Professor Gates

Theresa - posted on 07/26/2009

Yeah...even with all the negative situations me and my family has expereinced over the years (illegal searches of our vechicles, handcuffed for mistaken identity, unnecessary physical contact, etc), I still respect the police. Like I said before, My uncle and cousin are both police officers and it IS a thankless job. The phrase "a few bad apples, spoil the bunch" comes to mind however, when I think of police officers and their relationship within some communities.



Since we moved to the suburbs, we have yet to be pulled over, ticketed, brutalized, insulted, etc. We are treated with the utmost respect and kindness. When my now 4 year old was "practicing" how to dial 911 on the phone (without my knowledge), I was happy to see the police at my front door. The call wasn't even completed, but the operator sent the call out anyway. They told us why they came, my son told us all what he did, and the officers "walked through' the house just to make sure nobody ws in the house and we were all safe. Since my husband was out of town on business, I felt safe and secure knowing the police were on the job!

Traci - posted on 07/25/2009

Isn't that the truth! :)

Jenny - posted on 07/25/2009

We all want the same things in life, just want to take different routes to get there. =)

Theresa - posted on 07/24/2009

I will say this Traci...you sure are passionate about your beliefs :-)

Jenny - posted on 07/24/2009

No, not that stuff. I thouroughly enjoyed the personal character attacks though. Family is off limits for me with any public (or private) figure.

Brenda - posted on 07/24/2009

ROFLMAO Traci!

Brenda - posted on 07/24/2009

I can't wait for them to release the tape of the whole altercation.

Jenny - posted on 07/24/2009

Well Miss California and Joe the Plumber deserved it lol.



Ya, it's sounding more to me like this is a case of testosterone gone wrong.

Jenny - posted on 07/24/2009

I'm on the fence with this one. I think both sides helped to escalate the situation. I'm not convinced it was racially motivated though. What are the reasons it is being considered racially motivated aside from the fact that Gates is black?

Theresa - posted on 07/24/2009

I don't think President Obama, having been "racially profiled" himself and Reverand Wright, have anything to do with one another. My brothers, father, husband and friends have been racially profile at one time or another (sometimes frequently). That doesn't mean we adhere to or agree with any of the "quacks" and "crazies" that are out there. There are "nutty' people on both sides of the aisle. Just because Obama attended his church, in my opinion, is coincidental. My pastor speaks out openly against gay marriage and abortion. That has nothing to do with my choice to attend services at that church.



I stand by my statement that Crowley shouldn't have arrested Gates. Yes, Gates could have sat down, shut up, or had a drink. But Crowley could have just left too. What situation was Crowley leaving that would have caused retalitory actions ? Gates was not outside inciting a riot. He was not trying to inject any neighbors or by standers into the situation. He was not provoking a physical altercation. He was in his home. If he wanted to rant and rave in his own house, so what? I think Crowley wanted to send a message to Gates and anyone else who tries to disrespect the people who put their lives on the line for them everyday.

Brenda - posted on 07/24/2009

I think the professor has a very big head - not a shred of humility in him.I also believe that Officer Crowley wasn't going to take any bull. No matter WHO you are, you are not above the law and allowed to disrespect the men uniform.

Theresa - posted on 07/24/2009

I believe Officer Crowley did everything correct....right up until the time he arrested Professor Gates. I don't think race played a part in him responding to the call, requesting the i.d., or trying to ensure the safety of Gates (whom Officer Crowley might have thought was in harm's way). But when Gates became beligerant and uncooperative and started "show-boating" and taunting the officer with "do you know who I am"?, I think race DID play a part. Officer Crowley WAS NOT going to "allow" this uppity black man to talk down to him no matter who HE was or WHO he knew. After all, Officer Crowley was there to serve and protect not be insulted and bereaded. I think he was going to 'show" Gates who had the real power and arrested him.



With an uncle and a cousin on the police force, I can say with some authority, that police officers have a tough job and have to make life and death decisions very quickly. I can also say, with some authority, that most police officers don't appreciate people (especially suspects), requesting their names and badge numbers, supervisor's names, the department in which they work, etc. They find it disrespectful, provacative and inflammatory, especially when done by people they feel are subordinate to them (women, teenagers, black men, etc).



It's easy to say that if Professor Gates would have just cooperated with the officer, this situation wouldn't have escalated to this point...the same could be said for Officer Crowley. If he would have walked away, would this even be headline news???



By the way...I don't think there should be ANY apologies either way.

Traci - posted on 07/24/2009

I also hear there is audio of the whole altercation...that I'll be interested to hear...

Brenda - posted on 07/24/2009

Exactly Traci! Very well said! =)

ME - posted on 07/24/2009

I doubt that an elderly white man with a cane would have been hand cuffed and arrested in his own home after showing ID's and proving he lived there. I am sure that I would be very aggravated if someone treated me the way this man was treated in my own home, and I think I would have every right to show my displeasure through words. No one is accusing this professor of violence...I think it's disgusting...and while I might not have called the police "stupid", I would certainly say that they acted completely inappropriately. I think that professor Gates deserves an apology immediately!!!