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<p>Ah. So it is clear that I have deemed it appropriate to label “every” incident of this nature as racial. Pure nonsense.</p>
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I don’t have a problem if the media fixates on it. I do have a problem with Obama actually commenting on the issue. There is virtually no value in anything he said.</p>
<p>“Gates has already said that what first kicked off this fracas was the way in which the cop commanded him to step outside. It was at that point that he felt in danger, as he said, and this is why he was reticent to step outside. Had that cop treated Gates as he would have any white guy in the same circumstance, this episode never would have happened.”</p>
<p>Dross, you continue to ignore my questions about your post above. Your posts have an air of authority when it comes to racial issues, yet you haven’t been able to explain to me how “that cop” (Officer Crowley) would have treated any white guy in the same circumstance.</p>
<p>Cops are more apt to arrest blacks than whites. Judges are more likely to give blacks time. This isn’t arguable. </p>
<p>This incident was racially motivated. Had the woman that called police saw an old white man trying to jimmy his door open, she probably wouldn’t have called the police. Old guys wearing glasses and button up shirts aren’t your typical suspects for daylight break ins. They don’t drive up in taxi cabs either. Nor do they carry luggage into their target houses upon entrance. But Gates was black so none of that mattered. He was a black trying to open a locked door so he was suspect even in the face of the obvious.</p>
<p>Well hey, according to you I view “every” situation of this nature as racial. So you really need not even ask the question, since you have your answer. (nonsense)</p>
<p>As a friend of Gates, I suspect he did not think he could stay neutral on this, as he acknowledged.
I don’t think Obama phrased it in the most judicious way (besides calling the Cambridge police stupid–even though it is sometimes stupid). I <em>think</em> he was trying to say that the history of racism in America continues to haunt us and taint relations between the police and members of the African-American community. And we’ve seen plenty of evidence of this in CC posters different reactions to the incident.
I also think he knows enough about the law to know that Officer Crowley was wrong to arrest Gates just because Gates was irascible and was irritating. In spite of this, it would have been better not to seem to suggest that the entire burden of improving race relations falls on the police.</p>
<p>Fine dross, it’s late. Backpeddle all you want. You are the one that stated that if the police officer had handled the situation the same as he would with a white guy, the episode would never have happened.</p>
<p>Your words are here to be referenced by others. You can’t back those words up. You are pushing a verdict of racism without the foundation to base it on. </p>
<p>So we are all supposed to stop dead in our tracks and hang our heads in shame and point fingers at the “racist cop” based on your analysis.</p>
<p>?</p>
<p>Good night.</p>
<p>I sincerely don’t care what you do, friend. I am just stating my piece as everyone else does. You began your post by declaring you ignored the video. Well, in my mind, I can’t take you seriously because you are obviously so committed to your own narrow point-of-view that viewing something contrary to it does not interest you. And this is the American way.</p>
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Blacks are more likely to commit crimes, etc. Not sure what your point is.</p>
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I assumed that Gate’s neighbor…knew Gates was black. Is that an incorrect assumption?</p>
<p>And stating that you know how the officer would have treated a white guy is not a narrow-minded point of view? Pot calling the kettle I think.</p>
<p>But that is the American way I guess.</p>
<p>I did not “ignore” the video as you said, I simply didn’t view the video in full because at the outset I could see it had no bearing on this particular event. That you feel it does speaks volumes.</p>
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<p>Right - you, of course, having intimate knowledge of the thoughts and mindset of that woman :rolleyes:</p>
<p>What you meant to say is that her calling the police may have been racially motivated. And on that, I would agree. It is a bit odd that someone who claims to be a neighbor does not know who lives there. So if anyone, Gates should have addressed his yelling and complaints at the woman who called and reported him to the police. The police would have responded and checked ID no matter what race the suspect was described as being.</p>
<p>Well okay. Have a good night.</p>
<p>I’m SO glad the report is out for the world to see. Page 2, paragraph #2: His reply was “ya, I’ll speak with your mama outside.” This guy sounds out of control, and CRAZY! He’s lucky they didn’t put him face down, the way he was yelling and carrying on. I would have been in fear of this man and taken more drastic measures. If he has this short of a fuse, he has no place in a classroom. How dare he bring race into this? He was over the edge and around the bend. This man alone has now set race relations back, people from all sides are angry. I’m very glad Officer Crowley is getting a tremendous amount of support and appears to be a very good officer [Officer</a> accused of profiling in Gates case taught academy cadets how not to - Local News Updates - The Boston Globe](<a href=“http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/07/officer_accused.html]Officer”>http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/07/officer_accused.html)</p>
<p>This picture speaks volumes of what the police officers were dealing with.
[Birth</a> of a flashpoint: Gates’s neighbor captured the moment - The Boston Globe](<a href=“http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/23/birth_of_a_flashpoint_gatess_neighbor_captured_the_moment/]Birth”>http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/23/birth_of_a_flashpoint_gatess_neighbor_captured_the_moment/)</p>
<p>And President Obama stepping into this without the entire story, just reinforces his inexperience and naivety.</p>
<p>Gates claims that he wants an apology because the reports contains fabrications.</p>
<p>“He says vs. he says.”</p>
<p>^^Yes, exactly. That’s why the witnesses and fellow responding officers are bank for Officer Crowley.</p>
<p>Gates can claim all he wants. Hair trigger temper, noted.</p>
<p>Why is this story on national news? If Gates wasn’t the self-proclaimed victim that he is, it wouldn’t be. Thats for certain.</p>
<p>The cop was doing his job. Period. He would’ve done the same thing for any other person. He doesn’t need some idiotic, self-righteous Harvard professor to give him a tough time.</p>
<p>Those people saying they understand Gates because they, also, must deal with the “oppression and racism” of the American law enforcement system. Poor you…You guys live in America…stop being dramatic.</p>
<p>Also, can anyone believe Obama was asked about this? And that he said he didn’t know much about it… except that the cop was stupid? What a great president we have. He knows that…Gates is black, and the cop is white…so the cop must be the evil, stupid one.</p>
<p>The best thing about the story is that it has now been dubbed ‘GatesGate’. Pure comedy.</p>
<p>If I saw anyone trying to force a door open, I would look twice…and if I didn’t recognize who was on that porch, I would have called the police, no matter what color or age they were. Anyone trying to force a door open would get my notice and prompt a call to the police. </p>
<p>There was already a break-in attempt during his absence, correct? Isn’t that why the door was not working correctly to begin with? </p>
<p>There were two people on that porch, correct? Would that not arouse suspicion with any of you? My eyesight at night isn’t as good as it is during the day. Is yours?</p>
<p>Would these neighbors have been able to identify Gates driver, easily? If I understand correctly, Gates was inside at one point, and the driver was outside, correct? </p>
<p>What would you do as a neighbor? </p>
<p>I am on my porch and looking across the street right now (with laptop in tow). I would be hard pressed to know, with their backs to me, who they were. If they faced me, it still might be a challenge. Depends on the distance, how dark it is outside and how much light there was on the porch.</p>
<p>He did not say the cop was evil. But arresting a homeowner in his own home is stupid. That’s why charges were dropped. Gates may have irritated the heck out of the cop, but that does not make his arrest right. Yes, I know people get pulled in all the time and arrested for giving lip. But it isn’t right, either.
And now, Gates says he did not say the things the cop claims he did.</p>
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<p>Exactly. And I’d imagine you’d be happy if someone else called the police if they saw someone trying to break into your house/car (even if it was you).</p>