I heard the news about the arrest of Henry Louis Gates yesterday and said to myself, “Well that was dumb”. I was surprised and happy to hear President Obama refer to the Cambridge Police as having acted “stupidly”. You see, It is not just that I am anti-police. I’ve never trusted the police, and since 911 things have just gotten worse. It is also that I am anti stupidity. The stupidity displayed in this case is off the scale.
I despise law enforcement stupidity. Power mad police officers seem to wear stupidity as a shield. Once Sgt. James Crowley realized he was trying to arrest the tenant for breaking into his own house, nothing short of a face full of horse manure should have caused the arrest of Gates. But no… Crowley let Gates’ anger get under his skin, and then that whole police power trip kicked in. I can hear it play out in my head, “If you don’t shut up, I”m taking you in.”
Crowley – apologize and explain yourself. It’s OK to say that Gates’ reaction to your investigation caused you to panic and act like a power mad control freak in fear of his own safety. Go for it. I promise to respect you in the morning. Just don’t say you did it because Gates is black, because then I’m afraid I won’t respect you at all.
Logging you in...
No2Religion 85p · 822 weeks ago
We have spent the last 8 years sliding into a theocratic police state where any type of dissent will get you arrested.
Mojoey 107p · 822 weeks ago
No2Religion 85p · 822 weeks ago
Baconsbud 96p · 822 weeks ago
I'm not sure if you have seen this utube video but Daniel posted it on his blog. http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/07/21/girl-arre...
Mojoey 107p · 822 weeks ago
REX · 822 weeks ago
The story that I gleaned from reading maybe a dozen different accounts of this incident is that the police were called by a neighbor reporting a break in. They responded to the scene to find that a break in had actually occurred. When they confronted the man who had executed the break in, he did not identify himself, and he became very belligerent and confrontational and all at a very high volume level. These things do not EVER go over well with police officers whose job it is to catch bad guys. An arrest was made, and subsequently the suspect was immediately released when his identity was confirmed as the home owner. As I have described these events, I can see absolutely no bearing as to what color any of these people are. They could all be blue with pink spots, and I think that it would have played out the same way. I know that he was exhausted from traveling that day, and I know that he was very frustrated by having to break in to his own house, but this could have all been avoided if he had gathered himself for a split second and said: Hello officer, this is my house and here is my driver's license with the same address on it, and by the way, thanks for keeping a great eye on my neighborhood.
But alas, no. Evidently it is much more entertaining to be indignant, belligerent, combative and then waive the racism gun in everyone's face.
On the surface it looks like a he said, she said scenario, except for the neighbors who witnessed him screaming at the officers when they were requesting his identification.
Sorry to dissent, but you know us freethinkers!
Imogen · 822 weeks ago
Mojoey 107p · 822 weeks ago
Sorry man, be skeptical all you want. This is just dumb.
Imogen · 822 weeks ago
My2Sense · 822 weeks ago
Goodbye Mojoey. It's been real.
Mojoey 107p · 822 weeks ago
I'm a libertarian. The whole concept of a cop arresting you in your own home is my worst nightmare. It is what riles me about the situation. The whole thing was unnecessary if the cop had ate a little crow and walked away. But no. He had to be a cop.
Good by My2Sense.
Baconsbud 96p · 822 weeks ago
Because you work in the field you are blind to much that us outside of it see. Like any group you are quick to defend those within it even when deep down you know they are wrong. Unlike Mojoey I haven't had any really bad problems but know enough people that have to know trusting a cop can get you into a lot of trouble.