Comments on: Collective v. Individual; Where Does Racism Lie http://forbesavenue.com/2009/07/23/collective-v-individual-where-does-racism-lie/ We do culture. Everything you want to know...about every thing. Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:59:40 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: DCerica http://forbesavenue.com/2009/07/23/collective-v-individual-where-does-racism-lie/comment-page-1/#comment-36 DCerica Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:38:27 +0000 http://forbesavenue.com/?p=189#comment-36 you continue to make me think, reflect, and challenge my assumptions... you continue to make me think, reflect, and challenge my assumptions…

]]> By: griffn http://forbesavenue.com/2009/07/23/collective-v-individual-where-does-racism-lie/comment-page-1/#comment-25 griffn Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:24:29 +0000 http://forbesavenue.com/?p=189#comment-25 Outstanding post. Race was definitely a contributing factor in the arrest. I don't think Sgt. Crowley decided to arrest Gates because he was black. But I think the things Gates was saying such as, "Do you know who you're dealing with?" and "This is what happens to black men in America," got under Crowley's skin more than whatever an old white man would've been shouting in that scenario. As an officer of the law, you simply cannot let people get under your skin. And if the things a black man might shout irritate you more than the things a white man might shout, then yes, race is a contributing factor. But I'm speculating. Regardless of the degree to which race influenced this situation, it's a definite case of police overreach. Unless Gates threatened the officer physically-- and I'm not sure how a hobbled 60-year-old man can pose a threat to the half dozen or so armed and trained police officers that responded to the call-- there's no reason to arrest him. Did he belong in the house or not? Yes? Okay, then you turn around and go back to the station regardless of what he's shouting or how bad your feelings are getting hurt. The First Amendment gives us the right to free speech, and that includes telling our tax-funded public servants in public what we think of the job they're doing. Outstanding post. Race was definitely a contributing factor in the arrest. I don’t think Sgt. Crowley decided to arrest Gates because he was black. But I think the things Gates was saying such as, “Do you know who you’re dealing with?” and “This is what happens to black men in America,” got under Crowley’s skin more than whatever an old white man would’ve been shouting in that scenario. As an officer of the law, you simply cannot let people get under your skin. And if the things a black man might shout irritate you more than the things a white man might shout, then yes, race is a contributing factor.

But I’m speculating. Regardless of the degree to which race influenced this situation, it’s a definite case of police overreach. Unless Gates threatened the officer physically– and I’m not sure how a hobbled 60-year-old man can pose a threat to the half dozen or so armed and trained police officers that responded to the call– there’s no reason to arrest him. Did he belong in the house or not? Yes? Okay, then you turn around and go back to the station regardless of what he’s shouting or how bad your feelings are getting hurt. The First Amendment gives us the right to free speech, and that includes telling our tax-funded public servants in public what we think of the job they’re doing.

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