Henry Louis Gates arrested when trying to force open door of his own home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most DCUMs belong to the class of people who send their children to be educated at universities rather than to be trained at the police academy.

Good grief...

I need to go take a shower to wash the "ick" off.

I think the poster you are referring to was being toungue-in-cheek. S/he's not saying she agrees with her own statement. It's a criticism of classists on this board. Get it?

Nope. I'm criticizing moms who hypocritically declare their open-mindedness while pushing their children to take advantage of every academic opportunity they can provide so they'll become successful professionals... like their parents and probably their parents before them. The pushing makes complete sense to me, but it is logically incompatible with the "no matter- we're all equal anyway" image we'd like to have of ourselves as easy-going, politically correct people.

Of course, I'm also criticizing policemen, who are not drawn from the tops of their high school classes and whose subsequent educations don't equip them to consider Constitutional subtleties. I'm also willing to bet that because they typically come from less "privileged" (I hate that word) backgrounds, they have had much more reason to be aware of these differences than people who have always been destined for higher education and professional salaries but would really like to be accepted as just plain folk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I saw that too. That's one thing about men-they can get real angry at each other, yell, possibly come to blows but they can also sit down, share a Rock at the WH, shake hands and forget about it. Now, two women? Obama'd have to take them shoe shopping, to the day spa and probably to the Oprah show together and then maybe they might think about not holding a grudge.

I read this the other day and it keeps running through my head. I find it hilarious and so true! I'm a woman and I can think of numerous incidents that I've witnessed in my own life where a simple misunderstanding has led to women not speaking to each other for years on end. This a huge controversial situation that is still making national headlines. Well, tomorrow is the big sit down and I hope it's eye opening for all people (me included) who hold grudges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most DCUMs belong to the class of people who send their children to be educated at universities rather than to be trained at the police academy.

Good grief...

I need to go take a shower to wash the "ick" off.

I think the poster you are referring to was being toungue-in-cheek. S/he's not saying she agrees with her own statement. It's a criticism of classists on this board. Get it?

Nope. I'm criticizing moms who hypocritically declare their open-mindedness while pushing their children to take advantage of every academic opportunity they can provide so they'll become successful professionals... like their parents and probably their parents before them. The pushing makes complete sense to me, but it is logically incompatible with the "no matter- we're all equal anyway" image we'd like to have of ourselves as easy-going, politically correct people.

Of course, I'm also criticizing policemen, who are not drawn from the tops of their high school classes and whose subsequent educations don't equip them to consider Constitutional subtleties. I'm also willing to bet that because they typically come from less "privileged" (I hate that word) backgrounds, they have had much more reason to be aware of these differences than people who have always been destined for higher education and professional salaries but would really like to be accepted as just plain folk.

My husband (the Marine who had a Gates-like experience that did not end badly) serves alongside English barristers and the children of Hollywood movie producers. I think you would be surprised about the type of people who choose to serve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most DCUMs belong to the class of people who send their children to be educated at universities rather than to be trained at the police academy.

Good grief...

I need to go take a shower to wash the "ick" off.

I think the poster you are referring to was being toungue-in-cheek. S/he's not saying she agrees with her own statement. It's a criticism of classists on this board. Get it?

Nope. I'm criticizing moms who hypocritically declare their open-mindedness while pushing their children to take advantage of every academic opportunity they can provide so they'll become successful professionals... like their parents and probably their parents before them. The pushing makes complete sense to me, but it is logically incompatible with the "no matter- we're all equal anyway" image we'd like to have of ourselves as easy-going, politically correct people.

Of course, I'm also criticizing policemen, who are not drawn from the tops of their high school classes and whose subsequent educations don't equip them to consider Constitutional subtleties. I'm also willing to bet that because they typically come from less "privileged" (I hate that word) backgrounds, they have had much more reason to be aware of these differences than people who have always been destined for higher education and professional salaries but would really like to be accepted as just plain folk.

My husband (the Marine who had a Gates-like experience that did not end badly) serves alongside English barristers and the children of Hollywood movie producers. I think you would be surprised about the type of people who choose to serve.

This has been my experience as well. In my profession, I've worked very closely with police officers over the years. Education has ranged from GEDs through PhDs (and some law degrees.) It is very hard to generalize. The backgrounds, "privileged" or not, have seemed just as varied in my experience. People become police officers for all types of reasons.

Regarding the PP's point, I hope I'm not a hypocrite. I'd be happy if my children wanted to become police officers. I'd probably still encourage them to go to college first, because I think it increases their options, but it will be their choice to make.

[Anonymous]

I feel very bad for the woman who called the police:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/29/AR2009072900832.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most DCUMs belong to the class of people who send their children to be educated at universities rather than to be trained at the police academy.

Good grief...

I need to go take a shower to wash the "ick" off.

I think the poster you are referring to was being toungue-in-cheek. S/he's not saying she agrees with her own statement. It's a criticism of classists on this board. Get it?

Nope. I'm criticizing moms who hypocritically declare their open-mindedness while pushing their children to take advantage of every academic opportunity they can provide so they'll become successful professionals... like their parents and probably their parents before them. The pushing makes complete sense to me, but it is logically incompatible with the "no matter- we're all equal anyway" image we'd like to have of ourselves as easy-going, politically correct people.

Of course, I'm also criticizing policemen, who are not drawn from the tops of their high school classes and whose subsequent educations don't equip them to consider Constitutional subtleties. I'm also willing to bet that because they typically come from less "privileged" (I hate that word) backgrounds, they have had much more reason to be aware of these differences than people who have always been destined for higher education and professional salaries but would really like to be accepted as just plain folk.

