Roundtable: Obama Sparks Race Debate

When Donna talked of how her brothers were taught to obey the officers I wanted to scream “WHO SHOULDN’T!!! For cryin’ out loud! We can’t get past the race issue because we can’t stop talking about it. Ask the 72 year old WHITE Grandma that was tasered if EVERYONE should listen & obey the officer!

Did the Cambridge police act “stupidly” when they arrested Skip Gates? …Yes.
Was the President smart to say so? …Why shouldn’t he say so? A little more honesty, something that Obama is not notable for either, might actually help us get to the root of problems and find a solution instead of just making nice and trying to smooth things over so that we can ignore it.
Can this be the “teachable moment” Obama wants? …Unlikely. See George Will for case in point. Sorry Mr. Will, you tied that little bow tie too tightly for too many years and it clearly affected the circulation to your brain.

I’m listening to your conversation about the Gates incident and all the racial allegations, prisms, potential interprestations, etc.
Where is the conversation about the fact that neither of the two men started the situation. The police were responding to a call from a neighbor trying to protect the community.
(An innocent, or maybe racist, neighbor called the police to protect Mr. Gates property. Why is it that this neighbor didn’t recognize Mr. Gates as her neighbor. Is there a problem there – weak community, etc, etc…

Are people seriously having a discussion about one question that was completely off topic for the press conference? This was a press conference about healthcare reform. I long ago learned to not underestimate the stupidity of the general populace, but to sit back and watch people get distracted from the real topic as a result of a person who asked the most off topic question of the month, then watch people talk about this off topic question and then watch ABC News go on about this ridiculous circus of a off topic question, well, that just makes me want to vomit. Is race really the issue, or is it the beyond broken healthcare system in this country? I guess healthcare just isn’t as good for TV as some “race issue”.

I love the people who say that the Cambridge Police acted “stupidly”. If you are not a police officer and do not know the policies who are you to judge. Police Officers do not walk into your place of work and tell you how to do your job. As a wife of a Deputy, I am very offended over the responses I read. These men give their life to protect you! They protect you whenever you need them! It is sad that my husband may help someone who gives him no respect and believes that “ALL” police officers racially profile. I would like to say… If you are not doing something wrong.. You WILL NOT be arrested. It is an amazing theory but very true. IT IS NOT THE PRESIDENTS JOB TO TELL A POLICE OFFICER HOW TO DO HIS… he has way to much on his plate right now to be stepping over the boundaries!!!

I continually tune in to This Week for honest balanced debate and am continually surprised at how unbalanced and disconnected the guests and “Round Table Experts” are from the majority of Americans. The “experts” should try riding along with a police officer in Washington DC for a full shift and try getting a different perspective of police work…
If you haven’t read the police report and are commenting based on what the president said alone then you have only one side of the story and are only looking to justify your own inherent beliefs. Don’t be so quick to pull the race card… The arresting officer actually taught classes in the past on how to avoid racial profiling!

the president spoke the truth from the perch of most African Americans. We need to face the truth about america. We love this country , but sterotypes and bias still exist. Yes, Prof Gates should have been more polite and not fan the flames, BUT I ask you all to put yourself in this man’s shoes. He just got off a long international flight, his NEIGHBORS called the police to report a crime by him in his HOME!! Then the Officer who has the gun, handcuffs ,badge and a threat of jail get annoyed because he is hostile and puts on the hancuffs!!! Even I think I would have lost my temper. I think the President expressed an honest opinion based on where he has been. we need more honest debate of issues to get to a longer term resolution.

to G.Will: Have you ever returned at night with your black friend, parking in front of your house, turning the engine off to have a brief conversation before heading to your door, to be surrounded by 2 police cars and interrogated? the police telling your friend (also a college professor-who graduated from Harvard) to either take the (quiet) conversation inside or leave? This happened in Galesburg, IL (I believe you have spoken there, Mr. Will) approx. 10 yrs. ago. Then you know we need to have a discussion. Recognition is half the cure, ..a professional grandmother suggesting eyes wide open….

