Gaming8 mins ago
Obama in race row.
17 Answers
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/23/ob ama-race-henry-louis-gates
Was Obama right to criticise his Police Service in this instance?
Wasn't the officer only doing his job?
What if it had been a real burgler breaking into the professor's home, and the officer chose to ignore it, what then?
Was Obama right to criticise his Police Service in this instance?
Wasn't the officer only doing his job?
What if it had been a real burgler breaking into the professor's home, and the officer chose to ignore it, what then?
Answers
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It's nothing to do with the suspicion of burglary though is it?
He showed that it was his house, the same could have happened to any of us.
He was arrested for "disorderly conduct" - on his own property mind
There seems to have been an argument between him and the police officer and the policeman arrested him - basically for being disrespectful to him.
Bad call - he should have been better able to deal with that - if policemen arrested everyone who gave them lip the gaols would be full of kids and speeding motorists!
But this all rather spins on what passed between the two of them and we don't really know that do we?
I guess this row escalated between sides to the point where not commenting seemed too much like fence sitting
He showed that it was his house, the same could have happened to any of us.
He was arrested for "disorderly conduct" - on his own property mind
There seems to have been an argument between him and the police officer and the policeman arrested him - basically for being disrespectful to him.
Bad call - he should have been better able to deal with that - if policemen arrested everyone who gave them lip the gaols would be full of kids and speeding motorists!
But this all rather spins on what passed between the two of them and we don't really know that do we?
I guess this row escalated between sides to the point where not commenting seemed too much like fence sitting
Perhaps Obama was only telling the truth that we're not allowed to say nowadays - that there's a minority of people who assume the worst of black people, no matter what the circumstances.
The policeman assumed that Henry Louis Gates Jr, a Harvard professor was a burglar. Had he been a white man in his 50s trying to get into his house, would the same assumption be mad? Who knows.
We can't know the exact details of what was said, but if I'd shown a police officer documentation showing that I lived in my own building, and he didn't immediately either a) assist me in trying to get in, or b) leave me to my business, I'd be rather annoyed.
Tell you what - Google Henry Louis Gates Jr and tell me whether he looks like a burglar to you.
I think the policeman was incredibly stupid for arresting the fella. Better to calm the situation by leaving.
So to summarise - Barack was completely right in criticizing the police. Stupid reaction which turns a non-event into national news.
The policeman assumed that Henry Louis Gates Jr, a Harvard professor was a burglar. Had he been a white man in his 50s trying to get into his house, would the same assumption be mad? Who knows.
We can't know the exact details of what was said, but if I'd shown a police officer documentation showing that I lived in my own building, and he didn't immediately either a) assist me in trying to get in, or b) leave me to my business, I'd be rather annoyed.
Tell you what - Google Henry Louis Gates Jr and tell me whether he looks like a burglar to you.
I think the policeman was incredibly stupid for arresting the fella. Better to calm the situation by leaving.
So to summarise - Barack was completely right in criticizing the police. Stupid reaction which turns a non-event into national news.
It would have been so refreshing for you to give an answer similar to jakes, but no you always have to play the race card.
Had he been a white man in his 50s trying to get into his house
Of course he would, if not he would have been failing in his duty as a police officer.
If one of our police officers saw a person, breaking down your door surely you would expect him to want to know the reason why, whether or not he was Black or White, after all the Professor did not have a sign on his back stating who he was and that it was his own house.
We can't know the exact details of what was said
Precisely but obviously it must have warranted an arrest. The safest way of avoiding such treatment is don't be aggressive and don't give a police officer any lip.
I think the policeman was incredibly stupid for arresting the fella.
The problem often being, that some people of certain rank or position and even colour, believe they should somehow be given special treatment from others.
Barack was completely right in criticizing the police. Stupid reaction which turns a non-event into national news.
Don't you mean completely wrong if he hadn't have commented, it wouldn't have turned this non-event into national news.
