The right to be right and the law of dealing with the law
All the media coverage of the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates and the subsequent remarks of President Obama brought up old memories for me. Many years ago when my children were little I was stopped by the Collinsville Police on Pine Lake Road. Let me quickly add that I am neither black nor a prominent Harvard professor of world renown. When the police officer approached my car I produced my driver’s licenses and insurance card, even though I was sitting in my own car. The officer examined my documents and checked some information in his car. He was polite, business like, but not overly friendly . After a few minutes he returned the items to me cautioned me about driving slower and sent me on my way without a ticket. My son David, always the observer asked me why the police officer had not given me a ticket when they always gave his mom a ticket. Well, I said what does your mother say to the officer when she is stopped? “Your wrong”, said David, mom always tells the cops their wrong and that she wasn’t speeding. I gave my children on that day so long ago the same advice I would offer professor Gates and President Obama. When stopped or questioned by a police officer be polite and answer all the questions asked of you. When you are stopped by the police they have reason to believe you may have done something wrong. Listen to the officer and respond appropriately. It might save you a ticket or it might save your life.
I’m a liberal a lefty and a strong supporter of the President but I think he was wrong in this case. Mr. Gates should be thankful someone is looking out for his property. When asked for identification he should been less interested in impressing and more interested in answering the question. Who is he and why is he in this house?
Norel Pride
Collinsville
The problem is that touchy-feely “leftys” let B.O.’s stench linger in a sordid situation such as this because they don’t have the spine to strongly condemn his actions with more forceful logic.
There is no requirement to answer any questions. You have a right to remain silent. Of course, you also have the right to suffer the consequences of that stupid decision. Mr Pride is 100% correct. Treat the Officer with respect and you will be treated with respect. But, if your doing 80 mph to a 50 mph zone, don’t be surprised if you get a ticket.
By the way Mr. Pride, You may be a liberal lefty and a strong supporter of the President but we won’t hold it against you.
The President isn’t even the real issue here but is being made the issue. I think that the President being at one time a “Civil Rights” attorney reacted because of knowing what most of you ones do not understand about the civil rights of people, and how often these rights are ignored and broken when the subjects are poor and minority and most often African Americans. The President is also a human being, and one by sight to most a “Black Man”. I am glad that he spoke out as a human being concerning this situation.
The violation of the “Civil Rights” of anyone should be unacceptable to everyone. It is so strange and sick hearted how the very White people here can scream about their “Civil Right” to hold firearms but can ignore “Civil Rights” where they apply to African Americans. This shows hypocrisy and the schizophrenic behavior of many in the U.S. or is it just plain racist. Why don’t some of you here tell us what it is?
Furthermore, driving an automobile is a privilege and does not fall under the Civil Rights provisions of actions that take place such as this upon your own property and being arrested in violation of one’s Civil Rights.
“President being at one time a “Civil Rights” attorney”
No D–, he wasnt a “civil rights” attorney, he was a community organizer. And he was stupid to run his mouth when he had admitted he didnt know the facts and that he was biased. He should have stepped up and admitted his mistake; the Teleprompter of the United States did not display an answer to the question, so he winged it, and as usual, he stuck his foot down his throat.
D Walker: Are there any obligations that accompany those civil rights? For example, an obligation to respect authority? An obligation to thank someone who responded to protect you and your property? An obligation to speak to the law enforcement officer rather than igonre him and call the mayor? As for Obama, I think it is a disgrace that he has not apologized to law enforcement officials in general, and to state that he does have at least a minimal understanding of their difficult jobs.
Should health care cost less? Of course. Should is be more accessible? Absolutely. Should it be taken over and run by an adminstration that can’t manage a simple car rebate program that was targeted to last five months and ran out of money after four days? Are you crazy?
Si,
Here are the real facts concerning your ignorance of Obama being a civil rights attorney.
He was a community organizer in Chicago before earning his law degree. He worked as a civil rights attorney in Chicago and also taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004.
For twelve years, Obama served as a professor of constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School; as a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996, and as a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004.[42] In 1993 he joined Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, a twelve-attorney law firm specializing in civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development, where he was an associate for three years from 1993 to 1996, then of counsel from 1996 to 2004, with his law license becoming inactive in 2002.[43]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama
Doubtingthomas,
Actually and factually according to law, in this situation, NO!
Doubtingthomas,
And that NO above is in response to all your questions posed above.