When Prejudice Embarrasses
 

Every human has done this, in regards to speaking about something when they don't know all of the facts.

It's just a bit disappointing when it is the President of the United States. I am speaking in regards to the Harvard Scholar and Cambridge Policeman fiasco.


I was EXTREMELY ANGRY when I first heard about what happened in Cambridge.

When I saw the white officer on the tv at work, I cursed him in my thoughts (I used the big words too--compound sentences!)

I was really, really angry and could not understand how something like that could happen TODAY, how it could have gotten so out of hand so quickly TODAY.

Of course I blamed the Policeman and thought the worst of him.

The next day, I read that the police officer was an expert on racial profiling, deemed so and placed in the appropriate position by one his Black supervisors.

It was only then that I remembered a lesson that I had forgotten about judging a matter ahead of time.

Now President Obama admitted that he did not have all of the facts when he called the actions of the Cambridge policeman, "stupid". That was an attempt to cover himself for the remark he was about to make.

Sure he thought about what he said before he said it, he just didn't think about it enough.

His choice of words was strong, so was my outrage, and I can imagine that the initial outrage of many folks, not just Black folks, may have been strong.

It is here I will add, but especially Black folks. I'm no expert, but I have about 32 years of experience in the field.


Sometimes, somewhere along the way, all of us have to take the time to THINK and to remember to not let our prejudices embarrass us.


Falling back on the premise based on fact that police officers are more likely to abuse their powers with a Black man is another example of prejudice-- the same kind of prejudice that allows some to look at a group of young, Black adult males walking down any given street and feel threatened.


Premises based on fact are not always factual for every situation.

This is the point at which prejudice embarrasses.

Human beware!

Re: When Prejudice Embarrasses
 

So the question is.....

Was Obama wrong in his misjudging of that fine officer and go you think he needs to opologize for his mistatement?


I think he does.

A republican president would have to, I believe Obama should also!

Just my thoughts Jermyn. By the way, I respect you for saying what you feel but also admitting you were wrong. Thanks.

TJJJ

Re: When Prejudice Embarrasses
 

I don't know.

I think what the President has done is sufficient.

Anything more than this would just be an attempt at political humiliation.


The classy thing for all three of those guys to do is to let it go.

The courts in Mass seem to think so-- they dropped all charges.


Could the national spotlight been avoided if either the cop or the scholar had done something differently? Yes.


They were both right and they were both wrong and misunderstandings can become the basis of a war.

Everyone needs to just let this one go. Let it go.

Re: When Prejudice Embarrasses
 

Are you in law enforcement?

It is my understanding that Obama has a prejudiced view of these cops. Why? Because he was a college kid and went there. Does that make you prejudiced? Not necessarily.

He also had 17 traffic tickets from 20 years ago that he never paid until he filed to run for Pres. That shows us how he reacts to what they are paid to do.

Re: When Prejudice Embarrasses
 

I was referring to the fact of my own race-- it was an attempt at a joke. :)

However, I have 2 years civilian law enforcement and almost 5 years military law enforcement.



His remarks did not reflect a prejudice of those cops, just a prejudice of all cops when it comes to questionable interactions with Blacks and Latinos in America. He referred to that in his ill-fated answer to that last question during his rambling about the healthcare overhaul.

I referred to that same prejudice as a premise based on fact in my opening statement on this thread.

Re: When Prejudice Embarrasses
 

Amen, Jermyn. There's work to do on both sides.

Re: When Prejudice Embarrasses
 

Itr's a sad reality that anytime a white cop and a black civilian are involved the white cop is assumed to be a racist

Re: When Prejudice Embarrasses
 

It was definitely wrong for President Obama to even address the question in that forum in my opinion. In the role and performing the duties of POTUS is not the time to stick up for friends or even give opinion not based on full factual knowledge.

I don't think anyone can make a definitive case that this situation was all about racial prejudice on the side of the officer...however, I do believe that it is possible to say that race aside, the officer still acted stupidly.

I think that most of us are more influenced by our prejudices than we sometimes care to acknowledge and often more than we even realize. Personally, I think there is a significant difference between being subtlely affected by our preconceptions and outright, malicious racism.

Re: When Prejudice Embarrasses
 

I disagree with you. I believe that the officer acted according to their protocol. I believe that if I, as a white man, had acted the same way as the 'scholar' I would have been treated the same way. If he was arriving on the scene of what had been dispatched to him as a possible breaking and entering, he was probably trying more to make sure the man, once identity was establishd, was going into a safe environment. I think the reaction of the 'scholar' was inappropriate and that is what got him arrested. It seems he started accusing the officer immediately rather than cooperate with him.
Could the situation have been avoided? Yes, by both of them working together. Maybe the officer could have been a little more informative when he was trying to get the man to exit the house but the man should have been a little more cooperative.

BO's remarks where wrong and he should apologize. After that let it drop by all parties and move on. I do not think our 'scholarly' friend will let it drop though even if the rest do. JMHO

We had a break in at our place and items stolen and no one showed up for 12 hours and only after I had made 3 phone calls to them.

Re: When Prejudice Embarrasses
 

jax, I read the explanation given here that the officer still wanted him to leave so that he could conduct a search of the house for "real perpetrators". There is nothing in the incident or the police report to remotely suggest that. Trying to get the man to exit the house after he had established he was the homeowner and that it was in fact he who was locked out and had just been seen trying to get in should have ended the situation.

Saying now that he still wanted the man to leave so he could conduct an investigation is disengenuous at best, and nothing in his report or in the chain of events supports this. Once they handcuffed the professor, they did not in fact search for the perpetrators.

Many people are saying that regardless of how irate the professor was as long as he did not physically attack the officers, they should have left once he satisfied the issue of his identity and the fact that they were their mistakenly and for no real cause.