Black Harvard Professor arrested after breaking into his own home?

I see. So your argument now hinges on your assumption that he acted out of pure hatred for cops. You should have made that clear from the outset, instead of arguing it had to do with following the law to the letter when you wrote these words: "He has to be subject to it like everyone else - and doesn't get a by because he's black and the officer should be sensitive to the fact that Gates is feeling like a victim."

 

so an arrest does not necessarily mean a law is broken

 

It just keeps getting more unbelievable how this evolved to such a major issue. I've heard some people try to pin the blame on the caller (which boggles my mind) since they claim she was one who used racial profiling...of course the only problem with that is the race of the men was not referred to in the 911 call. She couldn't even make out what race they were.

 

It really was the "perfect storm." Here's all that happened:

1.) Previous break-ins in neighborhood keeps neighbors vigilant
2.) Gates door happens to be jammed, making it appear like they are forcing their entry.
3.) Lady happens to be walking by at the exact time they are trying to get the door open.
4.) Lady does her "neighborhood watch" duty by calling the cops.
5.) Police respond to burglary
6.) Guy who lives in rich, affluent neighborhood happens to be black, and is a civil rights activist.
7.) Guy understandably gets immediately upset because he's basically being questioned for entering his own home.
8.) Police officer understandably takes offense to being called a racist as well as other rude remarks, and arrests him for "loud and tumultuous behavior in a public space."

If just one of those eight things didn't happen we wouldn't be wasting our time with this the entire past week and public health care would already be in effect.

But as it stands, the public health care frenzy has completely died down and its future is very much in jeopardy. And as a result, hundreds of thousands of Americans will die young because they can't afford medical attention.

All because a guy didn't use a little WD-40 on his door hinges. What a damn shame.

But seriously...this whole string of events should be used as a training tool to demonstrate how simple misunderstandings can spiral out of control.

 

The race of the men was referred to in the call. The correct race was just not mentioned.

 

of course not. you do know people can be innocent and charges can be dropped?

 

Also, is was the PD lying when they said they were informed "two black males" were reported or were they misquoted as well?

 

I don't know if Gates hates cops or just hates white cops or just hates period but he hates something, or he wouldn't act like a jacka$$ in front of the whole neighborhood.

Hate is the problem not the race doing the hating and if you focus on race then your the problem. Gates was focused on his race and the cops race and he didn't give two squirts of goose $hit that this guy was doing his job trying to protect him and his neighborhood.

 

Race was suggested by the 911 operator. It's not a case of racial profiling, either, because any description of the culprit is valid questioning.

 

Okay. Bottom line is the lady didn't call the cops because of the race of the "burglars."

 

I don't think that it is out of the ordinary that a man was targeted as a possible burglar when he's in his own home, and has worked incredibly hard over his life against all kinds of odds to make a legal career and become a Harvard professor, would be angry.

He was humiliated in his neighborhood by being treated like a criminal in his own home. He had just returned from being overseas and wanted to be home. He had been racially profiled before in his life. I think all the ingredients for acting like a jackass were there.

It doesn't mean he just hates everyone. It means he acted poorly, and was quite probably hysterical.

 

WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Barack Obama will meet this week with Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and the Cambridge, Massachusetts, police officer who arrested him for disorderly conduct, James Crowley, the White House said Monday.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs did not say which day the three men will get together at the White House.

UPDATE: The White House has revealed what beer will be served at the much-anticipated meeting later this week: Bud for the president and Blue Moon for Crowley. The Boston Globe reports Gates likes Red Stripe and Beck's.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/07/27/obama-to-meet-this-week-with-professor-officer/

Okay, now I'm pissed. Obama is obviously pandering to joe six-pack by drinking that swill.

 

Your actions define you and this guy is a jack@$$. If a cop comes to my door I and asks to talk I say "yes sir", Gates calls racism. Guess what, I don't get a ride to jail but Gates does. I treat the officer him with the respect he deserves and show him ID. I don't talk about his mother and call him a racist. Gates is the person in this situation that has problems with race and racism... obviously or it wouldn't be the first thing out of his mouth.

FYI he was NEVER treated like a criminal until he acted like one, he was treated with respect and dignity even though he didn't deserve it. If this simple misunderstanding is enough to cause this guy to be "hysterical" then he is mentally unstable and needs to be locked up as a menace to society.

 

Man... three guys all with bad taste in beer. I have to say that I go with BO's choice if I'm forced to drink domestic. But Blue Moon? That's a girls beer I wonder if he's having a slice of orange with it, and Red Stripe is nasty... Becks is pretty good though.

I don't care much for BO's politics but I have to admit we could solve a lot of problems over a beer (or 6) on the porch with a nice cigar.

 

At the very least couldn't he drink American?

 

Pabst, if you gotta go old style, although i have to say, i like blue moon, w/ a twist of orange, on a hot summer's day, down under the west side highway.

 

Obama is obviously pandering to the public by drinking a mainstream American beer.

Telling...

 

Yuengling Black and Tan is the best beer value around.