Remember when President Obama was criticized for criticizing cops arresting Henry Louis Gates?

[tulipsandroses]

He had to walk back his comments after heavy criticism by Law Enforcement. After they arrested Mr. Gates at his own damn home. If you forgot what happened. Mr. Gates was locked out of his home and someone reported a burglary. Police arrived. Somehow even though they confirmed he lived there, he still ended up arrested for disorderly conduct.
The officer insisted Mr. Gates was over the top angry and yelling.That version of events is in question. Bottomline, You were called to investigate a burglary. Upon finding out this was not a burglary, even if you have an angry home owner who thinks he is being profiled, why did you not get in your car and leave?


Here is how the Guardian reported on Mr. Gates's Arrest. Blaming the victim because he should not have been angry. Not questioning why the arrest was necessary.

Henry Louis Gates arrest: it's never a good idea to get angry with the police
Why was a brilliant 58-year-old scholar unable to talk down a less educated cop trying to do his difficult job in the scholar's own home?

The prof allegedly accused the cop of racism and warned him "who he was messing with". The result: four hours in the slammer.

I wasn't there, you weren't there; how can we know what happened? But Gates has spent a lifetime immersed in the history of African-Americans and all the dreadful things done to them. My hunch is that the very thought of being arrested in his own home triggered both memory and anger.

That might explain why a brilliant 58-year-old scholar with almost one degree for every year of his life can't talk down a less educated cop trying to do his difficult job in the scholar's own home. As a Washington Post writer explains it's never a good idea to get angry with men in uniform – and Crowley was only following routine procedure.

That's the trouble with anger: it's a good servant, but a bad master. Lots of people have cause for anger, both good and insufficient (I do myself and let it off the leash more than I should), but a Harvard professor has surely done well enough in life to work it through in the age of Barack Obama. Yes?

[link:https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2009/jul/22/henry-louis-gates-michael-white|

[sfstaxprep]

1. I Remember When He Was Criticized For Wearing A Tan Suit nt

[malaise]

2. I remember well

and don't plan to forget

[Jeebo]

3. I remember when he was criticized for not putting his hand over his heart...

...for the national anthem (or was it the pledge of allegiance?) -- but he DID put his hand over his heart a few seconds after the picture was snapped.

-- Ron

[Arkansas Granny]

4. I remember that Obama wad criticized for getting Dr. Gates and the arresting officer

together at the so-called "Beer Summit" to bring the two sides together.

[fishwax]

5. Yeesh. What do you have to be angry about? We elected Obama? Why can't you be more like Mandela?

[bobbieinok]

6. Grotesque that Gates was thought to have no right to get angry. Blacks must be adults

Whites seem to need someone to take care of us, protect us from consequences and responsibility

[dalton99a]

7. Never forget