Interesting Take … Trayvon, Zimmerman and Hernandez should have listened to the Gambler, Kenny Rogers, and ‘Coward of the County’

The Washington Times has an interesting take on two stories that are very much in the headlines, the George Zimmerman murder trial in the death of Trayvon Martin and the Aaron Hernandez first degree murder arrest. Who knew that country music and Kenny Rogers, The Gambler, would have words of wisdom that would pertain to both of the above cases from his 1980′s hit, ‘Coward of the County’ … “Walk away from trouble if you can. Now it won’t mean you’re weak if you turn the other cheek.”

From Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman to Aaron Hernandez and Lloyd Odin, needless deaths occurred for the same reason most deaths involving gun violence occur. They trace back to the American right to free speech.

That right is not absolute. Exceptions to this rule include yelling “fire” in a crowded theatre or being an anti-Muslim filmmaker jeopardizing President Obama’a reelection chances. That kind of speech can land you in prison. Most people know better. Yet there remains a great deal that you have the right to say and should not.

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The antidote to representing is self-restraint, self-control, self-respect, and societal respect. Trayvon Martin was black. George Zimmerman and Aaron Hernandez are Hispanic. As most people know, nothing speaks to blacks and Hispanics like country music. Everybody tempted to represent should learn from “The Gambler” and buy a copy of the Kenny Rogers classic “Coward of the County.”

“Promise me, son, not to do the things I’ve done.

Walk away from trouble if you can.

Now it won’t mean you’re weak if you turn the other cheek.

I hope you’re old enough to understand:

Son, you don’t have to fight to be a man.”

Now anyone who is familiar with the song, ‘Coward of the County’ knows that Tommy kicks the living day lights out of the Gatlin boys in the bar room in the end. As the song goes,  “Some times you have to fight to be a man.” And there lies the rub. There is a time and place to stand up and fight. Know when that time is.

Yet Aaron Hernandez and George Zimmerman could have walked away. If Trayvon Martin gained the upper hand, perhaps he could have walked away. These men were all involved in avoidable conflicts. Yet they had to be “bad-asses” with the “biggest pair.” They had to represent. Now two men are dead, two more face murder charges, and an eight-month-old baby may become orphaned because her famous football father may go to jail.

I would also say to the prosecution in the George Zimmerman murder trail, that if you do not have a lot more evidence you might want to take another lesson from Kenny Rogers and the song ‘The Gambler’, “You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em. Know when to fold ‘em. Know when to walk away. Know when to run. You never count your money. When you’re sittin’ at the table. There’ll be time enough for countin’. When the dealin’s done .”