President Obama has publicly stated that police in Cambridge, Massachusetts, "acted stupidly" in arresting a prominent black Harvard professor last week after a confrontation at the man's home.
"I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played," Obama said Wednesday night while taking questions after a White House news conference.
Comments
Wed, May 16, 2012 - 03:09 PM
Thank you for your kind words. I agree that more careful driving would indeed make u [...]
Wed, May 16, 2012 - 01:55 PM
wonder what the DNR was looking around their house for in the first place?i guess la [...]
Wed, May 16, 2012 - 09:12 AM
Robert,
If the government had not gotten involved in safety, air quality, and eco [...]
Wed, May 16, 2012 - 05:50 AM
Way to close to my house, My kids arent even safe at home anymore! God help us
Wed, May 16, 2012 - 04:40 AM
I don't know what led law enforcement to these guys, but I'm very grateful.
Due to [...]
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Now with the other dude claiming
"that there's a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately" has just open up another reason for Law Eforcement to shut down and allow the crime rate to spin out of control just like the economy. I can put a smile on my face and say truthfully "I did not vote for him."
Do police show disproportionate behavior towards minority groups?
Good question, it seems that these groups which are called minority (in reality seem to be the majority these days) draw the behavior to themselves. The statistics of the current crime rate speaks for itself.
Wish someone would have got trigger happy on Brian Nicholes.
Now, if you get loud and mouthy in the process of all of this, you might be subject to a Disrurbuing the Peace or Disorderly Conduct type of charge. But if you look at the officer blank-facedly, make no gestures, and don't say anything, you can close the door and go back to watching the evening news. A Harvard Law School professor should know all this.
My guess is the Good Professor thought he could push what he perceived as a "dumb cop" around, but the "dumb cop" wasn't quite as slow on his feet as the Good Professor thought. Certainly, I think the cop, in opting to make this arrest, chose poorly, BUT the Good Professor's arrogance, attitude, and big mouth is really what got him locked up. The Good Professor may want to make a race issue out of this incident, but if you look a the local police and sheriff's reports (and its the same all over the country), a lot of white folks get locked up in every town every week for acting just like the Good Professor did.
My point is technically a citizen in Professor Gates' scenario is perfectly entitled to stare at the officer like he's a piece of concrete yard art and never say a word. However, when one puts one's own posterior out on loud, public display, as Professor Gates chose to, the dynamics (and legalities) of the situation change. I think the officer was probably within the realm of his proper authority to do what he did, but only because Professor Gates escalated the situation.
bigotry.
There are crooked cops everywhere. All races. To play the race card off the bat is rediculous though.
**Seek GOD and you too shall find him!
my ice cream melted --- its because i'm black
it rained on my birthday party --- its because i'm black
i didn't win the lottery --- its because i'm black
they repo'ed my car --- its because i'm black
michael jackson died --- its because he was black
my bar-b-q- grill wont light --- its because i'm black
the toilet paper is out --- its because i'm black
i failed the 3rd grade 4 times --- its because i'm black
pinto beans give me gas --- its because i'm black
can anyone justify why the following happened.
The Cambridge police report states that Gates, an African-American professor at Harvard refused to step outside to speak with police and when an Officer Crowley told Gates that he was investigating a possible break-in, Gates opened the front door and exclaimed, "Why, because I'm a black man in America?" the report said.
The report said Gates initially refused to show the officer identification, but eventually produced a Harvard identification card, prompting Crowley to radio for Harvard University Police.
"While I was led to believe that Gates was lawfully in the residence, I was quite surprised and confused with the behavior he exhibited toward me," Crowley said, according to the report.
Is there any reason that the man wouldnt make contact with the police to discuss the issue. What if there was someone holding him at gun point behind the door. How did the ingnorant man not know that maybe a neighbor saw someone trying to break into his house. He didnt even want to find out what the deal was from the officer. He automatically threw the race card down. This is typical for the scenario.
Also. Why would you not show ID so that you could prove that you lived at the residence. That is pure stupidity. Is this man form Fulton County originally.
This is truely unbelievable yet believable at the same time. I just cant understand why someone has this mentality.
I can just imagine the police showing up at my house and saying that there was a report of someone trying to break in. I would go outside and talk with them to assure them that it was ok if indeed it was. What would you do. Would you act just as he did ,other black people on here?
