[Cider Jim]

I would love to get Medic's take (or SCAR's/Smoothy's) on this story:

Cambridge Police Unit Demands Apology From Obama for 'Stupidly' Remark

The Cambridge and area police unions voiced their support Friday for Sgt. James Crowley and demanded an apology from President Obama for saying officers "acted stupidly" for arresting black Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. at his home.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07 ... ly-remark/

[Liberty4Life]

I think it's sad what's happened. This shouldn't have blown up into a racial issue, but it has. And President Obama's "I don't know what's going on, but clearly one party is in the wrong" mindset is somewhere between foolish and dangerous. Don't stoke the flames of hatred, Mr. President.

And tell people to take a lesson from Chris Rock (warning: contains mature language).

[GoUNCA]

I'm not really going to throw an opinion on a situation where IMO all three P's handled things poorly (police, professor, president), but I thought it would be fair to point out that the Cambridge police have a reputation for this kind of thing anyway. Cambridge in general is a nice place but has a reputation for this sort of snootiness.

Full disclosure: I live in Fenway, but am moving to Medford soon (l looked in Cambridge).

[TIMSCAR20]

I think it's sad what's happened. This shouldn't have blown up into a racial issue, but it has. And President Obama's "I don't know what's going on, but clearly one party is in the wrong" mindset is somewhere between foolish and dangerous. Don't stoke the flames of hatred, Mr. President.

And tell people to take a lesson from Chris Rock (warning: contains mature language).

Gotta say that is pretty funny. Reminds me of when I was riding in a car with Chris Rock Kidding. That was for you Lib4life.

[TIMSCAR20]

I have a different take on this whole situation than most I think.

I am very familiar with Prof Gates work. He does great work on genealogy on PBS of different celebrities (including Chris Rock actually). He also gives his opinion on Race on various black radio morning shows like the Tom Joyner Morning Show. This guy has over 50 honorary doctorates and is a professor at Harvard. Obviously considered one of the great minds of our time. With that said, I believe that he WANTED TO GET ARRESTED. That may sound crazy coming from a black man but hear me out.

What better way to highlight a very real problem of blacks and latinos being racially profiled by the police than to have this accomplished minority male get "dragged out of his house" by the police? I think it is a brilliant move. It has highlighted and have people talking about race issues and law enforcement which is a platform of his. I don't think the officer acted improperly. In fact he probably exercised a level of "extra restraint" if you will before being pushed to a point where he had to react. I wasn't there of course but I have read a lot about this story and have listened to many talking heads on TV talk about this.

It is naive to think that blacks don't get racially profiled and to some extent still harrassed by certain members of law enforcement that are not exactly fans of the brothas However THIS situation is not one of those times. I have been a black male most of my life and can tell you from personal experience that I have been treated negatively by the police. Between 1989 and 1997 I was pulled over or questioned by the police or ticketed 22 times. This includes walking down the street minding my own business, a double parking or standing ticket (while still in the vehicle), a right turn on Red without stopping for a full 2 seconds and several times going 8 or 9 over the speed limit but being charged with 15 over. Then there are the handful of times when I was pulled over and questioned without being given a reason or a citation. So I know this sort of thing happens.

[TDDance234]

I'm still wondering exactly what the cop did that was so wrong?

The officer asked Gates to ID himself and he wouldn't. Who knows what kind of situation the officer was getting himself in to. He did what he was supposed to do by asking him to step outside.

[thepostman]

what I want to know why isn't anybody really talking about the person who called 911 in the first place? They obviously saw a black man going into a nice house and automatically assumed he must be breaking into it...that is really the only race issue I find in this whole story...the rest is crap and Scar is probably right on with what the prof was thinking

[Liberty4Life]

what I want to know why isn't anybody really talking about the person who called 911 in the first place? They obviously saw a black man going into a nice house and automatically assumed he must be breaking into it...that is really the only race issue I find in this whole story...the rest is crap and Scar is probably right on with what the prof was thinking

Well, Gates came home from a trip and found his door was jammed. So, he went around back. However, he couldn't open the door from the inside, so he called his driver, also a black guy, to help force the door open.

It's not like the guy who called 911 saw a black guy and called the cops. He saw two black guys trying to bust open a door.

Scar, thanks for sharing.. (I hope there is no love-lost between us. Don't hate the new guy!). I can't imagine being pulled over simply because I was young and black (probably because I'm old and white), and it truly is reprehensible that it happens in this country.