If I was arrested in my own home, my conduct would be “disorderly” too, regardless of who arrested me. Forget race….the arrest was plain stupid!! PERIOD!!

I am most disgusted with the media. Every press conference the president has held, some reporter has asked a “race question”. Seems to always take the attention off the important issues at hand and in my opinion fans the flames of racial division. I’d like to think America elected Barack Obama because they shared his ideals for our country and believed in his character. Not because “he’s black like me” or “by voting for him, I atone for my countries racist history”…

The reporters are acting stupidly. I am a white male and I had a similar situation happen to me. Your first response is that ‘this is my home’ and you get defensive. But then you need to remember they are the police and they are doing their job. They don’t know you and they are there to defend you and them at the same time. It is a very difficult job. Be polite and cooperate. The President has not apologized but only made excuses.

The Gates issue is about one thing: Race. And it’s about race b/c Gates, first, then Obama made it about race. Gates accused the police of racial profiling and Obama backed him up. If Obama’s heart is with Gates and other blacks that feel they are unfairly targeted by police, fine. I don’t agree that the incident was in any way race-related but for Obama to try and turn this into a “teachable” episode is ridiculous. What is there to learn from/teach about the incident? An angry man got arrested by the police. That’s it. The same thing will happen 1,000 times before today is over.
And BTW, no one seems willing to address the fact that according to everyone else at the scene (including a black officer and a hispanic officer), Gates is lying about the events leading to his arrest.

Wars have been started for imagined slights such as these.

Get real people. He was in his own house. How many of you would have smiled and said “no problem” if it happened to you? Not many, I’d bet.

Thank you George Will for being the only intelligent person on the roundtable today. The others are clearly living in a fantasy world and just cannot see because of their blind faith in Barrack Obama.

The cops ask people to come on the front porch or away from the house for their own protection. If someone is in the house this gets them away from harm. How can the media and President be so naive in commenting on the job of some of the best trained human beings in the country. He ought to ride with the police for a month just to really get some experience. Hawk

George Will needs to pay attention – he kept wanting President Obama to not comment, but it was the media who asked and g-d forbid that he say no comment.
Now with respect to the original comments. I have sympathy for the police the nature of the job is dangerous and you never know what situation you are walking into – but I am also quite sensitive to the power dynamic, that you are always supposed to be deferential to the police and how aggravating that can be – never mind that it be taking place in your own home, and the police are there to protect you [see the mental conflict].
The truth is that both over reacted in this specific situation.

Obama is always commenting on things that he knows nothing about. He said what he did about the cop before he knew all the facts. He is pushing his healthcare without even reading the bill that the house has come up with. He opens his mouth all the time without knowing all the facts.
He thinks that what he has to say is gospel and everyone just follow him, like sheep to the slaughter.
People don’t be fooled by this man, he is taking us down a slipply slope.He goes to other countries and apologies for American. We have nothing to apologize for, because up until now we are the best country on Earth. Make no apologies for me because until now I am proud of my country but then again I do have some doubt.

President is making so many stupid comments this week I am appalled. He has insulted the police, doctors in his comments about tonsilectomy, and absurd rational for Obamacare. Everyone of these comments are a ruler’s profile. If you the government telling you who when why to marry or abort or blood let or have proper eye care or take health insurance away vote for bigger government. I had to work months on end to get care for my asthmatic son just because of government promotion of HMO’s. If it were not for specialization he would be dead. Hopefully he can contimue to get proper care and he is 31. Government would have killed him too. Take responsibility! If this bill passes you most of your children will not get the opportunity to find a specialist. Hawk

Talking about the “stupidly” awkward statement Obama made was a complete waste of time. The discussion outcome was too predictable based on your roundtable guest. Also what the “teachable” statement means to me is: (a) Obama needs to stay out of local law enforcement issues; and (b) the acclaimed Harvard professor copped an elitist attitude – how dire you confront me, a friend of the president, a member of the academic elite and a black man in my apartment.

