Black Harvard Professor arrested after breaking into his own home?

so what does following the cops top his front porch and demanding for their badge number has to do if hes guilty or innocent of B&E?

 

I think it must have to do with being guilty of having a nasty temper; that is really one for Gates to answer!

Gates was witnessed and reported by his own neighbor breaking into his house. I guess it was a legal break-in, but c'mon show some appreciation for people doing a dangerous job.

I think his arrogant mouthing off flew back and knocked him on his ass. Even if these cops were bad actors, his petulance in their face was going to earn him nothing but heartache.

 

so you think people should be arrested for having a nasty temper now?

 

Now you've descended into Silliness. If we can't show proper respect for people who do our most dangerous jobs, to what point have we sunk? I have no doubt that both sides of this event would do it differently a second time around, but my support goes to the cops because they run the risks and they didn't abuse the guy in any way...

 

I don't think the fact that policemen have egos needs to be pointed out. All of them do, assuming they think you're just an Average Joe. In all his years dealing with race relations, I'd be very surprised if Gates doesn't at least know that policemen act like snobs in front everyone, even white people.

As for the charges dropped, doesn't this happen all the time? Especially when the police just wants to prevent someone from causing disturbances? That, and I'm sure the fact that Gates has the governor and the president for support doesn't hurt his cause.

 

What Obama doesn't want you to see. A picture is worth a thousand words:

http://www.americanthinker.com/prin...g/2009/07/obamas_revealing_body_language.html

 

Obama let Crowley help Gates. It would look funny if gates had two people holding each of his hand.

 

this was the original post I was responding to. I agreed on the racial part but not the power tripping part.

 

Why do I respond to you. Last time.

You seem to have a basic failure to realize the past is prologue to the present. The past and people's experiences are always relevant to the present. Gates has 60 years of history of living in a country with institutional racism. If you read anything about Gates you can see his opinions on race and the impact of racism on him even as a young teen. If Gates were a 60 year old Kenyan immigrant who happened to be black it's likely he would have responded in a completely different manner to Crowley's questioning because Kenyans never experienced Jim Crowe or segregation or driving while black or any number of racist events that would have taken place in this country over the last 60 years.

What happened to Gates in the past is EVERYONE's problem and very much so the Police's problem. To say that we as a society and particularly those in power aren't responsible to the relative histories of people in this country is just freaking r****ded. Why do male officers wait for a female officer to show up so that a female suspect can be searched? A male cop can't be trusted to search a woman? Or maybe it's because a woman might feel violated to be searched by a male officer because of man's history of sexism and sexual assault of women just like a 60 year old black man might feel violated to be questioned in his own home by a white cop because of the history of police brutality against black men. And I'm not saying a black cop can only handle incidents with black suspects, I'm saying that cops should use common sense in the way they handle demographics that have a history of consistently having their rights violated by authority figures in this country.

Your example with a black man in baggy jeans and a cap justifying murder was just stupid. Sounds like you watch too many rap videos.

 

No dumbass, it is I who regret ever picking up on your idiotic post in the first place. I should have known from your original post that it was a futile exercise.

Once again, in a court of law, past experience is irrelevant. Past experience and all is great if you want to bring up societal changes and everything, but has zero bearing on establishing Gates'/Crowley's innocense or guilt.

It doesn't matter if, allegedly or not, Gates was ever profiled. Heck, it doesn't even matter if Crowley was a real racist prick (of which I see no indications yet) who profiled every black man he ever met. As long as Crowley did nto profile Gates, which once again, at this point there is no evidence he did, then he's clear and Gates is a dumbass.

And I can't believe you think Kenyans (or Somalians, Sudanese, Rwandans or Africans in general) wouldn't understand things like what Gates went through. In case you haven't figured it out already, institutionalized racism, among other things, was only much much worse in Africa 50 years ago than in America.

You've got to be freakin' kidding me. You can't possibly be comparing a male cop not frisking a female suspect with the chip on Gates' shoulder.

While we're at it, did you know they ask male doctors to wear gloves when doing breast cancer exams on female patients? Obviously those doctors have a long history of being grab-happy right?

The rest of your rants was already explained above.

Not at all, what is stupid is (or more precisely, incredible) you didn't get my point. If you can stereotype/profile all cops as racist profiling powertrips, surely you can handle a little stereotyping in the opposite direction.

My portrayal of a hat-backward-baggy-pants-wearing-tattooed-black-gangster is a mockery of your portrayal white-redneck-racist-powertrip-cop, both equally stupid.

The only difference is I don't actually believe in that black stereotype. You on the other hand...

 

MFW, I don't think there was a need for that.

I'd like to mention again something that may have affected Prof. Gates' behavior. He had just returned from China, which is an exhausting trip (I've been to Hong Kong, which is much of a muchness), and was frustrated that he had to have help getting into his front door. Before being able to collapse in a heap (at least that's what I would want to do), a cop suddenly appears at his door and events flow from there. On most other days, in my opinion, Dr. Gates would have handled the incident differently.

 

The next time I have a bad week, can i use that as an excuse to be a racist jerk?

 

so you call Gates a racist because he called Crowley a racist?

what does that make you?

 

wow! that was profound. I guess you insinuating that im a racist makes you a racist too!

 

if I use your standard but I don't

I don't think both Gates or Crowley are racists

Gates acted like a jerk but he didn't deserve to be arrested for demanding the cop's badge in front of his own door

 

Unfortunately, "racism" is not a clear cut definition. What i am certain about is if someone screams racism, then either one or both parties have issues when it comes to race. If you are willing to give a black person a free pass on "whitey is out to get me", then you need to give a free pass to those who thing "blacky is out to get me". Its not too often you will find someone who hates another race simply for their color, but you frequently find people who have mild or strong distrust in the other race.

 

No, you can use it as a chance to show people that you just might be a human being.

 

that's why I don't easily throw out accusations such as "racist" or "racist jerk"

so how are you so absolutely certain that the one calling out racism in this situation is a racist?

 

That's fine and all. And it doesn't take China. I get p1ssed off on two hour flights, with delays, tight spaces, jackass co-passengers and everything... understandable. But you know, here is the thing, I followed this thread for quite a bit and it wasn't until it reached a point that I bothered responding. Here's my problem with it:

1. It's simply amazing how many people take Gates' words at face value and imply Crowley must be lying (due to large differences in the stories) when it is far from clear what actually happened, especially unfortunate considering if this case actually hits the court (it won't), Crowley has a pretty darn strong case (IIRC, he was a black fellow cop and seven witnesses behind him).

2. The reason they gave for one was "past experience" based on anecdotal evidence. I think I've already adequately explained why past experience is irrelevant in this case. I find it ironic that supporters of a supposed profiling victim would go into profiling and stereotyping cops in such a manner. Once again, I don't know the details, but is it at least conceivable that Crowley was right? Doesn't matter, they are dragging him to the gallows already.

3. The race card. It is become the de facto defense in legal cases between two different races. Whenever the situation occurs, you'd be sure to see the majority of the two sides rally around their poles, facts be damned. Yes, racial problems exist, but if anything, this is a step backwards.

4. Whether Gates' is tired is also irrelevant. I happen to agree with Space Ghost in this case. I understand that people make mistakes, but unfortunately, you don't get a do-over for many mistakes, which is why it is crucial not to make them in the first place.

5. Obama's actions. IF Gates was indeed guilty (not the if), Obama just gave him a get-out-of-jail card.

 

Wow, that's a lie. You have littered this BBS recently with false accusations of racism. Check the birthers thread for confirmation.

no cred...