What would have happened.......................

[G-Man]

if professor Gates in Cambridge would have just cooperated with the police for about 5 minutes?

Being submerged into the "Black" experience in America (to a point I must admitt), I truly believe many black folks, no matter how brilliant or affluent, look for racism around every corner.  If you look hard enough, you just might find it.......but why look in the first place.  My bro-in-law, a dred from Jamaica originally, educated here since high school, came over fuming one evening.  He said he got a ticket for running a stop sign.  He added that the cop was white and racist.  I asked why he thought that of the cop and he said "because I was probably the only black person driving through that neighborhood".  I asked him if he ran the stop sign.  He said "Yes".  I asked him what woud have happened if he stopped at the sign.  "He said... "Nothing".  I said... "That's right".

So, what would have happened if Professor Gates cooperated?  NOTHING!

When I was a teenager, my father "taught" me how to behave when confronted by police officers.  He told me to say "Yes, sir", "No, sir", "I am, sir", "I will, sir", etc. and everyone goes home that night.  I can't even recall how many times we were rousted in the park, in the parking lot, on the corner, had our beers poured out, and just stopped and questioned for no apparent reason......but we showed the respect that they did or didn't deserve, and we all went home.  My son is bi-racial and I am teaching him the same lesson.

[Big Rig]

I agree, if you look hard enough and deep enough, you will find what you are looking for eventually...I wonder what would have happened if it was a black LEO that busted him...reverse racism exist, we hear about it everyday...

I know this will offend some...that is not the intent...just mho

[sugarbee]

it's a total lack of respect thing, it seems to me that these days, respect is hard to find, and in more situations than the one you are referring to...people are just not respecting each other, there are kids growing up in families that are not taught respect, kids are not being respected (child porn, rape, molestation), women are being battered and abused, raped, sold into slavery (so they say), heck, sometimes you can't even get respect on the job, .... the list goes on and on....

ok, I have ranted enough, that's just my .02, back into lurkdom I go...

[Robert]

I like this public service announcement from Chris Rock maybe youve seen it. Maybe we should forward this to Gates.

Chris Rock - How not to get your ass kicked by the police!	powered by Aeva

[Stanley Steamer]

EXACTLY right!!!.......you hit the nail on the head.....and that video was funny, but true!!... ...

[stormrider]

Being polite and respectful has always helped me. Been locked up several times, ticketed several times, pulled over several more times, and not one a__ kickin.

Good one Robert

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

A black buddy I worked and sometimes drink with came up to me at work once fuming. I don’t know what had been said to him but he said he’s “tired of everybody thinkin’ brothers all carry guns and knives”.  I looked at him earnestly and said that I think it’s true, brothers do all carry guns and knives. He looked at me angrily and said, whys that?

I said “because all my wife’s brothers carry guns and knives”. He knew my wife Melody well since we all worked together and knew we were all white podunks from the sticks. He also knew, we did all carry guns and knives. We both laughed for a while and all was good. He had a very bad and painful looking limp from a youthful motorcycle accident that I never did hear the story on.

[f6john]

 If the President had of not commented on a situation in which he had no first hand knowledge. I imagine few of us would even have heard about the issue. To the President's credit he did step forward to say he inflamed the situation by his remarks. I am not pointing fingers at anyone in particular but I firmly believe that racist's come in all colors.

[MP]

Concerning looking for problems.

Driving long haul semi, I quite often have to wait in line to check in at a receiver.
Once in CA, I was in a line of about 20 men, and one woman when a produce shipper opened.  The lady and I were talking, waiting for the window to open.
As drivers, we were naturally griping about waiting.
She commented that she was always treated like this "as a woman driver".  She thought she was being picked on.
I said, all the rest of us are men, and we are waiting in the same line as you are, so why do you think you are being singled out to be dumped on?
She turned away, and did not talk to me anymore.

If you look, you will find what you want to find.
That way, you can blame some one else for your problem, and not yourself.

MP

[Robert]

In response to Fryes comments and also Johns, If blacks or anyone listens to music that glorifies death, knives,guns,poverty,violence,drugs,the love of money, sex and no commitment, and a lifestyle that generally says I'm the top and your not and no one is going to take it from me and what ever I have to do to get there is ok then I would say that the general image would not be a good one of those people. Plus I heard about Gates not from the president but because its nice to see someone who thinks they are above the law have to answer to authority. I would also say that no one would does well when stopped or arrested but Gates attitude also shows the lack of respect of a otherwise seemingly respectable person. I think some positive role models would help the situation. I equate this to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan if you are in the situation and you take off your bullet proof vest, think that the things that the people around you listen to and are committed to is nothing and look at them as your friends and then surprised by being shot dead then thats stupidity. The term is called racial profiling here in the US, I would prefer to call it situational awareness. This goes beyond color, it could be rednecks, Iranians, anyone who dwells with all things negative and has a axe to grind. Garbage in Garbage out!

[Cliff]

if professor Gates in Cambridge would have just cooperated with the police for about 5 minutes?..............



So, what would have happened if Professor Gates cooperated?  NOTHING!

Had he done so he probably would not have received his invite to the White House or got the opportunity to wear "bracelets".

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

The Chris Rock thing is a riot.

[solo1]

About  nine years ago I met a man that would become my friend.  His name was "Tack" Walker and he was black.
He'd been arrested in his young days but at 70 years of age, he was well past that.

He was from Alabama and used words like "axed" for asked,  came across like a dummy but he wasn't!  He was smart in the ways of the world.

I asked him one time if he saw much discrimination.  He was well traveled having been all over the US with his wife, Bertha, in an RV.  His reply was that he had NEVER seen discrimination.  He had a very friendly personality and you had to like him.  I was invited to the wedding of his son.  The wife and I were greeted with open arms by his family, even though we and one other couple, were the only whites there.

Two years ago, Tack died of advanced prostate cancer at the age of 76.  I attended the showing.  Again I was greeted like family.  I was amazed by the attendees.  Four Ft. Wayne fire trucks were outside.  At least 20 firefighters, white and black,were paying their respects.  It seems Tack was making regular donations to good causes. I didn't know that.

Now when I read all this crap about inner city crime, I think of Tack, who lived there in the inner city, but contributed much to society.  Here was a man with only a grade school education and yet he was smarter than many professors (especially the one currently in the news)

Sorry for being so longwinded.

Wayne, solo1

[fiddle mike]

Oh, c'mon, blacks aren't required to obey an officer until they are "comfortable".  The guy in the Oval Office reacted typically, like he's an NAACP bird dog.  Could you imagine a real President, like Reagan, interfering in a local police bust?
Then he wants everyone to come over for a beer?  I hope the cop told Obama to shove thar "forty" up his ass.

[thumper]

I like this public service announcement from Chris Rock maybe youve seen it. Maybe we should forward this to Gates.
Chris Rock - How not to get your ass kicked by the police!

That's hilarious