officer described as a “burglary tool.” The third suspension was for having marijuana and a pipe.

The Martin's attorney filed an injunction to seal the late Trayvon's police records. We can surmise that he had a police record and the injunction was to prevent its public release.

Zimmerman, on the other hand, was elected by the Home Owners' Association as the captain of their Neighborhood Watch Program. It was a mixed community in which Zimmerman was universally held in high regard by blacks, Hispanics, and whites.

Now we come to that climatic date, February 26, when Trayvon and Zimmerman crossed paths.

We find Trayvon on a cold, rainy night, about 11 o'clock. Zimmerman sees him and his suspicions are aroused. He calls the police department. An abbreviated transcript of the conversation follows:

Zimmerman: This guy looks like he's up to no good or he's on drugs or something. Now he's just staring at me. Yeah, now he's coming toward me. Something's wrong with him. Yup, he's coming to check me out. How long until you get an officer over here?

Dispatcher: Yeah, we've got someone on the way. Are you following him?

Zimmerman: Yeah.

Dispatcher: Okay, we don't need to do that.

Zimmerman: Okay.

Here the transcript ends and the narrative continues with Zimmerman's testimony.

Trayvon approaches Zimmerman, “Do you have a problem?” Zimmerman replies in the negative. “Well, you do now.” Trayvon punches him and breaks his nose. The 6', 160-pound Trayvon pins the stunned 5'8”, 170-pound Zimmerman and proceeds to slam his head on the sidewalk.

A witness claims he saw Trayvon on top of Zimmerman “pounding him.”

There is a struggle for Zimmerman's licensed pistol. Zimmerman fires a fatal shot into Trayvon's chest.

Less than two minutes later the police arrive. They find Zimmerman bleeding from a broken nose, bloody lacerations on the back of his head, and grass on his back. Zimmerman later seeks medical treatment for his nose, head, and facial injuries.

A coroner's report cites cuts on Trayvon's hand indicating a struggle for Zimmerman's weapon substantiating his account.

When police examine the semi-automatic pistol they find that the gun failed to inject another round into the chamber indicating that something happened during the fight for the gun that interfered with its function. Again, corroborating Zimmerman's statement.

The next day Zimmerman is interrogated for five hours. He never seeks legal counsel nor wavers from his testimony. He is forthright and consistent in his recollection. The police do an on-site, step-by-step reenactment of the shooting. All the evidence supports Zimmerman's account. He is not charged.

But 46 days later the public prosecutor decides to charge Zimmerman with second-degree murder, a non-premeditated killing. He is currently free on a $150,000 bail.

Trayvon was shot, but Zimmerman was lynched. To this day the media maligned Zimmerman is in hiding. He receives numerous death threats. The New Black Panthers Party offers a $10,000 reward for his “capture.” Zimmerman lives in fear for his life, such as it is, and has no police protection.

If Zimmerman's recent past was bleak, his future holds scant hope. Arrayed against him are the Martins with their team of five lawyers and the public prosecuter with her staff of more than 60. The defendant has one, lone, gutsy lawyer.

Trayvon's troubled life is over. Zimmerman's trials have just begun.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA

During the late 1970s, conservative intellectuals conceived the idea to reduce the size of our government by ‘starving the beast’ to worsen the government's fiscal situation. Their thoughts were to create a revenue shortfall that would lead to deficits that would force cuts or drastic changes to popular government programs (Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid).

Grover Norquist (No Tax Pledge), President G. W. Bush and Vice President Cheney were able to bring our economy to it’s knees with two wars, an extremely expensive senior drug benefit, and the ‘Bush’ tax cuts, all of which were unfunded (paid for by borrowing).

The 2000 tax cuts were sold by saying that they would promote growth and stimulate the economy. As you know they have done neither.

The tax rates on the highest wage earners were at 91% during the Eisenhower administration, 71% during the Kennedy period, 50% under Reagan, and 40% under Clinton. These years were some of the greatest years of our economy.

After the ‘Bush’ tax cuts we are now paying the lowest income taxes of our lifetimes and have to borrow to pay our bills.

Tax increases are not popular, but revenue is needed to pay our current bills, future commitments and to pay down the debt. The No Tax Pledge, signed by mostly by GOP elected officials, violates the pledge these officials made to the American people when they were elected by eliminating part of the solution to our fiscal situation.

Prudent cuts to spending are also needed, but cuts alone will not balance the budget or eliminate our financial woes. We need a balanced approach of cuts and new revenue to insure a stable future.

These deceptive tactics, by the GOP, if not controlled will reduce the quality of life for all but a few Americans.

Sincerely,

W. G. Dahlander

Great Bend Township