Photo by Justin Ide, Harvard University Gazette I started writing a blog entry 2 days ago about the recent arrest of Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. by a Cambridge, MA, police officer. He was arrested for disorderly conduct after the police were called to his home for a possible break-in. It seemed to me at the time that Prof. Gates had over-reacted -- that if the police came to my door because of a reported break-in, I wouldn't be yelling and screaming like a crazy man -- that he probably deserved to be arrested. I decided not to post it then, because I didn't feel like I knew enough about the incident to make the judgement.
Two days later, I've read the police report, heard what the president had to say, and watched some of the coverage about the incident. I have changed my mind a bit. An African-American law professor from American University was on CNN making a good point. In the police report, the police officer stated he was trying to persuade Gates to go outside, because the acoustics in the house made it difficult to have the discussion since Professor Gates was yelling so much.
The acoustic? Really? Bad acoustics? The American University professor pointed out that to arrest Professor Gates, the officer needed to have Professor Gates be in a public place. You can apparently yell and scream all you want to in your own home perfectly legally, but the police officer knew he needed to get Gates outside to arrest this man accusing him of acting racist.
I still think Professor Gates probably was out of line and should have been more cooperative. However, the officer should have let the matter drop once he established Professor Gates was in his own home. I think the officer lured Professor Gates out of the house so he could arrest him as punishment for being accusatory and uncooperative.
This incident once again displays the brilliance of President Obama. He screwed it up at first with his comment that the police "acted stupidly," when he also didn't have all the facts. Then he very smartly turned it around, calmed everyone down, called on this to be a teaching moment. His statement today on the matter was a good resolution. I know a president from not so long ago that would never admit to any type of mistake, like starting a war with the wrong country.
9 comments:
YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!!!!!!! Even with an African American President can't stop BIGOTRY!!!!! This policeman was answering a call to protect him!!!! All he got for his attention was Anger and Hate!!!!! The professor should be apologizing the him!!!!!
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you can arrest for disorderly even inside their house, so this bull about luring him outside is rediculous...
Since when is yelling and screaming grounds to be arrested, if that is the case the jails would be filled with the screaming people of the world. The officer should have just left Gates at his doorway when he realized there was no break-in and was in his own house, end of story. What a noisy neighbor, doesn't she know who lives next door to her, instead of reporting him she should have helped him.
I want to know why it took the police 48 hours to comment on the arrest. Seems to me it was enough time to come up with a great story against the professor. Sorry, I know the police have a hard job, but, personally I know many police and every one of them are extremely prejudice. He had ID, He was in his own home, end of story.
I'm sick and tired of pampered Negroes whining about "racism" and sick and tired of a virulently racist Negro President who admits he doesn't know all the facts and then comes down squarely on the side of the party who has the same skin color as him. Obama is a white hating racist. I deeply regret supporting the Civil Rights act of 1964. Negroes are not ready for equality, using as they do, every opportunity to scream "racism." We need to bring back segregated neighborhoods with negro neighborhoods patrolled by negro cops. Then they can't scream about racism over every little thing.
You are an idiot. The race card is getting old and I'm really tired of it being overplayed. Everyone wants to blame the police until they need one.
"However, the officer should have let the matter drop once he established Professor Gates was in his own home."
How could this be done without the dear professor coming out and proffering his, say, driver's license? Come on, ths guy is a professional victim and a token you know who with a sinecure position. A bs professor of a bs science giving the world attitude.
Yes indeed rasism is alive and thriving in this country!! I find it sad and disturbing that a bigot of professors Gate's magatude should get the attention he has. This man is standing in the classroom and teaching yet another generation to hate. What the problem here is that some people think because they are African American, Latino American, that is impossible that they are bigots. To look at every white face and assume that they are racists is just plain stupid and not true. Isn't it time to stop blaming others for problems in our lives that we create ourselves? I believe that until we stop being African american, Latino American, Asian American, Euro American this country will never heal. Lets stop looking at and teaching our differences and teach and live what makes all people the same. How sad God must be to see his beautiful rainbow of children spread hate and seperation. Professor Gates would be well served to put himself into a roomfull of toddlers and see how people interact with one another before they are taught hate.
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