Again, it is inappropriate to speak for “all us white people”. I am one, but I am aware of how often black men are stopped for having done absolutely nothing wrong per my previous post of being involved. How many of you have been stopped and interrogated for having a quiet conversation in front of your home on returning from a movie??? Your perspective will forever be changed

Obama still needs to apologize for unfairly accusing the police officer. Obama indeed was the one doing the racial profiling. Apologize!

Donna Brazil said it all today. Her father taught her brothers how to act if approaced by law enforcement. Why not teach trust & respect. Let the laws of this land sort out the bad ones as it has and it will. If your civil rights are violated there is recourse, why provoke confrotation in the name of racism?

I remember when Bush, Sr. commented with surprise about scanners in stores; it showed how out of touch he was with average people and their experience just living their lives. Will’s diatribe about the Gates situation not being worthy of Presidential comment was indicative of the same kind of elitist mindset demonstrated by Bush. Obama has gone to great lengths to convince people that he understands how average people live, Harvard education aside. For Obama not to comment on a local story that had already made national headlines because he thinks he’s “above” all that would have negated a basic message that helped get him elected. He wants average people to believe that his guiding motivation is to make the average American’s life better. Will’s comments reinforces the idea that people on the inside in Washington can’t govern because they don’t have a clue.

So every bad encounter with a cop for a black person is racist by default? Run-in with cops are almost always bad, even for whites. George Will is right, there is too much conversation on race, and all it does is make things worse.

Who exactly are the racists? Look at Professor Gates behavior. Look at Obama’s remarks. Yes, let’s discuss racism. Obama’s and Gates’s.

I watch The round Table every Sunday,I think George could OMIT Arianna, she is over the top when it comes to Obama, more so then Donna. I can’t belive the president would get involved in a police matter, when he has all the other important issues facing our country. He was not focused this week on what he needs to be focused on. He needs to get back to the issues that interest the people. And George lose Arianna.

I remember once I was stopped for a traffic offense going to work early in the AM. Speeding, I didnt cry profiling or racism, I just cried and said I was sorry to the officer and could I get maybe a warning ticket. He was sympathetic and wrote me a warning. Thank You Officer was my response.

Yes a lesson has been learned here but not everyone gets it. If you act respectful to the law officers you will not be arrested , pretty simple. Next time Gates should thank the officers for protecting his property and be done with it. SO SIMPLE

read the police report the guy was told to calm down countless times the police did their job quit the race card and we can get along..Posted by: patrick | Jul 26, 2009 11:22:54 AM…….It doesn’t make any difference how many times he was told; he was in his house. Actually, this goes to show that the police were LOOKING for a fight. Once the professor’s identity was proven as him being the home owner (which it WAS), the police should have left…and just let him keep on ranting and raving in HIS home; not the cops’ home. As long as the professor wasn’t trying to physically assault them and wasn’t doing anymore than just being mad, the cops were staying and provoking him. Yeah, the professor was wrong in ranting and raving, but the cops had the chance to just leave and write up the report as: “Break-in confirmed as false alarm. Home owner was overly talkative, but we left in order to not escalate the matter any further”.

I always act civil with cops. They appreciate it.

Obama, Rev Wright, Rev Sharpton, Prof Gates all activist, they need the the racism crutch to promote their agendas.
Without it they might go unoticed like many of us.

George Will was the only person on point this morning. Thank you George for holding up the position that I agree with on the race position and comment from our President. I am only sorry the rest of the roundtable is so far removed from this awareness.

I guess Stephy feels that it’s fair to pit four radical left-wingers against George Will since Will’s IQ is higher than that of the other four combined.