[TIMSCAR20]

what I want to know why isn't anybody really talking about the person who called 911 in the first place? They obviously saw a black man going into a nice house and automatically assumed he must be breaking into it...that is really the only race issue I find in this whole story...the rest is crap and Scar is probably right on with what the prof was thinking

Well, Gates came home from a trip and found his door was jammed. So, he went around back. However, he couldn't open the door from the inside, so he called his driver, also a black guy, to help force the door open.

It's not like the guy who called 911 saw a black guy and called the cops. He saw two black guys trying to bust open a door.

Scar, thanks for sharing.. (I hope there is no love-lost between us. Don't hate the new guy!). I can't imagine being pulled over simply because I was young and black (probably because I'm old and white), and it truly is reprehensible that it happens in this country.

No love lost bro. I was just having a little fun with you. I will say that I understand the perspective of police in a sense. My brother is a police officer in the suburbs of Philly much like our boy PAMedic. All I can say is that as in institution, law enforcement has had to change some policies and more important some attitutes when it comes to minorities and I find it ironic that the officer embroiled in this mess is a racial sensitivity trainer. I really don't think he acted wrongly based on what we know about the situation. If there wasn't a problem with situations like this around the country and probably in Cambridge however, there wouldn't be a need for officer Crowley to conduct the training that he does.



I

[Cider Jim]

SCAR, since your brother in a police officer, I'd like here what he has to say on this topic; also, paging Medic....

[Liberty4Life]

what I want to know why isn't anybody really talking about the person who called 911 in the first place? They obviously saw a black man going into a nice house and automatically assumed he must be breaking into it...that is really the only race issue I find in this whole story...the rest is crap and Scar is probably right on with what the prof was thinking

Well, Gates came home from a trip and found his door was jammed. So, he went around back. However, he couldn't open the door from the inside, so he called his driver, also a black guy, to help force the door open.

It's not like the guy who called 911 saw a black guy and called the cops. He saw two black guys trying to bust open a door.

Scar, thanks for sharing.. (I hope there is no love-lost between us. Don't hate the new guy!). I can't imagine being pulled over simply because I was young and black (probably because I'm old and white), and it truly is reprehensible that it happens in this country.

No love lost bro. I was just having a little fun with you. I will say that I understand the perspective of police in a sense. My brother is a police officer in the suburbs of Philly much like our boy PAMedic. All I can say is that as in institution, law enforcement has had to change some policies and more important some attitutes when it comes to minorities and I find it ironic that the officer embroiled in this mess is a racial sensitivity trainer. I really don't think he acted wrongly based on what we know about the situation. If there wasn't a problem with situations like this around the country and probably in Cambridge however, there wouldn't be a need for officer Crowley to conduct the training that he does.

And it's like you said in your original post... You have a widely-respected African-American studies professor, and a policeman who teaches the class on race relations -- so it's quite possible that this dust-up is the best thing that could have happened, because it gets the dialogue on racism started again.

[Liberty4Life]

One thing that I was wondering though -- and don't take this the wrong way, I'm glad that they haven't gotten involved, because it allows us to have an intelligent conversation on the subject...

But where are Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson? Why haven't I heard either of them weighing in? I thought this kind of stuff was right up their alley.

[TIMSCAR20]

That is interesting that we haven't really seen a lot of those 2 clowns. I think they are still in Cali trying to get more face time about Michael Jackson's autopsy.

[TIMSCAR20]

SCAR, since your brother in a police officer, I'd like here what he has to say on this topic; also, paging Medic....

I may need to call up there to get his take.

[PAmedic]

SCAR, since your brother in a police officer, I'd like here what he has to say on this topic; also, paging Medic....

I may need to call up there to get his take.

sorry: midniters for the last week or so.

Obviously I need to be careful here, but I will say I work very hard to ensure that my actions cannot possibly be misinterpreted or appear racially motivated (or biased to or against ANYONE). Dometimes they are in spite of my efforts. Some people just want to think that way about cops and there's nothing I can do about that.

I will say that not all the guys out here have that cautionary mentality. And I'll leave it at that.

I don't know much more than anyone else about the Cambridge deal, but I'll repeat what I've said before (and what SCORCHO hates hearing): If a cop asks you for ID- provide it. If he tells you to do something- DO IT. In PA there is a separate statute just FOR that- a requirement to provide identification on demand. I would agree with my esteemed colleague that the guy likely wanted this outcome.

[prototype]

Gates is a racist and Obama's comments were a joke!! Gates wants the publicity and Obama wants everyone to love him - he should have just said "Let's the local police do there jobs and handle these issues - No comment...

The police have to be cautious these days...