tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905181885778117365.post3404908866599114669..comments2023-09-30T09:41:52.224-07:00Comments on The Well Spoken Negro's Salon: On Being Black in "Post-Racial" America II: Channeling Dave ChappelleUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905181885778117365.post-75850594524139967312009-09-14T10:34:42.430-07:002009-09-14T10:34:42.430-07:00Let's not forget the officer is PAID to NOT ta...Let's not forget the officer is PAID to NOT take comments personally. Moreover, how does anyone know, conclusively, that the officer is NOT racist? He may/may not be and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. However, while he might not be a card-carrying member of the KKK, his perceptions of racialized people and their "deference" to police are still informed by society. My opinion is that he is most likely racist...but my opinion doesn't matter. What does matter is the training officers receive to handle situations like this, as diplomatically, as possilbe. He should have said "Sorry to trouble you" and left! It's outrageous that his dept is defending him!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905181885778117365.post-61338869717764495832009-09-14T10:25:40.549-07:002009-09-14T10:25:40.549-07:00As a former law enforcement officer, I would often...As a former law enforcement officer, I would often be confronted by beligerent people. However, as long as there was no physical/verbal threat, to myself or anyone else, I'd ignore the mouthing off. Unfortunately, it came with the territory. After confirming ID and verifying residency, I would have thanked Gates for his time and left. Now retired, I have a security co. I hire people for tact and diplomacy and brains, not brawn. We do concerts, bounce at bars and public events. We train, train and train some more on how to diffuse situations, not escalate them as the officer seems to have done, based on the reports. If one of my staff had reacted like the officer, I would have sacked him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905181885778117365.post-62885858701799471512009-07-28T07:53:11.370-07:002009-07-28T07:53:11.370-07:00I donno if racism had any part in any of this. Co...I donno if racism had any part in any of this. Could be. Donno.<br /><br />What I'm left with is the thought that the definition of "disorderly conduct" may very well be, "the refusal to kiss a policeman's butt."Scottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905181885778117365.post-68381083947367979552009-07-27T06:31:04.270-07:002009-07-27T06:31:04.270-07:00@Fiona: You didn't miss a link. It was merel...@Fiona: You didn't miss a link. It was merely a feeling that made me wonder, and some of that was based on encounters with Gates that people I know have had with him (he apparently can be a bit on the arrogant and self congratulatory side). There was something about his body language and demeanor in the portion of the clip that showed his interview with CNN's Soledad O'Brien that made me go down the Chappelle Show road.hscfreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15248588351369527519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905181885778117365.post-23605086123619446542009-07-24T16:59:18.724-07:002009-07-24T16:59:18.724-07:00I guess I'm a little confused about the link. ...I guess I'm a little confused about the link. I didn't see anything in the ABC report that suggests that Gates was out of line, nor did the officer give any further information. <br /><br />Did I miss a link?Fionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13621216725935523487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905181885778117365.post-90294934494056489932009-07-24T06:42:21.148-07:002009-07-24T06:42:21.148-07:00People who are completely aware of racism and raci...People who are completely aware of racism and racial profiling can still act on racist impulses and profile. All too often, we're too polite or blind to feel comfortable calling someone a racist. I'm fine with that, but don't be afraid to judge someone's actions in that respect.<br /><br />As a white man, I like to believe I'm not a racist. However, as race and racism are cultural constructs and America is a racist (or race-obsessed) society, I cannot help but to have been shaped by that culture. Our ability to defeat racism has to come from whites (and others, I don't want to single out just one group) getting past the label and focusing on the underlying emotions, thoughts, and actions. Recognizing when race/racism is playing a role in a situation is 9/10ths of ensuring misunderstandings such as this don't get out of control. Which is what Officer Crowley's training should have taught him.<br /><br />More than anything, this officer seems to have been obviously acting well outside of his training. He allowed the situation to get personal rather than keeping it professional. For Gates, confronted by a police officer in his own home, it was always going to be personal. It's incumbent on the officer to make sure he doesn't join Gates there.<br /><br />What is more, this is clearly a case of what is commonly referred to as "contempt of cop." And, while this form of "justice" is meted out across the racial spectrum, it disproportionately hurts minorities, who many officers feel owe them a special level of deference. Gates berated Crowley in front of his colleagues. In the end, Crowley let it get the better of his emotions and clearly decided to show this guy who was boss.Clancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536421258934730087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905181885778117365.post-80426109646819811512009-07-24T06:10:44.720-07:002009-07-24T06:10:44.720-07:00BHO sometimes speaks before he thinks. And someti...BHO sometimes speaks before he thinks. And sometimes he is a little too casual for me. One previous example is when he made (in very poor taste) the joke about Special Olympics. It was a poor choice of words for BHO to say that the officer's actions were "stupid". This little slip has now catapulted this discussion into another realm.<br /><br />Racism and racial profiling are still real issues. In this case, I am beginning to feel that it was not racial profiling at all. The officer involved actually teaches a class on racial profiling, and apparently gets high marks for his teaching abilities. So, perhaps this is a case of two men who lost their temper. Again, I believe apologies are probably warranted on both sides.femmenoirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13646732489746603508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905181885778117365.post-25696510875034293512009-07-24T03:48:38.487-07:002009-07-24T03:48:38.487-07:00The confrontation should have ended as soon as Gat...The confrontation should have ended as soon as Gates produced the requested ID. It should have been the following.<br />"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, sir. Have a nice day."<br />Any further invective would have been directed at the officer's back, as he walked back to the squad car and drove away."<br />Case closed.<br />But unfortunately, police officers -- a lot of them, anyway -- believe that the citizenry OWES them respect, OWES them subservience. Taking someone to jail becuz he said "yo mamma?" Really? I understand that law enforcement is a stressful occupation. I understand it's a "face death job every day" kind of thing. But in Cambridge? In a well-to-do neighborhood? <br />Like Oprah trying to get some shopping in after closing time, this one is gonna get weird and stoopid -- really fast.Micheal Sisconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905181885778117365.post-59465628127604129162009-07-23T17:16:29.215-07:002009-07-23T17:16:29.215-07:00I agree completely. I don't think he's rac...I agree completely. I don't think he's racsist. I think he lost his cool and so did Gates. Neither sides are going to back down. What makes me the most uncomfortable is it is SUMMER. When we look back on the seasons in which people come undone over race, it is usually summer. High unemployment doesn't help...hey people need shit to do! FOX news is running the words "studpid" over and over again...working up all the folks who aren't happy with BHO. This is shaping up to be a good ole mess.<br /><br />by d.b.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com