Henry Louis Gates Arrested in his own home

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by valo403

Well no matter how big you type it it doesn't change that the statement is 100% factually correct.

That statement may be correct, but does it apply to this case..that is the problem using the race card where it is not needed and coming from the president is alarming....He can comment on this incident, but man it's not a good idea for him to take sides, especially knowing the huge spell he has over some people....

[Azure]

Originally Posted by fatso

Azure you're more indignant and frustrated than usual! You must be having a bad day... or perhaps it is a good one?

Its been a while since I've been able to call the President a moron.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by gargamel

I don't think that trying to save a famous basketball player who is having a heart attack is really proof that someone isn't racist. It's maybe proof that you aren't pure evil, but I don't think it goes much beyond that.

Boston is the second most segregated city in the United States, and from living there for the past 3 years, I can say that I've never seen so much elitism and racism anywhere else that I've lived. That's not proof that this cop was racist, but it helps explain why a black man might jump to that conclusion when they're being accused of breaking into their own home.

I've broken into my own apartment in Boston before as well, and people took me at my word when I explained what I was doing. It's not crazy to think that maybe race had something to do with why Gates didn't get that same benefit of the doubt that I did.

I wouldn't trust anyone that was breaking into a house. Even a robber can claim he lost his keys and needed to go in through the window.

Either way....considering there was a black cop involved, I seriously doubt that the police officers who went to Gates' house, went there because they were racially motivated and wanted to piss the black guy off.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

I think this case demonstrated how rich, connected people are treated differently in the US more then how black people are treated differently.

If he had been a middle class black guy who didn't know famous people, this would never have made the news and the charges wouldn't have been dropped.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

You sir are clearly a racist.

Just like the white cop I guess. It obviously must be true since thats what Gates kept calling him.... and after all, he is a distinguished Harvard professor (which he made a point of telling the officer) without a racist bone in his body.

Can cops sue for slander?

[missdpuck]

The fact that Gates showed his Harvard ID first kinda bugs me.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

I think this case demonstrated how rich, connected people are treated differently in the US more then how black people are treated differently.

If he had been a middle class black guy who didn't know famous people, this would never have made the news and the charges wouldn't have been dropped.

Or, the middle class black guy would have shown the PROPER ID, when requested, and not have the issue make the news because there was nothing THERE to create a news story.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

I think this case demonstrated how rich, connected people are treated differently in the US more then how black people are treated differently.

If he had been a middle class black guy who didn't know famous people, this would never have made the news and the charges wouldn't have been dropped.

That is kinda what bothers me too, skin color aside..Did he use his influence to get charges dropped? Or did the police service and cambridge knowing who they were dealing with get cold feet..

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Azure

And I would agree 110%.

But that doesn't mean that this incident was racially motivated. Obama said it was, WITHOUT knowing all the facts, which he also happened to say.

Therefore he is a moron.

Just because the guy is a personal friend, doesn't mean you go on national TV to condemn the cops involved in the incident.

No - Obama did not say it was racially motivated (he had no knowledge of that), if you read the quote from his press conference.

"I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played," Obama said

I agree he opened up a can of worms.

[nik-]

If the cops were still in my house after I showed them that I lived there and obviously wasn't breaking in I'd be a prick too.

There was no reason for ANY interaction after that point. Regardless of him having a "chip on his shoulder".

[Azure]

Originally Posted by missdpuck

The fact that Gates showed his Harvard ID first kinda bugs me.

Gates and his lawyers claim that he showed both the Harvard ID, and his driver's license.

Oh well....'he said, she said.'

All I know for sure is that it is the duty of every citizen to provide ID when asked, and it is the duty of every cop to show his badge and ID when he investigates something like this.

But even then, I think all of this could have been avoided if Gates would have been respectful with the cops and not accused them of being racist for investigating a reported break-in.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by troutman

No - Obama did not say it was racially motivated (he had no knowledge of that), if you read the quote from his press conference.

"I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played," Obama said

I agree he opened up a can of worms.

End of the article...

The incident, Obama said, shows "how race remains a factor in this society."

How is that saying that you don't know what role race played in the whole situation.

Clearly, Obama believes the incident was racially motivated.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by nik-

If the cops were still in my house after I showed them that I lived there and obviously wasn't breaking in I'd be a prick too.