A white police officer comes to a home that has a front door broken in, supporting the call that a crime is in progress. The officer is a public servant putting his life on the line. How many commentators know what it feels like to be of community service in this regard? One gun shot away from your loved ones as widowed and fatherless. Two men reported breaking into a home… You wanna check it out? I don’t believe the police officer responding to a potential crime scene, with nerves a bit heightened but steady just the same, deserved a livid racial berating because he wasn’t black. How about “guilty of investigating a potential crime scene while being white” ? I’d like to see the media cover that angle. Asking for verification is a necessary part of completing an investigation. It’s required procedure just like scanning an 80 year old white lady at the airport. When Gates followed Sgt. Crowley out of the home continuing the verbal assault he was pushing his conduct. Sgt. Crowley, who taught racial sensitivity classes to police officers, probably would have less hesitation arresting a white man in that situation. Professor Gates, by virtue of his devotion to highlighting racial prejudice as a major aspect of his perspective, instantly expressed hatred directed toward Sgt. Crowley because he is white.

As far as Mr. Obama’s comment about the Cambridge police acting stupidly, he’s as entitled to his opinion as anyone else. Mr. Gates is a friend of his and he said he was biased. Maybe reporters didn’t ask previous Presidents questions on race because they knew race relations in this country was not high on their list of priorities, but Mr. Obama being the first Black president, could possibly mean some changes in the way Americans view their fellow non-white Americans. It’s so easy being white and telling non-whites to “get over it” when they have not been the victims of harassment or brutality because of their skin color.

they countinue to say racial profileing wheh the cop was called to the houes george WHY did nt you call that black guest on that!

When George Will asked rhetorically what Eisenhower would have done about a seemingly local incident (involving race), that was a very unfortunate choice of examples. What Eisenhower actually did was to send in federal troops with heavy armaments. It sort of suggests that Will is living in the shadow of some mythical past that never existed. I’m sorry no one jumped on such a specious example, because it actually proved the opposite of what Will intended. But as always he said it with such self-certainty that it had the effect of fending off such annoying details as the facts.

Asa retired Afro-American P.O.in Gary,In.I found ,the wholeincident to be a complete lack of communication by both sides.and the Presidnt should hv chosen his words more carefully.since he stated that didn’t hv all the facts;just should hv not mde a comment.none of us were there,but there a possability that i might have made and arrest in this incident.the bottom line is the p.o. were called to Mr.Gates home.As 4myself Iwasshot along with then partner, answering a call, I’ve been hit with a baseball, bitten,still hv the marks on my arm.all these incidents were by fellow black citizens,.wemust respect each other.I wouldlike to know what the comments would have been,if the officer had not responded and there had been a real breakin at the Gates home?

Look at the political balance in the round table this week. Who is the 2nd Republican, Huffington or Krugman. LOL

This is of personal interest because our son attends a nearby University and lives off-campus. Prof. Gates was arrested;in a similar situation our son might be shot. I don’t want our son to think it is okay to be confrontational with law enforcement. For the record,I am female,black and both of my parents grew up in the segregated south.
I do not know if Sgt. Crowley is rascist. However, I believe the actions of Sgt. Crowley were not racially motivated. I think Prof. Gates was highly agitated and he acted out and the officer,in anger, responded as he might with any individual who was unruly,disrespectful and probably condescending-he moved the situation to the police station. Sgt. Crowley could have been nicer and more understanding but that does not make him a racist.
America has a long way to go in addressing our race issues but we have taught our son that two wrongs don’t make a right; being an American of African ancestry is never an excuse for inappropriate behavior because he may feel “wronged”; and if he is ever stopped/confronted by law enforcement, always be respectful and follow instructions because his life may depend on it; at the first opportunity call us(parents) and we will take care of the situation.

Time for G. Will to retire…he lives in the 40′s. He appears to forget…other Presidents have spoken out on issues that affect all States.
And, people should be angry that a reporter brought up this issue…during a Press conferene on a serious topic such as Health. That reporter was out of line.

