Comments on: The Good & Bad: Sgt. Crowley Won’t Apologize to Gates (Good), Obama Still Making Stupid Remarks about Police (Bad), Pundits Smacking Obama for His Lameness (Good)

By: admin

admin — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:47:56 +0000

I don’t agree with you, Rob, but you are entitled to your opinion. I recommend that you read the other comments (see the comments for the article titled “Stop Already… Obama Defends His Biased Criticism of Cambridge Police Arresting Prof. Henry Gates.”) Knowing what a police officer goes through day in and day out to protect all people of a community is an eye-opener. If you choose to believe that all cops are racist rogues, nothing I can say nor the comments of another police officer will change your mind. But it seems bigoted to assume all cops are alike, just as it would be to blame all Jews or blacks or Asians or Hispanics or Greeks or Catholics or Muslims because you knew one who was a total jerk, who didn’t treat others civilly and fairly. I once knew a white guy who was a real ass. He failed a college class, and blamed the professor for his bad grade. He’s had a pretty miserable life, because he always blamed others when he himself screwed up. He has never been capable of taking responsibility for his short-comings or mistakes, it’s always been someone else’s fault. His relationships with women and other people usually were volatile and he will more than likely become a bitter old white man. His loss… unable to judge people for what THEY are, not by a preconceived notion. There ARE rogue cops, just as there are unscrupulous women, businessmen, doctors, teachers, ministers, mechanics, etc. But to live your life always assuming the worse of someone because of their occupation or gender or race is a pitiable way to live. Prof. Gates made the situation a thousand-fold worse than it needed to be – I do not blame Sgt. Crowley one bit, because he was there to protect the community, not just establish the identity of a man whom a neighbor thought could be a robber. Gates blew it by being a hot-headed, race-baiting elitist who was confrontational with the police from the get-go. It was HE who showed bad judgment, not the officer who was there responding to a 911 call. Expecting the officer to “walk away” would have been grievous, since someone agitated and yelling like that would make any rational person believe he could be capable of directing that wrath, after the police left, on an innocent neighbor. Gates was a jerk, pure and simple. Blaming the cop for doing his job, to protect and to serve, is ridiculous.

By: Rob Rahlf

Rob Rahlf — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:33:51 +0000

This issue isn’t a racial problem although I’m sure Professor Gates felt it was. I’m a middle aged white male and I can “guarantee you” the same thing would happen to me.

Unfortunately Officer Crowley isn’t “smart enough” to walk away from Professor Gates home once his residency was established. END OF STORY, PERIOD (unless of course he was threatened).

Cops “always harass”, & throw their weight around everytime they can! This happens to be everyday moron cop behavior. This isn’t a racial issue this is “typical rogue” cop “out of control” like ALWAYS!!!!

They only way this is going to STOP is IF Professor Gates SUES this cop and my sincere hope is that he does!

By: admin

admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:30:12 +0000

Dave,

Your insight and appraisal of race and gender issues are refreshing and honest – you’ve given me much to think about, particularly about female officers and what so many are unfairly subjected to. This Cambridge incident has been turned into a regrettable media circus… Sgt. Crowley should never have been forced, like he’s been, to be harassed and maligned under the harsh light of public scrutiny because an elderly black professor, who happens to know the president, showed terrible judgment and had an unjustified race-baiting tantrum. Your point that had Crowley actually been a racist jerk, he would not have had the heartfelt support that he’s had from his fellow minority officers, is an excellent one. Sgt. Crowley has been humiliated and his reputation and integrity has been smeared – disgraceful what has happened to this fine man who was simply doing his job.

I appreciate you taking the time to respond like this, dear friend. Thank you. I know I’m a bit wiser now.

By: Dave B

Dave B — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:14:35 +0000

I would be happy to do so. I failed to mention that the female officers, especially minority female officers go through a lot of crap and deserve a lot of respect and admiration. They are especially sensitive to “no win” situations because they are constantly evaluated with the caveat they got their job because they are female or a minority or both. Minority male officers work every day with an albatross strapped to their neck that they really didn’t deserve the job or promotion. As a white police officer I want to state that personally I want to see the day when this ends. I believe that Law Enforcement will be the first environment where all this ends. Police officers recognize courage and honesty and covet those qualities. It was no surprise that black police officers, both male and female, spoke out in the Cambridge case. That’s because they are honest and courageous… the most important things to police officers. Color of skin means little to nothing once you’re in the profession if you’re a good cop. The black officers knew EXACTLY what happened and were as embarassed and hurt about it as white officers would be if it had been reversed. If the Sergeant had been a racist jerk then they wouldn’t have done it and he wouldn’t have gotten the support. There will be an improvement in race relations and it will start in the law enforcement community (and of course the military) and we will be all right.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:38:26 +0000

Well said, Dave. I correspond with many soldiers and Marines in the war zones of Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. I write to all races, religions, and ages. From what many have told me, there is no “white vs black” or “Catholic vs Jew” or “New Yorker vs Texas” mentality with these heroic men and women, either. They are a team, united in spirit and purpose, and disregard the superficial nonsense and focus on the important things, like integrity and team support and friendship and survival. I’m sure these are similar feelings for those who serve as our brave police officers and fire fighters.

Thank you for giving your input, and I hope you pop back in again to offer your insight when the mood strikes you. As a veteran cop, you can share experiences with readers that most of us can only speculate upon.

By: Dave B

Dave B — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:29:46 +0000

I’ve been a cop for 33 years in Massachusetts. I knew there would be a backlash as soon as Obama made his statement, which to me was calculated and planned. He doesn’t understand, nor do any of the elites, that black and white relations in law enforcement is a “different animal”. Black officers and white officers would die for each other and there is a mutual respect and comraderie. Maybe they ought to take a look at police officers when they want to study “race relations”. There’s something about putting your life on the line for each other and/or sharing or seeing things that no one should have to see that puts things into perspective. We share each other’s pains or frustrations as if it were happening to us personally. If a black officer is belittled because of his race we all feel it. The same applies to the opposite situation and I think Obama and crew just learned that.

By: Reggie Greene / The Logistician

Reggie Greene / The Logistician — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:04:26 +0000

We have three observations about the Harvard professor incident:

1. We find it interesting that the fact that this was the professor’s home was evidently not established early on way before the dispute escalated;

2. We find it fascinating that the versions of two members of society, who most would ordinarily view as responsible and honest citizens (this obviously does not include politicians), would vary so dramatically from a factual point of view.

3. Finally, considering that the reading and viewing public were not present at the scene (and thus have no first hand knowledge), and that there is no video tape to our knowledge of the sequence of events and what was said, how so many have formed conclusions, and made assumptions, about who did what and who was wrong.

There are some things which Professor Gates might have considered upon the arrival of the police, no matter how incensed he may have been.

By: admin

admin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:28:28 +0000

I read your post at your blog, Ed, and thought it was excellent. I’ve excerpted a bit of it for another of my posts on the subject.

Thumbs up on a terrific commentary.

By: BigEdsBlog

BigEdsBlog — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:29:11 +0000

I first wrote about this on Tues and basically said that Gates was a jack arse.
Now Obama opens his uninformed mouth and inserts his foot in it.
Gates said that Crowley didn’t know who he was messing with.
Perhaps Gates is the one who didn’t know who he was messing with.
Check out my take on it and the link to my Tue post. Also, please stick around for more good content.
http://libertarianhumor.com/2009/07/24/gates-2/