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07.25.2009 10:57 pm

Gates’ arrest sparks controversy, conversation

St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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In the Sunday Post-Dispatch, we explore the state of race relations in America in light of the recent controversy surrounding the arrest of Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr.

In one article, “Gates’ arrest sparks debate on perceived racial progress,” some argue that the “age old” problem of racism in America persists.

Another article, “Many police develop thick skin to deal with insults,” asks police officers about how they deal with verbal attacks, especially in incidents in which they might be accused of racism.

A third article, “Obama could get country talking about racial profiling,” says the president is in a unique position to improve race relations.

A fourth article points out that Gates says he’s ready to move past the incident and that he, the arresting officer, Sgt. James Crowley, and Obama plan to get together over a beer to discuss what happened and what could be learned and taught from it.

So the questions are: Can the issues of race relations in America be solved if we all could just sit together over a cold beverage? Are we ready to have this conversation as a nation?

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Who in their right mind would ever want to drink a beer with a proven racist like OBlabber? No thanks. I’ll have a beer with trustworthy white folks. Not socialist terrorist ghetto people masquerading as our president.
What a joke - The first and last half-black to ever hold that office. Obviously one too many.

— Mick
11:42 pm July 25th, 2009

Who would want one with an obvious sick-hearted man as you are? This country because of sick people like you and also greed is the reason this country is going to hell in a hand basket.

No human being Black or White have the power to stop the fall of this country because of too many sick-hearted people, because of the likes of your type sir, and greed, not Obama and Black people, this country is history. Many will be looking for a better country to escape to.

And, concerning people like you, it will be poetic justice. It will be extremely sad witnessing your next White leader finish this country and its people off. Anyone who is smart will move out as far away as possible from this country and let sick people like yourself perish in the hellhole you create.

— D. Walker
2:22 am July 26th, 2009

I find it remarkably easy to talk about race. I’m on this blog all the time and convey my thoughts. I’ve always found it to be a very interesting subject.

What keeps people from sharing their thoughts (at least whites) on the matter, in a ‘non-anonymous’ setting unlike this one, are public repercussions.

Just this week, a prominent board member (white) of the ACLU was forced to resign for using the ‘N-word’ several times. Judging from the article in the Post-Dispatch, this individual clearly used it in a context that didn’t communicate animosity towards black individuals. Nevertheless, this man was ousted by an organization whose purported sole existence is to defend individual liberties. Most certainly, my worldview doesn’t align itself with the ACLU’s historical perspective, but I had to chuckle while reading the article.

The irony is that this man used a word that a segment of black society freely uses among themselves. It’s in music and entertainment catered to a black audience, casual conversation, etc.

When people ‘feel’ allowed to freely discuss racial issues - even in the most innocent of ways and without hatred in their hearts - then we can have a ‘national conversation’…but as long as people risk losing jobs and positions or prominence for simply using a word - then forget it…

— John C
5:19 am July 26th, 2009

“Obama and Black people, this country is history. Many will be looking for a better country to escape to.”

I just bet that black people are looking for a country to move to LOL.
For all its warts, there’s no other country that treats a population of miscreants better than this one. My suggestion for you or anyone that has a problem with this country is shut up, and go set in the corner and lick your wrist.

— thegoviskillingme
5:57 am July 26th, 2009

Just an oberservation.

Our wonderful half and half president uses the phrase “Gined up” on several occasion.

I’ve never heard one news media outlet comment about it. Now our Half and Half has invited the two parties to the white house for Beer diplomacy. I’m wondering is the Pres a member of AA?

— thegoviskillingme
6:06 am July 26th, 2009

Ms Walker-Please allow an observation from an unbiased observer. The fact that a reasonable discussion on race cannot be held in your country is attributable to the blacks in your nation. The racism that I see is primarily-not exclusively-the problem with black people. Any conversations I have been privy to are immediately attenuated by the blacks who answer every observation/critism with the same tired old excuses that they are treated differently because of institutionalized racism. Please believe me that every country has minorities who feel they have grievances because they percieve they are treated differently. This is largely in human nature. I have little sympathy for blacks in particular because this country has gone to extreme measures to allow blacks to be integrated into society at great risk to the body politic. The majority in your country have allowed this to occur despite their exposure to increased crime, neighborhood destruction and exposure of their community to the effects of the black influence on their childrens education. Despite all of this, whites continue to try to improve the lot of the black people and are given precious little thanks for the sacrifices they make. And what is the response from the blacks? more complaints that whites don’t like them and treat them differently. I ask you if the roles were reversed how would you react? I think you should be thankful to the whites for making the effort to integrate a selfish and uncultured people into the mainsteam. Surely you can see a time when the majority will throw up its hands in disgust and cease these extreme measures to accopmodate you. The fact that in the far distant past your people were slaves is a very worn out excuse. EVERY segment of society at one time or another has experienced such exclusion and they were able to overcome this by their efforts and did not relay upon extraordinary efforts to improve their lot. You complain that whites ( and Asians, and Latinos, etc) don’t like you and don’t accept you? Welcome to the real world. There is a reason for their actions-and it how YOUR people deport themselves.
As I stated at the beginning of this missive, I am an outside observer who has seen this situation from a different perspective than most of the commentors here. I have no “dog in this fight” I am merely giving an observation of why this sitiuation cannot heal. Despite the lofty philisophical statements of your founding fathers, not all men are created equal. Any serious evaluation of any intelligence tests will demonstrate that. People are different and that is a fact of life. Are you ignorant of the fact that your people have a much, much harder time in every industrialized nation on earth? Be thankful that you have been given so many opportunities in this country because no where else in this world would be accorded such by a majority. Be thankful you live in such a nation of opportunity. In closing if my English is confusing or misapplied, I apologise. I ask your forbearance in this regard.

— mahatma khoat
6:07 am July 26th, 2009

Mathatma - there is absoluely NOTHING wrong with your English! I understood what you said, loud and clear! And, you are sooooo correct it isn’t funny! Of course, you already realize that you are now going to be attacked by Walker! She is a scorpion! Watch your back! Hummmmm, after reading her last comment on here, why is SHE still in this country????? Want helping packing her bags???

— Purdy
7:21 am July 26th, 2009

mahatma khoat

People of India have a cast system and the Blacks in this country and some elitist whites also. I like many others in this country if given the freedom without retribution, would seek out and try to have all blacks assign to an area in this country along with their apologists whites. Let them rule and govern themselves as if they were a state of their own. I can tell you now, within one year their governor would institute Marshall Law, their death rate would be off the charts.
We as a country tried the noble experiment and its failing. The good of the many should outweigh the good of the few.

— thegoviskillingme
7:27 am July 26th, 2009

Wow. I went out of town back when we were discussing black kids being denied access to a pool. Did not have computer access, and when I am gone, all hell breaks loose. Can’t believe I missed it. I am done with vacations.

— Clyde
8:24 am July 26th, 2009

Here is something interesting that the P-D won’t report, God forbid they should do any research. Here are Dr. Gates comments on “whitey”:

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/07/dr-gates-on-whitey-malcolm-x-was.html

Very interesting. Probably not a coincidence that Mr. O and Dr. G were friends from Harvard.

— A CENTRIST
9:33 am July 26th, 2009

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