Cambridge, for the most part, is a one product town, graduating scholars and legal minds to run the country. That a police department serving Cambridge wouldn’t already “know” the major “executives” and/or “professors” in this one-product town, is indefensible. And that a police would enter the home, without a warrant, in response of a crime he did not witness and doesn’t know actually happened and arrest someone he obviously “knows” is a lot, lot “smarter” than him (remember, it’s a Harvard town?..) is clearly a unwise power-move by a man in uniform who is accustomed to getting his way with people of color.

the problem is a lack of respect in this country, lack of respect for authority, lack of respect for elders, for parents, for teachers.. so this so call teachers is actually teaching others to follow his bad examples of LACK OF RESPECTS… without that we do not have a civil society any more..

I didn’t watch because the ALL BARACK CHANNEL is turning my stomach. The REAL issue that they should be covering is THE PRESIDENT, WITHOUT FACTS, SAID THE POLICE ACTED STUPIDLY. What does this tell our children? Don’t listen to the police because they are stupid? This is the PRESIDENT! On National TV. It is disgusting.

If I was trying to break into my own home and a officer came to make sure this I wasn’t an intruder. I would be absolutely thrilled! I would thank my neighbor and police! I would be more than happy to offer my identification. Some people just are looking for an excuse to be offended.

Gail Roberts pull your head out the sand. The man is truely a Socialist and this is a Capitalist country or it was. We want to go back to the days of slavery? That is what socialism is Gail.

Kristin:”If you are not doing something wrong.. You WILL NOT be arrested.”
Oh my god, what fantasy land are you living in? LOL!

dumb and dumber

Now I know where Obama learned to lie about everything including the stimulus bill and the health plan. He attended Harvard and was a friend of Skip gates.

I agree with Will who says that the president, himself, racially profiled by elevating race, HIS race, over the race of the White officer. Nobody can say that this situation matches racial history, just cuz a White officer arrested a Black man. There is more to it than that.
The Word of God says that He makes all things new. Blacks, including the president who claims to be Christian, apparently, think that is not true since tghey keep on bring up history. THEY keep racism alive.
Finally, they keep saying that there are more Blacks and Hispanics in prison, as though THAT, in itself, proves racial profiling.
HEWS BULLETIN: There are more men than women in prison. That must be sexual profiling. That must mean that men do more crime than women. If that’s so, then Blacks and Hispanics do more crime than Whites, and THAT’s why more of them are in prison.

There’s a national issue.
What should you possibly censor from a debate on racism? Words?
Only people in Cambridge should fear arrest for calling someone a racist. (Well, so far this week)

Good Thing we have Public places where you can protest censorship like this.
Just not in Cambridge, They arrest old men who call cops racist there.

Tazzed a 72 year old white woman who was obnoxious in Texas…
If you are obnoxious and show disrespect to an officer be prepared to be dealt with accordingly.

I am a white, middle-class male and found George Will’s comments quite arrogant. Sure, he can comment about the Gates’ situation as a white, rich male, but the President Obama cannot comment because it is a local issue. What a weak argument! The President of ALL Americans and can comment on regional, state, and local issues. And Donna Brazile should have taken George Will to the proverbial woodshed when he said, “we converse about race too much.” He has no right to make such a comment based on his race and income.

The press asked the question. He answered it. Maybe badly. They asked him this because of his speech on Race.
The matter was not insignificant. The police were called because someone reproted a break in. Once the police identified that Mr. Gates was who he said he was, even if he was angry about it. The police should have said, I’m sorry Mr. Gates, we are just trying to do our job and we are sorry to have disturbed you. Mr Gates may have been rude, but that is NOT a crime. All you should have to show the police to identify yourself is your driver’s license, it has your picture and your address on it. Once he had identified himself as the homeowner, the police should have left, graciously.

Disappointed Obama Supporter.

I was always taught not to argue with a police officer. Dah. The facts. The officers were called out because of a possible break in. Gates (the idiot) argues when asked for ID.(yes, the elderly commit crimes too) If it had been a true robbery the officer would have been just doing his job. What a wimpy panel and a disgrace to honest blacks and hispanics.(Donna I’m surprised at you) If our government hadn’t sold our manufacturing industry overseas, our youth wouldn’t be looking to drugs, the root of this mess.

