I think all of us judge a book by its cover to some degree. I'm not talking about racial profiling, per se. But I think it's odd the way so many of us claim we don't stereotype. In many ways, our visuals that raise our heckles are also good defense mechanisms ... it's our ability to see BEYOND our knee-jerk reactions that's important.

One of my friends can't stand mohawks. It creates a seriously visceral reaction in him. He even makes fun of himself for hating people with mohawks.

Zimmerman does not have a hispanic name. He looks pretty white. So, I can totally see how the police would mislabel him.

And I think even African Americans engage in racial profiling ... assuming whites are racist no matter how kind the caucasian is.

Racists come in all colours, shapes and sizes. And with regards to stereotyping, I don't know who said we don't do that on AV? If anything, many of us said heck yeah, we stereotype people on Samantha's thread on the professions we wouldn't date. But judge people solely on the basis of their skin colour?

I can HONESTLY say I don't do that. Thank God, what a burden to walk around with in such a multicoloured world.

It is common for people to assume that if someone is a member of a minority that has suffered prejudice they will be more sympathetic to someone of another minority but it doesn't always work that way.

People often have an "us" and an "other" and the other generally includes everyone else including members of other minority groups.

I don't think it matters that Zimmerman is part Hispanic. What is more relevant is that as the son of a magistrate he was not charged with a felony for assaulting a police officer in 2005. If he had been charged at the proper level with a felony and convicted, he would not have been able to legally carry a gun.

I also think it matters that Neighborhood Watch members are not supposed to be armed or confront suspicious persons.

I also think Janet Murguia is talking out of her hat because while Zimmerman profiled Martin because he was black, Martin did not profile Zimmerman nor is the public profiling Zimmerman because of his race.

From what I have read, Zimmerman is being censored for the reasons I mentioned and the fact that he was stalking Martin which created the threat he is trying to use as his defense and the fact that as a non-black person he was not investigated at any level in an incident that resulted in the death of an unarmed minor.

Also, the fact that the police specifically told him not to follow or pursue this child but he continued to do so. Gated communities are not islands onto themselves, they just have bars around them to make it seem as though they are keeping "undesirables" of any kind out. They're a neighborhood like any other.

This man, no matter his race or ethnicity, profiled this child based on the fact that he was black and had a hoodie on, and killed him for what appears to be no reason.

As for identifying him as white, my husband is half Mexican and he identifies himself as white. I think that's all that matters.

Racial profiling is widespread and pretty common- but you know that already. Especially these days.

For example, in my experience, coming from Northern Ireland back in the 80s and early 90s we were exposed to some shocking treatment from the authorities because of where im from and the fact that im catholic. It was assumed we must all be in the IRA. I was completely strip searched at 8 weeks old in an airport because customs decided that i was being used to smuggle weapons/ drugs. Suitcases were tore apart infront of holiday makers, i was stripped down and my innocent parents left distraught. Hell ensued after but achieved little. When dealing with some clients now in 2012 in mainland england, i am referred to as "the terrorist" because im from Northern Ireland. Even now, this still goes on.

However I can hold my hands up to it. Following 9/11 and 7/7 i have experienced instances where i have been uneasy when flying or traveling with ladies in bhurkas or Muslim gentlemen carrying backpacks or briefcases. Im annoyed that i get annoyed. But its like a fear that has been played on a lot by what i read and see reported in the media every day. I watch these people the entire journey, anxious and just waiting to see something happen. It never does. And thats when i remind myself i need to wise up.