Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Gates, Obama, Cambridge, and stupid
Health care reform. Two wars (you all better be reading the articles of Michael Yon), an economy that gives everyone the shakes. Given all this the media kept its eye on one word used by President Barack Obama in his most recent press conference.
On Wednesday night, the president was asked about Henry L. Gates’ run in with the Cambridge police. He admitted his bias upfront, described the incident, and noted Cambridge officers “acted stupidly.” The press jumped on that word and to hear some tell it Obama has something against the police.
Getting stupid on Obama’s use of the word stupid is part of the whole “give the police the benefit of the doubt” ethos. No one denies police work is a difficult job, filled with hazards of the highest order. However, police do make mistakes and often times act without thought. Don’t believe? Ask Chad Gibson what he thinks about the perfectibility of the police. If you don’t trust him what about Ryan Moats? He plays professional football and was pulled over by an officer. His crime? Rolling through a red light. Why? his mother-in-law was dying.
Okay, Moats asked for the officer’s abuse. He wasn’t being respectful enough to the cop, who at one point in the conversation says “I can screw you over.” Want another example? How about the Oakland policeman who killed a man on a train platform. Some of you will argue the guy didn’t follow the officer’s orders like a good citizen should. Well Oscar Grant was lying face down on the ground, but Officer (now ex) Johannes Mehserle pumped bullets in him anyway. Can’t wait to see how that is justified!
For the record and it irks me this has to be said, but I know how some play here at 365: there is no suggestion from me the man who arrested Gates, Sergeant James M. Crowley, is a racist. From all accounts he is good at his job and a decent enough fellow. Yet, even after reading his report a few times (that has been contradicted by Gates), I’m still confused why he felt the need to arrest the professor in his house (and yes Virgina: the porch is part of the house).
It’s hypocritical of me to dog out the media about “Gate-gate” as I blather on about it also, so I’m done. However, this has to be said. While the Cambridge kabuki is entertaining, it keeps us away from our serious law and order troubles. I’m willing to bet Crowley, Gates, and Obama would all agree on that.
Are we still talking about this?
Yes, Virginia, we *are* still talking about this. As well we should.
I love that Withers can clumsily throw in keywords like “Chad Gibson” and “Obama” to pass off his third blog in a week to follow up the royal butthurt of his idol, the black-lit professor as a gay-interest theme.
I think I should repost my rendition on how I believe Withers could literally make the price of tea in China a gay-interest theme.
————————-
I feel that its important as a minority community to address the sting of racism as it affects everyone regardless of orientation.
Often overlooked is not only the effect that supremacist attitudes have on our own citizenry, but the impact it 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 decades 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 borders. Ultimately, it hurts not only our character, but our economy
as well.
I feel, as many, that this needs to be 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 Chinese 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 global,
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 tremendous 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 an 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 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 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 American 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.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/4735087/Hillary-Clinton-Chinese-human-rights-secondary-to-economic-survival.html
http://www.asian-nation.org/racism.shtml
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=36302023ce4f7f25c8570ce2ab635d49
Obama was right, the police acted inappropriately in this case and Obama has not backed down from that. What reason is there to arrest a middle aged man, who walks with a cane, in his own home after he provides identification that it is his own? This officer clearly used bad judgement and as an officer of the law, it is his job to be the bigger person and defuse the situation and walk away unless a real law is being violated. Yelling at a police officer in your own home is not against the law. Telling an officer you are not going to step outside according to his demands is also not against the law. However, it is against Massachusetts law to not provide your police identification card upon request. Srgt. Crowley seems to be the only one here who actually violated any laws in this case. The slate wrote an article about the actual law involved here that I think pretty much clears up any question of whether the officer acted inappropriately. Good read:
http://www.slate.com/id/2223379/
FYI: even though it shouldn’t matter, I’m a white man in my late 20’s for all you people who always feel the need to assume people’s race, age, and whatnot and then draw conclusions from it. None of that has anything to do with this case though.
I disagree that jumping on Obama’s words is “part of the whole ‘give the police the benefit of the doubt’ ethos”. I think people are jumping on the word because they are strong words in an ever-escalating situation. He raised the stakes on the issue just for even giving an opinion, let alone such a poorly-worded one.
Yes, cops do make mistakes. But at this point, before all the facts are out, it is hard to tell who is more at fault. Both sides have dug themselves into positions that are very far apart, so locating the truth is going to take more time. Obama really shouldn’t have staked out a position just yet.
honestly this is stupid all involved Obama should not have publicly critisized the police force, granted that we all have issues with police from time to time but they do thier jobs, they recieved a call that two men appeared to be breaking into the house and gates gave them attitude it’s perfectly understandable why he got arrested and it has nothing to do with his race
People look for any excuse to jump on Obama. I’m not his biggest fan, but people are choosing to misinterpret “acted stupidly” to mean “police are stupid.” At least my mother has, and she soaks her brain in six hours of conservative talk radio a day.