Good job I decided to use the guardian report, or I would have been accused of using a Daily Mail non-news story.
Had he been a white man in his 50s trying to get into his house
Of course he would, if not he would have been failing in his duty as a police officer.
If one of our police officers saw a person, breaking down your door surely you would expect him to want to know the reason why, whether or not he was Black or White, after all the Professor did not have a sign on his back stating who he was and that it was his own house.
We can't know the exact details of what was said
Precisely but obviously it must have warranted an arrest. The safest way of avoiding such treatment is don't be aggressive and don't give a police officer any lip.
I think the policeman was incredibly stupid for arresting the fella.
The problem often being, that some people of certain rank or position and even colour, believe they should somehow be given special treatment from others.
Barack was completely right in criticizing the police. Stupid reaction which turns a non-event into national news.
Don't you mean completely wrong if he hadn't have commented, it wouldn't have turned this non-event into national news.
Good job I decided to use the guardian report, or I would have been accused of using a Daily Mail non-news story.
Tell you what - Google Henry Louis Gates Jr and tell me whether he looks like a burglar to you.
Tell you what - Google BURGLAR and tell me what a burglar looks like?
Stripped jersey, mask?
Someone who doesn't look like a Professor?
Or even someone that looks like a Doctor, bearing in mind of course, these can sometimes also be terrorists or mass murderers.
A white man?
Or even dare I say it, a Black man?
Tell you what - Google BURGLAR and tell me what a burglar looks like?
Stripped jersey, mask?
Someone who doesn't look like a Professor?
Or even someone that looks like a Doctor, bearing in mind of course, these can sometimes also be terrorists or mass murderers.
A white man?
Or even dare I say it, a Black man?
AOG
Some people see black people as trouble no matter what their status is. What this story suggests is that it doesn't matter what status you reach in life, as a black man, you will only be 'just' a black man to certain people.
That's a truth in America, and it's a truth that a lot of people feel uncomfortable acknowledging.
Had he been a white college professor trying to get into his house, the policeman would've assumed he'd lost his keys.
I haven't seen pictures of how he was dressed when he was arrested, but my assumption is that he wasn't wearing a hoodie and a pair of Reebox
The professor showed the officer documentation which showed it was his house. Why do you automatically assume that the police officer was right to arrest the man?
The fact that Barack was asked his reaction to the arrest of a friend was national news anyway. It was already being discussed in the national press.
The Daily Mail wouldn't have printed the story because the mail is only interested in blacks and Asians who are muggers and suicide bombers...not Harvard professors.
Some people see black people as trouble no matter what their status is. What this story suggests is that it doesn't matter what status you reach in life, as a black man, you will only be 'just' a black man to certain people.
That's a truth in America, and it's a truth that a lot of people feel uncomfortable acknowledging.
Had he been a white college professor trying to get into his house, the policeman would've assumed he'd lost his keys.
I haven't seen pictures of how he was dressed when he was arrested, but my assumption is that he wasn't wearing a hoodie and a pair of Reebox
The professor showed the officer documentation which showed it was his house. Why do you automatically assume that the police officer was right to arrest the man?
The fact that Barack was asked his reaction to the arrest of a friend was national news anyway. It was already being discussed in the national press.
The Daily Mail wouldn't have printed the story because the mail is only interested in blacks and Asians who are muggers and suicide bombers...not Harvard professors.
I rule
You wish, that will be the day that hell freezers over.
I haven't seen pictures of how he was dressed when he was arrested, but my assumption is that he wasn't wearing a hoodie and a pair of Reebox
He looks like a upscale middle class male to me.
Whoops! dead give away, Stripped jersey he looks like a burglar to me.
The Daily Mail wouldn't have printed the story because the mail is only interested in blacks and Asians who are muggers and suicide bombers...not Harvard professors.
Oh dear, wrong again,
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-120119 9/Obama-criticised-officers-public-commenting- racist-arrest-Harvard-scholar.html
Police were called to Gates' after a woman reported seeing a man 'wedging his shoulder into the front door as to pry the door open'.