The scholar finally has a chance to put his money where his mouth is.
Sgt. CYA will never admit to anything and the thin blue line is drawing a neat circle around him. If defense of Liberty means anything, Gates can be the pin that bursts that bubble.

You know, every time someone throws down the race card, and it’s not true, it just diminishes the next time it’s thrown down. Read the parable of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. If you lie about something enough times, no one will believe you when you tell the truth. Anyone who’s really been racially profiled should be appalled that they won’t be believed thanks to the likes of Gates.

How does this incident involve “gender,” as Mr. S said in his show today? Also, why’s he not wearing an American flag lapel pin?

To Donna: I’m white and my parents gave me the same guidelines as the boys in your family in regards to the police.
Columbus, Ohio has a black mayor, a black fire chief, and until his recent retirement, a black police chief. The national sales manger at the company that I work for is black, as is the international sales manager. In each case, in my opinion, these positions were earned through performance.
I never really give their race much thought until I hear such “stupid” comments like yours.
P.S Huffington comments are a waste of air time

Whatever it is whether it is racial or not. Intruding in to a person’s house and arresting without warrant is human right violation. The police deportment done wrong and they should pay for that.

The African American Community must wake up and recognize that there is no Hope in Obama. He is not a friend. Obama consistently and intentionally fails to recognize the greatness of the African American community. He would rather point to failures or play the blame game. The contributions of African American’s to our nation must be recognized and celebrated. The community has the opportunity to make an even larger impact if Obama’s notion of servitude is rejected. Samuel Adams said that those who prefer tranquility of servitude had best be prepared to crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. Government control stands in opposition to the potential of all communities. America is still the land of opportunity for you but may not be for your kids. Think for yourself and reject Government interference in your life.

Coming late to the table. This round table is so far out of touch with the American public that I can not watch anymore. Will, I don’t know how much they are paying you but it is not enough. Please leave and quit giving this panel any legitimacy. The “question” is not about race relations but is our president a racist? Oh, I know, everyone knows he is a racist and elected a known racist so it is not news. Just as knowing he isn’t a “natural born” citizen is old news so it is not news. I think that is time you in the MSM ought to let our emporer that he has no clothes. And George W. you have been losing your credibility and will continue as long as you associate with these blind mice.

“Get real people. He was in his own house. How many of you would have smiled and said “no problem” if it happened to you? Not many, I’d bet.
———————————–
dear jan
Most normal people in the same circumstances would be GLAD to know that their neighbors and police acted swiftly and correctly to protect their porperty!
Only a loose cannon would start up with whole racism & “do you know who i am” smack!
The President who has been running around the globe “appologizing” for the so-called past sins of the country, would have done himself & race relations a great service by publically appologizing to the officers involved. Amazing, he seems to think its his “responibiblty ” to applogize for the percieved acts of this country, yet he can’t bring himself to applogize when HE was dead wrong!
Trying to say that both parties over-reacted is the cowardly way out. His friend was wrong, period! to try to take that into the realm of racial profiling when HE KNEW HE DID NOT HAVE THE FACTS was incredibly stupid of the President!

Obama needs to be taught a lesson. DONT be a RACIST!

The President of the Unites States of America had taught us he is a racist.

==Whatever it is whether it is racial or not. Intruding in to a person’s house and arresting without warrant is human right violation.==
In YOUR world, but not in this one. The police investigated a legit report made by a woman of Portuguese extraction who said she couldn’t make out the race of those bustin’ into Gates’ house.
Also, the police, according to recordings, weren’t focusing on race.
== The police deportment done wrong…==
The recordings show that they are not, that Gates, the president and so many Blacks overreacted.