The lack of ability to make the distinction between critique of procedure and personal criticism is scary/telling.
Yes the police have a dangerous job, but no one asked them to be in law enforcement. Dead cops, stupid cops, injured cops, funerals for cops that make everyone late for work with the traffic and evening news stories that are supposed headlines because a cop was shot, are exactly what they are… that is, someone who picked a dangerous job and sadly are on the downside of the gig that they went into.
Why champion bullies who obviously have hero complexes?
At any rate, who would want to be a cop? The kids in school that made you uncomfortable for years and has a thing for donuts?
No. Just humans that hide behind their badge and use it for bad as well as for good. Show me any cop and I’ll show you a way they abuse their authority, because they all do. From the smallest ways to a free newspaper, to parking to much larger things.
This situation is unsavory with the cop and the professor and the obama comments, however many of us would call the fuzz in the same situation and be suspicious. (of course i’d never call a cop for the obvious universal police authority brainwashing)
In the prof and cop situation, they both were thinking of the larger picture most likely. I hope the cop doesn’t apologize. Though he probably has or is writing his letter now. I hope obama sticks with the one comment he’s made that has actually set him apart from being a total wrong choice by the trend followers.
‘Yes the police have a dangerous job, but no one asked them to be in law enforcement.’
oh this is my biggest gripe.
I am a construction worker.in the construction trades there are on average 1 death per day.
cops suffer alot less, i believe i had been told by a cop that 130 per yr in the ‘line of duty’, gee that sound alot safer than my field.
and if you don’t like the fact that your life’s in danger don’t take the job!
I have no feelings when a cop dies, there are plenty more of em and they’re growin more each day.I could not care less when one croaks.
The thing is that the president, any president (regardless of his personal opinion or his race) should never comment on a police investigation that is currently ongoing. As the president he is the countries topmost law enforcement official and for him to make the comments he did while the facts of the case are still in question was simply irresponsible and a bit prejudicial. The internal invesitagtion of this case may find that the officer did act inappropriately, but that is for the investigators to determine once they have looked at all the facts- something the president admitted he did not have when he made his inflammatory statement.
Jessi,
“I could not care less when one croaks.”
Uncalled for and silly.
Of course we need to still be talking about this. This crap is still going on and will continue forever if it isn’t brought up the way that it was. I’m white, but I do believe “the police” still pull over African Americans for their skin color. My boyfriend and I were riding in his car, a police officer pulled us over and started accusing us of drugs and drinking. Neither of us had done drugs, and he had one drink. After going through the police battery, my boyfriend was arrested, and I unfortunately didn’t know how to drive a stick shift. My boyfriend was black and I believe he/the cop targeted us because my bf was black. His arrest was that he didn’t have insurance on his car, which he had, and showed it to the officer. Not all, but about 95% of cops out there are rascist and over 50% are crooked. I don’t trust the police and I never will.
Yep. We’re still talking about it. When an uninformed (by his own admission) President of the U.S. calls a police officer “stupid,” we should all be concerned. A President who is willing to make sensitive judgments without complete information, rather than making “No comment” until he is fully informed, is somewhat disturbing. What else is he willing to do without being completely informed?
The first time this article appeared within the pages of 365 Gay, the writer failed to mention a very important fact: there was not just a “White” officer at the scene; there was also a Black officer, and an officer who stands 100%, squarely-behind the actions of his co-officer.
The barrage of commenters claiming “racial” issues and “racial prejudice” will hopefully change their opinions (as to this particular incident) and stop trying to foment racial discord.
And, shame on the writer for: either knowing about the Black officer and neglecting to mention it; or if he didn’t know about the Black officer, writing the article as if he was in possession of complete and total information about the situation.
In either case, I haven’t seen an amendment to his article advising his readers of the change in circumstances. Because then it might not appear as “racially biased” as he obviously wants it to appear?
And, before any of you readers race to respond that I am ignoring the fact there is still racism, believe me, I most definitely am not making any such claim.
There is still racism, as there is still homophobia. However, writing articles to incite a maelstrom of anger at perceived racism, diminishes those instances of true racism. Racism is reprehensible; creating racism where it doesn’t exist is equally reprehensible.
BerdacheBear…. thanks you for writing your comment.
Withers researches his arguments as thoroughly as he dresses to impress.
Wtihers like the rude arragant professor he writes about will be lost once blacks realise there is no racism to be found in this argument….but racism is their only way of thinking … their “one trick pony” journalism will be defunkt!
Where will they go, what will they write, about, how will they exist in a post black racism America?
How is i that the President has found the time to comment on this situation with all on his plate? After all, he’s not been able to find the time to mention anything about Prop 8?