There was no reason for ANY interaction after that point. Regardless of him having a "chip on his shoulder".

Assuming he actually gave them the proper ID to begin with.

The police report is completely different from what Gates and his lawyers are saying.

So, one of them is lying.

As for the racism? Every article I've read about the incident confirms that Gates was being a prick by playing the racism card. So, who was the racist one? The cops doing their job by responding to a suspected B&E, or Gates for accusing the cops of being racist for doing their job?

[Azure]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

That is kinda what bothers me too, skin color aside..Did he use his influence to get charges dropped? Or did the police service and cambridge knowing who they were dealing with get cold feet..

Well, once the President got involved.....they had to choice by to drop the charges, considering he's the President and all.

[troutman]

The incident, Obama said, shows "how race remains a factor in this society."

That does not mean that he thinks THIS incident was racially motivated (again, he said he did not know that), only that the controversey surrounding this incident shows race remains a factor in society.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Azure

Assuming he actually gave them the proper ID to begin with.

The police report is completely different from what Gates and his lawyers are saying.

So, one of them is lying.

As for the racism? Every article I've read about the incident confirms that Gates was being a prick by playing the racism card. So, who was the racist one? The cops doing their job by responding to a suspected B&E, or Gates for accusing the cops of being racist for doing their job?

Again I'd be a prick too. Once ID is shown that's where the interaction should end, period. It's been proven that its his home, and the cops have no reason to be there, they should leave.

I'm not going to get into whether it's racism or not because we can't successfully confirm what the thoughts of either side was. If Gates felt it was as a result of racial profiling, that's his choice. Regardless, the cops should be gone as soon as there was no reason for them to be there.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by troutman

The incident, Obama said, shows "how race remains a factor in this society."

That does not mean that he thinks THIS incident was racially motivated (again, he said he did not know that), only that the controversey surrounding this incident shows race remains a factor in society.

Controversy that he helped create by getting involved.

I'm not going to argue about this.....to me, Obama is using this incident as a pedestal to preach to the world that racism is still an issue in the US, and that is wrong. Why? Even if racism is still a problem(it is)....that doesn't mean that this incident was racially motivated. Secondly, what if tomorrow evidence comes out and proves Gates was acting like a prick by playing the racist card. Does that mean Obama will call his buddy Gates 'stupid' for HIS actions? Of course not. He'll just ignore the issue.

Pretty stupid to use it as a talking point for racial problems when you don't even know all the facts. And pretty stupid to call the cops 'stupid' when you don't even know what happened.

[metallicat]

Azure, stop making so much goddamn sense.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by nik-

Again I'd be a prick too. Once ID is shown that's where the interaction should end, period. It's been proven that its his home, and the cops have no reason to be there, they should leave.

I'm not going to get into whether it's racism or not because we can't successfully confirm what the thoughts of either side was. If Gates felt it was as a result of racial profiling, that's his choice. Regardless, the cops should be gone as soon as there was no reason for them to be there.

Exactly. Once the definite proof was provided, there was no need for anything else. The cop was there to investigate a break in...it wasn't a break in, case closed. He's not there to investigate Gates' personality or tendency to be a jerk. The cop probably just didn't like the way he was being talked to. Not enough of a reason to arrest the guy.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by nik-

Again I'd be a prick too. Once ID is shown that's where the interaction should end, period. It's been proven that its his home, and the cops have no reason to be there, they should leave.

I'm not going to get into whether it's racism or not because we can't successfully confirm what the thoughts of either side was. If Gates felt it was as a result of racial profiling, that's his choice. Regardless, the cops should be gone as soon as there was no reason for them to be there.

I would probably be annoyed too, but I would be grateful that someone reported the a suspected B&E, and I would also understand that the cops are just trying to do their jobs.

Their ass is on the line, not Gates'. So, if they don't feel satisfied with the ID, or the proof that Gates lived there they had every right to MAKE SURE that he actually did.

Once they are satisfied, they should leave.

Remember, if the cops don't follow up properly, and someone presented fake ID(like Harvard ID)....to prove that they lived there, and the next day the owner came home and reported that all his crap got stolen, who is going to get fired?