In simplistic terms, organisms that come in contact with different organisms usually clash. A bee that flies to the wrong hive usually ends with the bee having a very bad day. An ant climbs the wrong hill emitting the wrong pheromones, although they look the same, spells bad new for the ant with the wrong deodor-ant. Although we are supposed to be civilized and intelligent being and should know better, establishing ourselves as different will cause us to clash too.
Call me a bigot. Call me a hate filled bigot. Call me whatever you wish. The African-American term offends me and screams, treat me differently because I am different. Until everyone becomes an American and drop the subtitles, expect conditions to continue or even worsen.
I said call me whatever you like. Therefore, substitute You're for your and being that you're calling me names ..... what is a Bigit? Did you mean a big it or did you mean bigot.
Because you say I am one, I would at least like to know what I am.
Damn the truth hurts sometime, don't it Enoc?
And then there are just Americans. You pass me on the street and sneer in my direction. You call me 'White boy,' 'Cracker,' 'Honkey,' 'Whitey,' 'Caveman'... and that's OK..
But when I call you, Nigger, Kike, Towel head, Sand-nigger, Camel Jockey, Beaner, Gook, or Chink .. You call me a racist.
You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you... so why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live?
You have the United Negro College Fund. You have Martin Luther King Day.
You have Black History Month. You have Cesar Chavez Day.
You have Yom Hashoah. You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi.
You have the NAACP. You have BET.... If we had WET (White Entertainment Television), we'd be racists. If we had a White Pride Day, you would call us racists.
If we had White History Month, we'd be racists.
If we had any organization for only whites to 'advance' OUR lives, we'd be racists.
We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber of Commerce, and then we just have the plain Chamber of Commerce. Wonder who pays for that??
A white woman could not be in the Miss Black American pageant, but any color can be in the Miss America pageant.
If we had a college fund that only gave white students scholarships... You know we'd be racists.
There are over 60 openly proclaimed Black Colleges in the US .... Yet if there were 'White colleges', that would be a racist college.
In the Million Man March, you believed that you were marching for your race and rights. If we marched for our race and rights, you would call us racists.
You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and orange, and you're not afraid to announce it. But when we announce our white pride, you call us racists.
You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us. But, when a white police officer shoots a black gang member or beats up a black drug dealer running from the law and posing a threat to society, you call him a racist.
I am proud.... But you call me a racist.
Why is it that only whites can be racists??
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I wished i knew in school what i know now. When i was forced to do a report on a Black person in feb. for Black History month i could have dug up the many negative issues on the person instead of just the postitive that they give you to give them honor. I kick myself in the butt each day for not doing deeper research.
I am so sick of the race card being dropped every time that something happens between a white person and a balck person. I am so tired of I am black thats why this and thats why that. If you act ignorant they thats what you are regardless of race, point blank!!!!!
Every word is so true, I could not have said it any better, my friend.
Do not hold your breath. I just saw the news and the dude still stands behind Gates.
Too bad our last President was such an IDIOT without a clue. We all should be so glad we have a chance to make things right with ourselves and the world.
Henry Louis Gates is one of the most prominent literary scholars in America. I strongly suspect that the white police officer just happened to leave some important details out of his report. And why did Gates's neighbor, who should have recognized him, call the police when he or she saw a black man going into the home?
I am shocked by the blatant racism of this blog and some of the people in Barnesville. Read Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham City Jail" if you want a very rough idea of what racism feels like. I cannot imagine a personal history of worrying all day long about being verbally abused, disrespected, and even assaulted. And don't try to tell me that it never happened here. Don't try to tell me that Barnesville has no legacy of racism. Don't try to tell me that when you see black folks you do not see difference. Don't try to tell me that our community does not need healing from this terrible legacy. Open your eyes.
If you can read, get a copy of Timothy Tyson's Blood Done Sign My Name. If you cannot or will not read books, try to understand the horrible legacy of discrimination and what that can do to someone. Racism is always wrong, and it must be fought wherever it exists. We have a moral imperative as a community to do so.
At the heart of this matter with Henry Louis Gates, if we really interrogate it deeply, I am pretty sure we would find racist assumptions underlying the actions of the police. I salute the man for speaking up.
