07.30.2009 6:46 pm
Much can be learned from Gates/Crowley incident
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
There is much to be learned from this incident.. Profiling and stereo-typing do exist and exists similiar to a two way street. Mr. Gates was tired, frustrated and hyper-sensitive to race issues. He profiles the officer as being prejudiced and reacts based on that assumption.
Mr. Gates becomes irate when the officer does a thurough job of making sure that there is no crime in progress, thereby protecting the property owners rights. Mr Gates assumes he is prejudice and can’t beilieve the officer follows him into another room to see identification with and address on it. Mr Gates brings up race, allegedly accuses the officer of being a racist and makes mention of the officers “mama”. He follows the officer out of the residence and continues to berate him. There is a wall in Washington DC with the names of fallen police officers who died in the line of duty, this officer did not want to assume anything until he was sure of the facts. The officer executes his option to arrest Mr. Gates. President Obama sticks his foot in his mouth and spends time trying to “recalibrate his words” never admitting he made a mistake. Is Mr Gates the one who is over sensitive to race and incapable of being objective in this matter? Congratulations to the police officer for his professionalism and for standing up for his position. This officer represents the best in law inforcement personnel.
Nick Frederiksen
University City
Retired St. Louis Police Officer
My hat’s off to a police department who acted professionally and did their job admirably!! Unfortunately, everyone else in this melodrama acted like a spoiled kid. The biggest clown turned out to be Obuma, who jumped the gun and let his racism out of the bag.
If most of us had been in Gates shoes, we would be profusely thanking our neighbor who was diligent to report what appeared to be a burglarly, and the police for responding and trying to solve a crime. What is Gates’ big problem, anyway??
Would our liberal brethren get off my back about racism if my words were “recalibrated” too?
Considering that all parties involved seem to be just fine, now. I might reconsider my position that the only crime committed was the crime of false arrest of a man in his own home.
Gates and Obama owe us an apology for being racists. If Gates would have just shown his id when properly asked by the officer instead of screaming racism (which it obviously wasn’t), none of this would have happened. Obama didn’t have the facts but slandered the white officer.
Who are the racists people now?
eagle-eye..Obama doesn”t owe you anything. Give me your source for where Obama called the officer a racist?? (The drug addict racist Limbag doesn”t count as a source.) Obama said the police acted stupidly..which they did. Here”s a homework assignment for you: In the police report Crowley said the 9-11 caller said the 2 “burglers” were BLACK men with back packs..obviouly this wasn”t supported by the 9-11 tapes.Why the discrepancy?? Why did the prosecuting attorney drop this case like a hot potato?? There”s more to come on this story.
I greatly respect President Obama, but he goofed on this one, he should never have commented on it, and I suspect he’ll take this lesson to heart.
Thankfully the situation has been de-escalated through thoughtful conversation and mutual respect. Wish we could resolve all issues this way.
The police officer should have been able to realize that Mr. Gates was a ecucated professional person in his own home and not just another street brother trying to break in.
–What can be learned is that a majority of black folks have relied on “white guilt” to get over on society, to the detriment of the entire race.