Let's face it: President Obama acted stupidly at his press conference when he waded into the great debate surrounding Henry Louis Gates Jr. vs. Sgt. James Crowley. Until now, Obama has been careful to douse rather than inflame racial controversies. Now that he's reverted to his conciliator mode by inviting Gates and Crowley over for a brew, Obama is playing to his strength.
No one really comes out of this episode looking all that good, but it's provided all the parties involved a chance to, well, profile themselves. First Gates, now the Cambridge police officers are portraying themselves as victims. It can't be long before Crowley goes hunting for his book contract.
The brouhaha will probably soon end with a nice photo op with the White House as a backdrop. But the real question for Obama may be what type of beer he serves at the White House: a domestic brew? A lite beer? One from a microbrewery? Or would that incense conservatives who might depict Obama as an effete liberal who can't even pound them back like a real man (though microbrews are a testament to the virtues of the small businessman that the right likes to praise ceaselessly)? Obviously, he can't serve any imported beers, Belgian or otherwise.
Still, for the American beer industry this could be a great moment. The stakes are high. This could be even bigger than the Budweiser Shootout. If they get really bold, the three men may even have a smoke in the Rose Garden to clear the air.
She did the right thing by calling about, what appeared to be, a break in ... Dr. Gates was new to the neighbourhood and she didn't know him ...
She called the police ... the police responded ... Dr. Gates was in his own home ... he was, understandably upset ...
THE WOMAN .... HELLO .... INCLUDE THE BRAVE NEIGHBOUR!!!!!
The president of the United States made a straight forward common sense comment about the Gates" arrest at a national press conference. I"m sure he assumed that there would be universal common sense understanding throughout the media and our society about the injustice of arresting a middle-aged man within his own home for being rude to a police officer. Sadly the media, law enforcement, political institutions and race baiting public in this society allowed this common sense evaluation to spiral out of control. The minority population in this country has always and will always need a coalition of proactive citizens with a similar sense of values in this society so injustices can be expressed without chaos, political unrest or violence. That has been the basis of every minority civil rights movement of our country. The president acknowledged an obvious injustice at a national press conference and expected common sense police officers, nurses , doctors , teachers, the media, politicians and everyday citizens to understand and support his outrage at the injustice and humiliation Professor Gates endured in his own home. Common sense values dictate that no one would want their dad or grandfather to be arrested in their own home for being rude to the police. But instead, this society debated and continues to debate whether Professor Gates should have been humiliated in such a manner by a professional police officer.
Americans must get used to having an adult in charge again.
It will be interesting when the tape is played over and over again for a couple of news cycles. Then, Obama will have to 'calibrate' some more.
Barack is my president already. He is president for all of us.
And no matter who wins I'm sure temperance-minded evangelicals are gearing up to make a huge issue out of it-and the media will no doubt oblige them.
And the intended spirit (no pun intended) of the meeting, and any meaningful results, will be lost to the general public in a sea of irrelevant sensationalism.
Thank you for checking on the safety of my home. If it had been someone out to rob me, I'm glad that you would have been here to stop them. Here's my ID, do you need to see something else, talk to a neighbor who knows me? Do you want a beer?
That's what I would have done. Everyone safe, officer appreciated for doing his job, checking on the safety of a stranger's home. Could have been a win-win situation.
Tolerant, supportive and sympathetic teachers are the best
While most seem ideal, some shouldn’t teach at all.
Great teachers find their work fruitful and rewarding
As they pass on their knowledge with love as their call.
Good physical and mental health are important
For teachers must have energy, stamina and determination.
To shoulder their duties as shepherds of thought
Passing on wisdom to each generation.
In the words of Henry Adams, “ Teachers affect eternity
You can never tell where their influence will cease.”
As the teachers of the Bible spread their message
Their students learned of war, faith, love, death and peace.
Teachers world over have the same basic goal
To help others mature, reason, accomplish and grow.
They instruct, inform, debate and discipline
Teaching the rudiments of life we should know.
By Conservative Poet
Tom Zart
Most Published Poet
On The Web
Here's a more published poet than yourself:
Deceiver, dissembler
Your trousers are alight
From what pole or gallows
Shall they dangle in the night?
What infernal serpent
Has lent you his forked tongue?
From what pit of foul deceit
Are all these whoppers sprung?
Deceiver, dissembler
Your trousers are alight
From what pole or gallows
Do they dangle in the night?
William Blake poem, 1810, from which the children's rhyme "Liar liar pants on fire..." is derived.
Personally, I don't see this being a racism story. I trust Crowley prides himself with being enlightened about race and Gates' ranting and accusations got under his skin. And then he went overboard and used his power to arrest the professor. Neither came out of this looking good, though from what I hear both seem to be "good guys" who make a point of not being driven by racial animus.
I think this ought to be a cautionary story about not being overly quick in accusing policemen of racism as well as about policemen being all to quick in arresting people, using tazers and otherwise exploiting their position of power.
Obama should have gone with the "lets have a beer" offer in the very first place. I'm surprised he made such an unhelpful comment initially. Of course Crowley acted stupidly by arresting Gates, but as the Conciliator-in-chief, his later comments about both Crowley and Gates overreacting are a far better way of putting this.
Anyway, that's the take of this German. Fortunately, police-civilian relations here are far more relaxed. Our police culture is not about projecting a tough-guy image, but that of a friendly and ordering hand. I suppose the infinitely smaller amount of arms in circulation is important here. US policemen face more of a personal risk and that has a clear impact on how the police interacts with the wider population.
Why, arresting a guy in his home, breaking no laws isn't stupid?