Anyone is capable of committing a crime in this country, even "prominent literary scholars". This skin color BS is exactly that: BS! It was exploited by the media to extract a measurable public response. Apparently it worked and is being used with other negatives to keep race issues alive. All of this is just more added to our journey to self-destruction as a country.
And he is a liar! Find out for yourself about the truth.
http://timothybtyson.com/
Higher divorce rate
Higher suicide rate
Higher substance abuse rate (drinking)
Shorter life span
greater chance of mental disorder later in life
Although I was born in the South, and lived here as a teen, I spent most of my years living out West.
You need to know, there doesn't seem to be the type of racial hatred we have here. It's distressing to live here and witness this.
So, while I need to stay here for another 11 years until retirement, I plan to go out West to an area that recognizes only 3 groups: Native Americans, Hispanics, and White. And in that locale, if you're not Native American or Hispanic, you're considered White and that includes all other colors. I can live with that.
After learning better myself…. my intolerance was only for those who themselves were intolerant but I have had to also rethink that view. To overlook someone’s ignorance is to recognize the finer elements in grace.
Please allow me and my husband to continue working our jobs and paying our taxes and contributing our hard-earned dollars to the Georgia and Barnesville economy and when we reach retirement, we'll be on our way.
Toodles, "no obama", nice talking to you!
If the racial divide is still present in the United States as evidently as it is in the above responses, are we really happy with that? Do we really want to see that divide or does it hurt us all?
This is a quote from another new site. How unfortunate that he could not appreciate the fact that the officer was looking out for him, not looking to arrest him. It is a very sad day for society when right can't be right and wrong can't be wrong it has to be black and white
Run Mr President Run !
Do not worry folks it will get better LOL!
Allowing 9/11 what about all the written and verbal threats that clinton swept under the rug.
Innocent americans. Sure it is bad but there has been no draft in years. Everyone that is there willingly signed up to defend their country against these ppl that are out to kill all americans.
President Bush did not “allow” 911 to occur. Under Bush’s administration terrorist only attacked America once, so Bush must have done something right. Clinton, the democrat, allowed Osama and his thugs to attack the U.S seven times without ever taking any real action. You should be thankful to Bush, he kept us all safe. I wonder how many times Obama will allow his muslim friends to attack us. Bush’s only problem was that he loved America so much he was willing to take arms against anyone who threatened America’s safety. I wish Bush would install some of his morals in Obama.
The Iraq war was expensive but it kept the terrorist busy on foreign soil and away form America. We as Americans cannot let our guard down and have to remain one of the most powerful nations with a strong military.
The blacks here in B'ville KNOW they have the upper hand cause they will get NAACP on anyone who challenges them.
I grew up here in B'ville and it gets worse and worse every year.
I remember back in '72 when a black man was arrested (not sure why) and the blacks made an uproar so they let him go. Well the whites got mad and made a 'silent' (the key word is SILENT here, folks) protest by parking in town until they brought the black man back in. And they did in less than 2 hours.
I wonder what would happen if something like this happened now?
I remember a few times while I was in school, once in 73 and another in 80, that the blacks just all ganged up on the whites, for being white I guess.
The blacks nowadays are EXACTLY as mentioned in #37. And they wonder why whites don't like them?!?!?!!?
Just think if the tables were turned. If the whites got food stamps, welfare, WIC, had many babies on the taxpayes pocket,don't work, and on and on. Would the black people like it if the whites were like THIS!?!
I worked at Carters warehouse and the boss that hired me said this, in front of all the new hirees- we have to hire according to the race in the area, which is 70%black and 30% white. And I said 'so do you mean that you don't hire people according to who can do the JOB???' And her face turned red.
In this job, as with EVERY other job I had, it was all the same. The blacks would not work and got away with it. Nothing was ever said to them. But if the whites did anything wrong, they were jumped on in a second.
THIS is why all the products made in USA are so SORRY, companies have to hire BLACKS over whites because of the stupid 'affirmative action'. When there are LOTS of people who NEED jobs, who WILL work, and they can't because the job has to be given to a sorry black person who will NOT work because they KNOW they can get away with it.
It's been this way as long as I can remember. My husband's boss is from Wisconsin and at first couldn't understand all this, he said it's not this way where he lives. It didn't take him long at all to learn.