Quote:
Originally Posted by fatso
to what end? as evidence of his character? i ask because i genuinely don't get what the point of that is in this thread.
Are you asking if it's evidence that he has always had this seething disdain for whitey? Or simply that he's a guy who stays stupid things he later comes to regret? Either way, one sentence, extracted from the past like that isn't really going to prove either.
edit: Actually, why am I even responding to that? Seems to me, Shawnski, if you want to generate a discussion on that phrase you could contribute to it by sharing your opinion or elaborating on the context of the article.
|
Let's take a look at this for you....
First of all, I (and all of us) are looking at this from a 20-20 hindsight perspective. In doing so, we are not only enabled, but in my opinion, allowed to look at the past actions of the characters involved to see how they interact with society.
I find it interesting that previously posted information indicates Crowley was the person trying to save a black basketball star by giving him mouth to mouth recessitation a couple decades ago (but is being accused of rasicm) yet a Harvard professor showed he is willing to play a race card ON A FREAKIN' YALE APPLICATION. There is in my mind, NO excuse for that one. If anything, it shows that this very brilliant individual is capable of using a race card to put people in a "Damned if I do, Damned if I don't" scenario. Not cool in my books.
How could you not be interested in that item of his past? He may not be proud of it now, but it is there for all to see. Are there other instances? From what I am seeing of this one he appears to have tried to put Crowley in the same damned if I do/don't boat.
Yes, I have seen the CNN interview. How many have listened to the
Oprah radio interview though? (Another link that I don't think has been discussed here.)
At about 5:08 Gates indicates that "(on the stuck front door) turns out the lock had been jimmied")
Gates has said he said "No" to the request to "Can you step outside" for one reason only; he could have been arrested for suspected breaking and entering (and as Gates says "I know I am in danger" 5:43 of the Oprah link). Any SANE person who knew that wasn't the case would have not worried about that. They would have had no fear of it. THAT is my BELIEF. "Hey, I live here, let me get you some ID, I have it in the kitchen." is how I would have handled it.
As IFF et al have indicated that when Gates went to get the ID, Crowley followed him into the residence. To me, I am still OK with this as his identity was yet to be proven, and it is due dilligence to keep the suspect in site.
Now Gates claims that his Harvard ID and Drivers License were both visable at the same time (well, "you can't see one without the other" so maybe they were back to back) when presented to Crowley. So after he provided them to Crowley, Crowley tried to ask him a question, but Gates interupted (didn't even hear what Crowley was trying to ask) That is when he said "That's enough... I want your name and badge number") 7:07 of the Oprah link. He goes on to say how he thinks Crowley was trying to find a way to backtrack on everything. Gates doesn't give him a chance to elaborate on the call.
Now, the other oddity I have noted is that the 911 caller said the two black men were wearing backpacks.
OK, I know I am one of those dumb business analysts that is determined to look into as many "what if" scenarios as possible to find solutions for clients... shoot me.
What if.... door has been jimmied (fact) witness just called 911 indicating two black men with backpacks attempting to enter (call is factual). Since Gates has said they didn't have backpacks, is it possible that there was a break in attempt, Gates came home and said attempt was aborted? Or worse, they got in and were still there? Cop didn't know. I don't know. Hell, with all the fuss, I don't think the house was ever searched...
That IS a scenario the police would have had to consider. But with the arrest and all, did they have the inclination to push the envelope and search his house? I doubt it. Perhaps we have witnessed the luckiest B&E pair in such an international adventure we have ever known.
Perhaps Crowley does walk away after getting the ID, says nothing and Gates is killed upon stumbling onto these others. We don't know, and neither did Crowley. He wasn't given a chance.
If it were me, I would have asked the police to check out my place just in case. Not Gates. He played the race card ASAP.
Fascinating case story. Gates says so himself and wants to use it for educational purposes. Personally I think his take on it is so off base it isn't funny, but then again, he did have that Yale application. If that is how he wants to portray himself to people he should impress...