During the incident, an officer ordered the man to identify himself, and Gates refused, according to the police report.
Gates began calling the Cambridge, Massachusetts, police officer a racist and said repeatedly, 'This is what happens to black men in America.'
Even a Harvard Academic it seems, still carries that very large chip on his shoulders.
Officers said they tried to calm down the 58-year-old academic, who responded, 'You don't know who you're messing with,' according to the police report.
He looks like a upscale middle class male to me.
What does a upscale middle class male look like? Taking into account that you failed to notice he was also Black.
To you, he looks like a black man.
I hold my hand high, yep he sure looks like a Bla
You wish, that will be the day that hell freezers over.
I haven't seen pictures of how he was dressed when he was arrested, but my assumption is that he wasn't wearing a hoodie and a pair of Reebox
He looks like a upscale middle class male to me.
Whoops! dead give away, Stripped jersey he looks like a burglar to me.
The Daily Mail wouldn't have printed the story because the mail is only interested in blacks and Asians who are muggers and suicide bombers...not Harvard professors.
Oh dear, wrong again,
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-120119 9/Obama-criticised-officers-public-commenting- racist-arrest-Harvard-scholar.html
Police were called to Gates' after a woman reported seeing a man 'wedging his shoulder into the front door as to pry the door open'.
During the incident, an officer ordered the man to identify himself, and Gates refused, according to the police report.
Gates began calling the Cambridge, Massachusetts, police officer a racist and said repeatedly, 'This is what happens to black men in America.'
Even a Harvard Academic it seems, still carries that very large chip on his shoulders.
Officers said they tried to calm down the 58-year-old academic, who responded, 'You don't know who you're messing with,' according to the police report.
He looks like a upscale middle class male to me.
What does a upscale middle class male look like? Taking into account that you failed to notice he was also Black.
To you, he looks like a black man.
I hold my hand high, yep he sure looks like a Bla
-- answer removed --
AOG
Incidentally (and I'm not being sarky here), thank you for posting this thread. It's an interesting story which I wouldn't have seen unless you'd referring to it.
It's an interesting discussion point, but I think that it's difficult for us over here to think into the American psyche.
Still interesting though.
Incidentally (and I'm not being sarky here), thank you for posting this thread. It's an interesting story which I wouldn't have seen unless you'd referring to it.
It's an interesting discussion point, but I think that it's difficult for us over here to think into the American psyche.
Still interesting though.
errr!!!! That raspberry was right in my face.
Haven't you been following the government's advice regarding the spreading of swine flu, this is suppose to be a light hearted joke and in no way saying that you have that deadly disease, or any connection between you and a pig.
Have you read the Ed's newsletter in your Emails, I have been one of the first chosen to have one of their questions highlighted.
'Miss England Judges Ignore The Public Vote'
Bet that will upset Gromit.
Haven't you been following the government's advice regarding the spreading of swine flu, this is suppose to be a light hearted joke and in no way saying that you have that deadly disease, or any connection between you and a pig.
Have you read the Ed's newsletter in your Emails, I have been one of the first chosen to have one of their questions highlighted.
'Miss England Judges Ignore The Public Vote'
Bet that will upset Gromit.
That action shows a 'top' black man without resentments but with respect for all.
If this is so, then why did he make the accusations in the first place?
'Top black man' to the 'lowest black man' first knee jerk reaction of any 'Brothers' is 'racialism', we are always being picked on.
Reason he withdrew his remarks?
Couldn't have been because he had been advised of the political implications that could have arisen out of this, could it?
If this is so, then why did he make the accusations in the first place?
'Top black man' to the 'lowest black man' first knee jerk reaction of any 'Brothers' is 'racialism', we are always being picked on.
Reason he withdrew his remarks?
Couldn't have been because he had been advised of the political implications that could have arisen out of this, could it?
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