Murder Was The Case

In the latest LA Weekly we have a film review of Lee Daniels' The Butler, which includes this line:

When [the title character] says, in voice-over, "Any white man can kill any of us at any time and not be punished for it," it's impossible not to think of Florida today.

Yes, you'd probably think of Florida, but there's no reason to put it in your review, since, upon reflection (and reviews are a chance for reflection) you'd also think "of course, the Zimmerman case really isn't the same situation as what the movie is referring to."

Next, we get this in a short review of Kick-Ass 2:

[...] the impulse toward costumed do-goodery isn't far removed from the impulses of the sons of bitches who argue that Trayvon Martin had it coming.

I don't recall anyone saying Martin had it coming, but I do recall a lot of people--including the jury--saying Zimmerman had a solid claim for self-defense.  According to the defense--and their claims were consistent with the evidence and certainly not disproved by the prosecution--there was a physical confrontation initiated by Martin.  Martin hit Zimmerman, pinned Zimmerman, and beat his head against the ground.  Zimmerman couldn't get away, cried for help, had reason to believe he was in grave physical danger, and then shot Martin once, killing him.

But apparently, in the reflexive politics of some who review films, the Trayvon Martin case has come to symbolize something about race relations.  And they're so self-righteous about their political stance that they don't have to concern themselves with anyone who wants to discuss the actual facts.