However, Obama writes in Dreams From My Father that he saw "Frank" only a few days before he left Hawaii for college, and that Davis seemed just as radical as ever. Davis called college "An advanced degree in compromise" and warned Obama not to forget his "people" and not to "start believing what they tell you about equal opportunity and the American way and all that ####." Davis also complained about foot problems, the result of "trying to force African feet into European shoes," Obama wrote.
Scholar Gates and Scholar Obama do not see the world like many others do,
From my perspective, those 3 cops may have a handle on what people are like.
We have never had a greater distance between reality and the world as painted by the ideologists.
I would speculate that the woman that called the police regarding a possible breaking and entering could be prejudiced/racist. And if it's a neighbor, why doesn't she know who lives next door to her?
I would speculate that the woman that called the police regarding a possible breaking and entering could be prejudiced/racist. And if it's a neighbor, why doesn't she know who lives next door to her?
Here are a few of my observations:
1. The good professor was not known very well by his neighbors. Maybe he wasn't very neighborly, which is certainly not a crime.
2. If I had to kick the door in at my house, and a neighbor witnessed what was going on and didn't recognize me........I would WANT them to call the police! That would show that a neighbor cares that something unusual is happening at my house! We call it neighborhood watch in my area!
3. I would not be offended if a police officer of ANY race asked for proof of identity. That is a police officer doing their job! A soft answer turns away wrath. I believe the good professor found an opportunity to get exposure.
I was talking with someone today at lunch and it was brought up about certain people that you have to parse your words with, because they are LOOKING to find something offensive. It appears that the good professor fits into this category. I guess the police officers need training on how to walk on egg shells around certain personalities so they don't hurt their feelings.
4. I believe that neither the police or the good professor were at their best behavior in this incident! Police don't take very well to threats! (neither do most people!)
5. The picture seems to show calm officers and an outraged professor! Is he yelling at the black officer?
I guess my remarks make me a racist! Heaven help us all!
__________________ Words: For when an emoticon just isn't enough.
I think the President made uncalled for remarks. But I think he thought he was sticking up for his friend.
__________________
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
The good scholar saw an opportunity for a statement and $$$ ...
The President just made a stupid comment and, from current news, is too arrogant to admit he stepped over the line with his dumb comments against the officer.
1. The good professor was not known very well by his neighbors. Maybe he wasn't very neighborly, which is certainly not a crime.
2. If I had to kick the door in at my house, and a neighbor witnessed what was going on and didn't recognize me........I would WANT them to call the police! That would show that a neighbor cares that something unusual is happening at my house! We call it neighborhood watch in my area!
3. I would not be offended if a police officer of ANY race asked for proof of identity. That is a police officer doing their job! A soft answer turns away wrath. I believe the good professor found an opportunity to get exposure.
I was talking with someone today at lunch and it was brought up about certain people that you have to parse your words with, because they are LOOKING to find something offensive. It appears that the good professor fits into this category. I guess the police officers need training on how to walk on egg shells around certain personalities so they don't hurt their feelings.
4. I believe that neither the police or the good professor were at their best behavior in this incident! Police don't take very well to threats! (neither do most people!)
5. The picture seems to show calm officers and an outraged professor! Is he yelling at the black officer?
I guess my remarks make me a racist! Heaven help us all!
Mr. Steinway, I'm not sure why you would end your post with "I guess my remarks make me a racist! Heaven help us all". I don't think anyone was going to accuse you of that based on the content of your post. I would not even interject that into the conversation.
Either way, I do agree that neither side probably handled things in the best way possible. My problem is that I don't think we can afford to allow some police the license to "not be on their best behavior". They are basically the ultimate authority when they arrive in some situations and some abuse that. I don't think we can hold them to the same standard as the average citizen when they are in their official capacity.
However, I am not sure how pleasant my picture would be if I were being led out of my own house in my own neighborhood in handcuffs by a squad of officers after coming home from a long trip and not doing anything illegal. (how's that for a run-on )
What is also pretty amusing to me in my conversations with people is how some of the same people who were up in arms about perceived police abuse of power in the airport case with that activist are apparently fine with this.
In the airport case you had a man in a public place that is of very vital and specific security concern and has been proven to be able to be the launching pad of attacks that can cripple the entire country.
In this case you have a man being accosted in his house. I just don't see where in a case when the police were mistaken, it should end in arrest inside someone's home...unless the person maybe physically attacked the police.
__________________
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Houston.
Either the United States will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States. – W.E.B. DuBois
Oh wait a minute! The "scholar" seems to be yelling something.
Sorry, I don't buy the nutty professors story one second. Too many vouch for the officers integrity. This so-called foremost scholar on race saw an opportunity for $$$$ and interviews.
The "scholar" and President need to issue and apology to this public servant.
PBS should drop this buster. It certainly puts a stain on any work or claims he's made previously.
I want to remain objective and wait for the report to finish and all things considered....which is what Obama should have done.
But from the picture I see 3 fairly calm cops. One man handcuffed in the front, not the back and seeminly yelling.
I remember one time my friend and I came to a convenience store at night. Just before we got there it had been robbed. The girl was very upset. They cut the phone lines too so we went to a pay phone and called police. We waited forever and we thought we saw a car go by in back so I went to look. I came upon two cops hiding behind the building. They apparently thought it was a robbery in progress and waved me over and made me get in my knees with hands behind my back.