==…he [George Will] has become a bitter man, who can know longer give a objective view…==
He is not a reporter, not that reporters nowadays are reporting facts, ‘cept the “facts” of their subjective views. He is a commentator, expected to give his views which may, or may not, align with the facts outside his skin.
==Maybe we can have Sam Donaldson replace George Will.==
You mean that they should replace the Conservative with somebody more to YOUR liking, a Lib who has subjective views, too, and wants to do what you say the Conservative shouldn’t do. Make up your mind; if you want objective views, then you should include yourself in suppressing the subjective.

God love George Will typical man that thinks that his race should be the only one here

==God love George Will typical man that thinks that his race should be the only one here==
Is THAT a fact, or is it just your subjective view? Go to Tina’s post for more about being “objective.”

==The president has so far been a moral leader.==
“Moral” in what sense?

Few Presidents, if any, wade into the race debate. It takes courage to talk about race and few people have such courage. As George Wills said: “We need to stop talking about it.”. Thanks to President Obama, we can still talk about something that in this country needs talking about, regardless of how uncomfortable it is for people, mostly white, to talk about the past.

If find it disturbing that this has the most simple solution.
The 1st admendment protects a person if they are insulting an officer. The charge of disorderly conduct is a false charge seeing how it clearly states in the massachusetts penal code that “To be disorderly, within the sense of the statute, the conduct must disturb through acts other than speech; neither provocative nor a foul mouth transgresses that statute”.

George Will just doesn’t get it–or doesn’t want to get it. He said, “Mr. Gates got the coveted status of victim.” That, Mr. Will, is because he WAS victimized. Go to the core–remove all the other ‘stuff’ that came quickly after. A person, in his own home, going about his business, is unexpectedly confronted by a police officer at his front door, and subsequently inside his home, and challenged to prove his identity and the validity of his very presence there. Talk about being blindsided! Suddenly accused of being a criminal for absolutely no reason! Exceedingly upsetting I’d say. Should anyone, anywhere, at any time EXPECT to be acosted by the police? Having been knocked off-guard how gracious would you be? The police action created the situation. The officer should have been prepared to assess and act appropriately; de-escalate not incite. No, nobody’s perfect; Yes, it’s a difficult job. And professor Gates may well have been upset by the incident in any case. But entrusted with great authority, the police must exercise great responsibility. Clearly the police ‘training’ failed and needs help from professionals outside their closed circle.

Is Prof. Gates the real racist in this incident? Would he have acted the same way or said the same things if the investigating officer had been african american? In my forty years of teaching I have found that the person who cries racist over some seemingly innocent or small incident is most often the real racist.

Pay attention to Will’s subtext which is clearly racist. He basically is saying he considers Obama a know-it-all and arrogant for the “teachable moment.” It seems Will is outraged that Obama dares to have an opinion. Basically, Will’s argument is framed in a kind of exasperation — he’s everywhere; he’s not focused. Methinks, really, Will hates that Obama has a sense of power and authority and uses the presidecy as his bully-pulpit…but isn’t that exactly what every president does and should do? Obama does give a lot of interviews and he is very actively engaged with the public — that’s what an accountable POTUS with integrity does. But for Will, because he can’t stand Obama, resorts on this show to saying basically, he should shut up. And my experience shows that when white people are fed up with a Black person talking or comporting himself with grace, confidence, and intelligence, well that person is by a white racist’s viewpoint “uppity” and putting on airs. And if you listen, really listen to George Will, that’s exactly what he’s implying.

There is more racism in the black community and their leaders than in any other race. They constantly promote racism and this Gate incident is a great example. Automatically the white officer is thought to be racial profiling. That in itself is a racist thought and the black leaders promoted that thought for weeks. So far nobody has discused the reacism of the black community. My wife works with blacks who openly speak of their dislike of “whites”. I have experienced the same thing.The “black community” is their own worst enemy.

It is so refreshing to listen to someone with brains and common sense. Michelle Malkin is my new heroine. She and George Will can talk for me anytime.

