Bottom-lining this discussion (and I’m a bit surprised that no one, including Withers mentioned it), yelling isn’t a crime. Gates was not charged with disturbing the peace, he was charged with disorderly conduct because he *yelled* at a uniformed police officer. It doesn’t matter if Gates was black, white, or a green man from Mars, yelling is not a criminal offense in America. Maybe this case was about racial profiling, but given the police report and subsequent commentary from the Boston police, Gates himself, the White House, and other entities, it strikes me as being more about basic civil liberties than anything racial. But race is an easy card to play. VERY freaking easy. As Obama said, it was a case of stupidity. It was a stupid event, which isn’t to say that those involved are stupid people. And this is exactly why this issue has the potential to educate us all: police discrimination and brutality know very few bounds. When I was in high school, a kid I knew was arrested and beaten within an inch of his life behind said school. The kid was straight, white, and a long-time member of the community. So why was he a target? Venturing a guess, it was because he was a teenager and an easy target for a bunch of cops who had nothing better to do than get their jollies by beating up on someone inferior to them. So do we ignore this case because the kid didn’t belong to a traditionally targeted minority? If the answer is yes, we have a long way to go as human beings, never mind whatever minority we perceive ourselves to belong to.

Note to Eddie in LA–look in the mirror–sounds like you are the one hating here. I’m white and I certainly don’t feel hated by Mr. Withers. You, however, scare me.

I will have lots of reading to do. I apologize for the shortsightedness on my part. I wish the best for Prof. Gates of course, but I still have my opinions on the matter(s). However, seems like there are always lots of “Opinions” around.

peace.

Not going to do your research. If you click on my name you’ll get a list of articles I’ve written. Included will be those focused on violence against gays and lesbians.

James

I am glad James provided a few links from NAACP, thanks James.

Still was wondering what articles you wrote about the abuses of others from Police, no matter what their race(s) are, LGBT getting battered all the time (I’m sure some of them have “lip” and “Attitudes” too)

You aren’t color blind James, and thats ok, but don’t be pissed with other races that may not be as color blind as you would wish them to be.

I am always out and will always be a defender of ALL or ANY people discriminated against!

So again Sf99 or anyone else who has a problem with me, can bite me! Move On.

Nonetheless, it doesn’t solve the problem that this country is still divided on racial, ethnic and heritage backgrounds and some groups should be careful not to “cry wolf all the time!”

Often overlooked is the not only the effect that supremacist attitudes have on our own citizenry, but the impact is has on our united day-to-day lives. While many are aware of the racist attitudes that African Americans face on a daily basis, less consideration is given to those in our own communities who have Asian heritage.

Human rights in China towards gays is still many decides behind that of the U.S., and yet Chinese Americans continue nonetheless to face stereotypes here within our own borders, regardless of orientation that are hurtful and denigrating to their image and spirit.

Asians are portrayed as diffident and backwards, and are depicted with nearly alien tastes in food and customs. All of this not only affects the families of Asians in this country, but undermines our progress for a global sense of unity and equality across border. Ultimately, it hurts not only our character, but our economy as well.

I feel, as many, that this need tobe redressed in our own community, gay or straight, if we wish to reap the benefits of a global economy, and it has been a mission for most of my adult life. As a non-heterosexual, it only seems natural for me to share this with my own peers on this website.

Consider the trade sanctions we have had with the Chines in the past. Consider how the last administration vilified China in their own politics and way of life. As a result, even the 2008 Olympics, an event that the Chinese labored so sincerely to surpass the West’s standards, and was to be celebrated as a globally, non-political event towards unifying the worlds people, was marred by our inherent xenophobia laced with old, racist attitudes from the highest level of our government, and we masses did little to protest it.

And look at what it has cost us. China, a country with a vast agrarian society and a rich, resourceful land that is vast with arable soil has nonetheless struggled in the global economy, subject to unfair international tariffs, trade restrictions and export regulations from the west, all due to the attitudes that fester right here in our own ranks and GLBTQ people.

Our attitudes and negligence are directly responsible for a egregious percentage of abject poverty afflicting Chinas farmers and often hurting their relatives right here in the U.S. that we claim are our friends while continuing to countenance the racist attitudes among us and in government that keep their loved ones in the bondage of poverty and servitude.

How long will this continue? When will we as a minority all-to-familiar with the savagery of discrimination open our hearts and minds and stand up for the dignity of Asians everywhere whose fate is determined by the livelihood of their families overseas, and would come to the shores of opportunity and freedom here in the United States if only their economy and trade would heal from our supremacist attitudes and afford them the financial means to not only *dream*, but *realize* the vision of the being welcomed within our land of liberty.

This cannot happen as long as our attitudes remain unchanged and unfair trade practices require that their exports be so heavily taxed that they cannot compete with the rest of the world and must continue to suffer the meager profits and market exclusion of their most abundant commodities.

While this wall of of neglect, discrimination and racism continues to stand between us and our Asian friends, the price of ten kilograms of Black tea in china remains at a ridiculous $568 USD. This wall of intolerance exacts a terrible, tremendous price on not only the tea market in China, but the lives and families of our Asian American friends and their loved ones yearning to be free.

Mr. Withers, if you seek peace,…
If you seek prosperity for ourselves and the families of our gay Asian Americans friends…
If you seek liberalization-

Mr. Withers, tear down this wall.

Sincerely,
Fellow GBLTQ,
John.

http://www.teashopchina.com/en/cp/Bulk_Black_Tea
http://www.asian-nation.org/racism.shtml
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=36302023ce4f7f25c8570ce2ab635d49
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/4735087/Hillary-Clinton-Chinese-human-rights-secondary-to-economic-survival.html

@Eddie in LA: How do you not hear yourself and cringe? “Oh, those gays are just complaining because they hate heterosexuals for being normal. Admit it and get help.”

@Qb1: So civil rights is a zero-sum game? And we intend to build bridges and win support by… passive-aggressiveness? This is the most insanely shallow narcissism. And hello?! Julian Bond!

@Bruce: Don’t get your boa in knot, queer. What the F is wrong with you?

With you toxic people dominating our discourse, is it any wonder we lost California in 2008? Is it any wonder we’d lose again in 2010? Where is your respect? Where is your dignity?

There are white gays who care about these issues, too–I think the silent majority of us. For us, I hope Withers and others continue reporting on the full range of issues relevant to our movement. Rest of you are clearly ready to bolt for the Republican Party for tax breaks as soon as you have your marriage license.