The guy cop went inside while the lady cop with a really mean look on her face just kept me there and would not talk. She was black....now I did not say this is what happens to whites in America if blacks get in power. I did not say ANYTHING at all. I knew better. Not because I am white. Not because of race, but it's just common sense. These guys carry guns, they carry sticks, they have the power to arrest people and they most of the time are just doing their job and making their job harder is the dumbest thing you can do.
When it was clear the other cop apologized to me and explained it was necessary. Did it bother me? Yes of course, but I understand.
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
I really hope someone got video that exonerates this police officer and makes the nutty professor and president look stupid.
Race relations were not helped by the Presidents statements or the nutty professors allegation against the officer. Rather, they only serve to prove that in some cases the cry "racism" is well overstated and grossly misrepresented.
I'd rather not get into BHO and Bill Ayers. This is about the police officer and allegations of him being racist made by the scholar, Mr. Gates.
I hope the truth comes out, not matter what the truth is. Having said that Obama should have said what Bill Cosby said "I wasn't there"...that's right. None of us where there so all we can do is wait for all the evidence to be collected and looked at.
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
This is obviously going to be a hot-botton issue for some. I don't have the time to wade in too deep, but some things jump immediately to mind.
First of all, it is easy to say that President Obama jumped to conclusions and didn't know enough to characterize police actions as stupid (a characterization of actions and not people), but it strikes me as strange that at the same time, people with very little more information feel comfortable characterizing the professor in the way that he has been characterized. In the few posts in this thread he is already a criminal, a perpetrator, a miscreant, and a "scholar". Whether you like him or not, Mr Gates is a very, very well-known scholar and writer who to the best of my knowledge has never been arrested of any crimes.
Secondly, I could understand the situation better if the professor was acting in a way initially that would raise suspicion. I at first assumed that he must have been trying to gain access through a window or at least a back or side door in a way that would justify a reasonable amount of suspicion on the police's part and an equally reasonable amount of understanding and cooperation on the professor's part. For example, if I had to jump through my window I may be a bit more understanding about why I was being approached in the first place.
Thirdly, I do honestly wonder if the initial attitude of the officers would have been different if it were an equally aged white professional who had gained entry into his home through his own front door. I do wonder if the initial approach would have been less as that of approaching a "criminal", "miscreant", or "perpetrator".
Did Gates handle himself calmly and primly? I'm sure he didn't. However, I do think that there is a possiblity that police may do things at times that justifiably cause outrage.
At the end of the day, I don't know enough about the case to say definitively that the issue was entirely race. Does race subconsciously affect the way we initially apporach situations? For many people it does. Did race play a role in the inititial call of breaking and entering...even though the professor was at the front door? Possibly.
Ultimately for me though, this has more to do with how some officers abuse their authority in some situations (with people of all races).
I agree with you that the sentiments cast on the professor are unnecessary, premature and perhaps totally out of place.
However I must point out from what has been reported the Police did not arrest him for breaking into his own house. No, had he been white you can be sure the police would not have arrested him for breaking into his own house. A Neighbor called police because she saw someone apparently breaking into the front door.
The police HAVE to investigate. When they get there, not knowing who the real owner is, they HAVE to investigate further. The prof showed his ID. That is fine. He was not arrested though for breaking into his own house. It was what he did after the fact reportedly. I say reportedly because I am trying to give both sides the benefit of the doubt.
If the prof was wearing a suit, things might have been different. If a white proof was wearing clothes he wears to mow the lawn the cops might not have instantly assumed "This is a well to do college professor" either.
However it always seems to be at least an assumption or a possibility that the entire thing was about racists cops out to get black folks. That makes it almost impossible to act in a situation like this and it's also possible then that the prof knows that and tries to take advantage of that situation either to get out of his predicament or to further his cause.
Has it happened before? You bet! It happened here in California where a white college professor , outspoken against racism,vandelized her own car and claimed it was the work of racists (skin heads).
So all things seem to be possible on both ends. We need to be careful and wait
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
a. President Obama: In my opinion, President Obama is going to have to get better at recognizing that he no longer has the latitude to simply speak as a normal person or a friend. His every word carries a significance that is staggeringly complex.
b. Race: I think it is very possible (obviously not provable) that race did play a role in the initial call when the professor was trying to get into his own front door. It also possibly played into the way the police initially approached the professor and in how they responded to him being obviously upset and disrespectful to them.
c. The Professor: I don't have any doubt that he became upset. He probably behaved innappropriately, he probably was not respectful to the officers. The officer said he arrested him because he bacame loud and tumultuous.
d. The Arrest: I just don't think that even being loud and tumultuous in your own house (assuming its true) is reason enough in this case to handcuff and arrest. That is scary to me. I think that cooler heads should have recognized that the officers were mistaken, and had accosted a frustrated, innocent man who in addition to just returning home was trying to arrange for the repair of his door (I would be aggravated whether the police showed up or not). At that point they should have even been willing to endure a tongue-lashing, apologize and leave.
The things that I have read indicate that he showed both his license and his Harvard ID. At that point the cops should have known that they were mistaken and were harrassing an innocent man. I've seen good cops endure tongue-lashings from people who were not even as innocent. I've also seen some who over-estimate their position.
They knew that their call was not from someone who was intimately acquainted with what was happening. If someone had called and said "there's somebody on my porch trying to break into my house" it would be different.
__________________
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Houston.
Either the United States will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States. – W.E.B. DuBois
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