Good morning George et el.,
It seems that virtually all pundits and Prof. Gates have missed the point. If you kmow what’s good for you you don’t argue with a cop. When you are confronted by a cop, you should recognize that at that point the cop has his/her agenda and a lot of power that he/she can use and you don’t. Your speech should consist of “Yes, Sir” and “No Sir.” This is regardless of whether the color of ones skin or the color of the cop’s skin is white, black, yellow, green, or purple or whether one is prominent or not. No offense intended, but Gates was a #######. If he didn’t like the cops attitude, he should have taken notes and then taken it to court, if anything, or chalk it up to life. He should have realized that the officer was not at all impressed with and did not know his prominence.
The confrontation between Prof. Gates had nothing to do with “race” or “racial profiling” or freedom of speech. It was all about power. And, in these situations the police officer always wins unless there is video or there are more witnesses than cops.
As to “Skip Gates and the Post-Racial Project”, I would like someone to tell me how we are going to get post-racial when most people keep using the term race when they are talking about skin color. I’m amazed that the African American Studies scholars at Harvard, Princeton, Brown, U. Maryland, etc. place so much emphasis on race when the term race is 1) a social construct that has no validity, 2) socially divisive, 3) scientifically wrong, and 4) a myth. I want to emphasize the point that “race” is socially divisive and ask the African American Studies scholars why they insist on using a socially divisive term.
I have filled out many government forms where I am expected to check the box:
Race:
[ ] White/Caucasian
I am annoyed that I have to check off Caucasian when I had no idea what Caucasian means. I got so irritated I looked it up and found out that (East) Indians are considered Caucasian. Hence, it now makes sense that a judge ruled that my Indian roommate at Iowa State University was white. He is much darker than most black Americans. Therefore if I check this box the local, state, or federal governments really don’t know whether my skin is light or dark. This is a good illustration of how absurd the whole nonsense surrounding the use of the term race is.
Spencer Wells on the PBS program “Journey of Man,” made the excellent statement, “The term race is socially divisive and scientifically wrong.” I’m used to the fact that many academics and journalists are often scientifically wrong. However, I have to speak out when they are socially divisive. The fact is people are unintentionally socially divisive when they use the terms race and racism. I think we need to stop using the terms race and racism if we are to minimize skin color, ethnic, cultural, or geographic prejudice and/or discrimination.
“Thus human beings of whatever nationality, “race,” or creed are representatives of the species Homo sapiens, of the family Hominidae, of the genus Homo.” Lancelot T. Hogben, F.R.S., p. 261, “Principles of Animal Biology,” Christophers: London (1930). Please note the date and the quotes around race. Sean Carroll, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator recently confirmed “. . . this biological reality.”.
Dr. Joseph L. Graves, Jr. wrote the book, “The Race Myth.” He is absolutely correct.
I hate to remind people that racial dogmas were preached by The Eugenics Society back in the 1920′s and were used to justify fascism.
The differences between whites and blacks is trivial compared to differences among whites or the differences among blacks.
The evidence is now clear that dating back roughly 50,000 years we all have ancestors who originated in Africa and thus we are all related. My skin is lighter than Prof. Gates’ skin because long ago my ancestors migrated from Eastern Africa to Europe where dark skin was not needed for protection against the sun. Dr. Joseph L. Graves, Jr. has said that skin color is nothing more than a genetic sunburn.
To illustrate how ridiculous all this can get, Dr. Phil referred on the air to the Mexican race. A Mexican is a citizen of Mexico. I haven’t heard anybody talk about the
Canadian race, the Brazilian race, or the United States race.
Hopefully people will use the word ethnicity instead of race or speak about skin color, nationality, culture, geographic location as is appropriate. Also, I hope skin color (nationality, culture, geographic location, etc.)prejudice/discrimination is used instead of racism.
I submit that African American Studies scholars, such as Prof. Gates, should start talking about how much we are alike instead of foolishly trying to divide us into races based upon skin color, etc.
Starting 80 years ago the distiguised British scientists Lancelot T. Hogben, F.R.S. and Dr. Enid Charles, my parents, did not allow the term race to be used in their home.
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David H