My husband (the Marine who had a Gates-like experience that did not end badly) serves alongside English barristers and the children of Hollywood movie producers. I think you would be surprised about the type of people who choose to serve.

This has been my experience as well. In my profession, I've worked very closely with police officers over the years. Education has ranged from GEDs through PhDs (and some law degrees.) It is very hard to generalize. The backgrounds, "privileged" or not, have seemed just as varied in my experience. People become police officers for all types of reasons.

Regarding the PP's point, I hope I'm not a hypocrite. I'd be happy if my children wanted to become police officers. I'd probably still encourage them to go to college first, because I think it increases their options, but it will be their choice to make.

Thank you for your post. My cousin has an MBA and he worked as an officer for NYPD until 2002. He was involved in the recovery efforts after Sept. 11 and decided to leave the force because he was having minor breathing difficulties afterwards. Anyhow, he's back working in finance now (and still making tons of money in this difficult economy). He was a great police officer - and he's an outstanding person and more accomplished than most people I know here in DC.

He chose to become a police officer because his father and uncles were all police officers. To him, it is a very honorable profession.

I refuse to acknowledge the other poster who is obviously in la-la land. I hope no one ever breaks into her house or mugs her - because then the only people who can help her are those stupid policemen who must have been at the bottom of their high school classes. I would love to know if she also looks down on the people who drive cabs, clean houses, work in supermarkets, take care of her children, teach her children art and soccer, pump her gas, take care of her in doctor's offices, install her telephones, etc. etc., because certainly these people were not "destined" for higher education and salaries. What a sad way to go through life. And, I should mention, that I know a lot of LOSERS who have advanced degrees and make a lot less money than my cousin.

[Anonymous]

I always ask my husband, What kind of person runs towards danger? Doesn't that go against every instinct? Luckily, a certain type. Thanks to your brother for his service; those first responders amaze me. I hope he is very happy now. There are enlightened people and losers in everything from finance to furniture making; thank goodness for the former!

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, your cousin. All of our brother

[Anonymous]

What were we saying about cops being held to a higher standard of behavior?

http://community.livejournal.com/ontd_political/3682382.html

[Anonymous]

Yah--appreciate the point but again, back to the vast generalizations. Isn't there some word (like specious?) for making an argument about the whole based on the part?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most DCUMs belong to the class of people who send their children to be educated at universities rather than to be trained at the police academy.

Good grief...

I need to go take a shower to wash the "ick" off.

I think the poster you are referring to was being toungue-in-cheek. S/he's not saying she agrees with her own statement. It's a criticism of classists on this board. Get it?

Nope. I'm criticizing moms who hypocritically declare their open-mindedness while pushing their children to take advantage of every academic opportunity they can provide so they'll become successful professionals... like their parents and probably their parents before them. The pushing makes complete sense to me, but it is logically incompatible with the "no matter- we're all equal anyway" image we'd like to have of ourselves as easy-going, politically correct people.

Of course, I'm also criticizing policemen, who are not drawn from the tops of their high school classes and whose subsequent educations don't equip them to consider Constitutional subtleties. I'm also willing to bet that because they typically come from less "privileged" (I hate that word) backgrounds, they have had much more reason to be aware of these differences than people who have always been destined for higher education and professional salaries but would really like to be accepted as just plain folk.

Apparently, I did get it. Although I really do wish your interpretation had been correct. Glad I got that shower in.

[Anonymous]

Now that more information has become available, it seems like Prof. Gates may have escalated an unfortunate situation. I understand people are influenced by their experiences and it is sad that racial profiling goes on and people must stand up to injustice. But I also think it must be difficult to be Dr. Gates, not just because of external factors which he has no control over but also because of internal factors which are affected by his lifelong experience as a black man in America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now that more information has become available, it seems like Prof. Gates may have escalated an unfortunate situation. I understand people are influenced by their experiences and it is sad that racial profiling goes on and people must stand up to injustice. But I also think it must be difficult to be Dr. Gates, not just because of external factors which he has no control over but also because of internal factors which are affected by his lifelong experience as a black man in America.

He probably did escalate the situation, but free speech entitles him to do that as a private citizen. Crowley was there in his official capacity and forgot, conveniently or otherwise, that he represented civic authority. His actions needed to be limited to pursuing the civic agenda, not his personal one. Citizens don't invest police with power for that, and it needs to be made much more clear to them.

For another police officer who seems to be a real professional with no abuse of powers issues, see this story about the officer who called Gates a "banana-eating jungle monkey" and forgot that it is not his job or his right to spray citizens in the face with pepper spray to teach them a lesson when they anger him: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/30/gates.police.apology/index.html

[Anonymous]

See also this article about a recent incident in DC: http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=26502

This man's only "offense" was to say that he didn't like police officers within an officer's earshot. Of course he was baiting the officer, which wasn't very nice, but it is a protected freedom. Witnesses claim that another police officer on the scene tried to get them to testify to actually arrestable misconduct on this guy's part to cover the offending officer's backside, but they refused because it didn't actually happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"To his eventual embarrassment, [Gates] wrote in his Yale application:

"As always, whitey now sits in judgment of me, preparing to cast my fate. It is your decision either to let me blow with the wind as a nonentity or to encourage the development of self. Allow me to prove myself.""

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=104&pid=0&sid=1725138&page=2

It appears Gates has a real problem with "whitey". He baited the officer and was obnoxious. I feel he used this incident to feed his own personal sense of injustice. It's what his professional career is based on. He has more to benefit from by escalating tensions than by being reasonable.