Print
Email
Media outlets may be disappointed by the lack of access to the Rose Garden beerfest, but the truth is, real dialogue doesn't take place with the whole world watching.
Miller Time at the White House came and went. Most black people and police critics are still shouting, “Tastes great.” White people and police supporters are still shouting, “Less filling.” The deep problem beneath the surface of the Gates-Crowley encounter has not changed at all. Let the teaching begin. The issue now is the future, not dissecting the past.
Going into it, I thought that the most one could hope for from President Obama’s beer summit was a mutual gesture of humanity, understanding and the potential for reconciliation. The image of civil exchange at a table is a start. For me, a picture of the men shaking hands would be important and more than enough. An agreement for a continuing discussion and clear evidence of mutual respect and a decision to move forward positively is even more important. But let’s be clear, despite the wails and moans of the gathered epic media-scrum who felt they were not given sufficient access, a real dialogue cannot take place with the whole world watching.
No major peace accord has been negotiated with the media at the table. No de-escalation of military tensions has occurred with the media filming every utterance, gesture and twitch of the negotiators. And despite our modern pre-occupation with Dr. Phil and shows like his that showcase personal failings and individual wounds, the breach exposed by the Gates-Crowley affair will not be spanned while bright lights and talking heads screech well-rehearsed bromides at each other.
From the beginning, this event was a symbol of a well-known and explosive fissure in American society: the place where the frontline of government authority—the police—face what has long been the leading edge of social division in America—race. But this type of encounter is just the tip of the iceberg. The bigger problem is the noxious combination of persistent black poverty and segregation on the one hand, and a persistent culture of anti-black prejudice that still bedevils America, though less potent and pervasive today than it was in the past, on the other.
Happy hour is over. It’s closing time on the Gates-Crowley media scrum. My hope is that now the time has arrived to focus on the real problem and get beneath and beyond all the spin and symbolism.
The issue struck a cord precisely because it reaches a deep place in American identity. Sadly, it reveals something about who we are. The American people and, therefore, the media remain engaged with this issue precisely because it cuts so close to the heart of the enduring legacy of slavery, Jim Crow and racial division in American society. That the incident also simultaneously involved social class divisions and claims of police misconduct only added even more layers of complexity to the incident. Healing these wounds cannot possibly be accomplished in an evening of beer drinking. But the intensity of the focus on the moment is certainly understandable.
President Obama gambled much on bringing together Professor Gates and Sgt. Crowley. Either man could have scuttled this event and played strictly to their core supporters. But both decided to be open to the possibility of something greater and more important. Obama is a leader who saw the possibility in this moment and made the gestures necessary to keep things moving forward. Thank you, Mr. President.
Yes, Obama’s words at the end of his earlier press conference could have been more carefully chosen. If that had happened, perhaps no “beer summit” would have been necessary. But he reacted honestly and that is fair and only human. He also later apologized for using language that was too sweeping in the net it cast and too strong in the condemnation it contained. A political coward would have sidestepped the issue entirely. Obama did not. I applaud him for that and continue to be astonished and gratified by his capacity for genuine leadership. I doubt that either George W. Bush or Bill Clinton would or could have brought these two men together and turned the situation into a step forward.
And I want to applaud both my friend, Skip Gates, and James Crowley. Both men needed to swallow a little pride on this day and both found a way do so. And most importantly, both decided to stay focused on the future and the larger issues. Unlike the tiresome cast of pundits, they did not make this about re-interpreting the past or playing to their own choirs.
Now the real work begins. Racial profiling is a problem. Black poverty and a set of anti-crime and law enforcement policies that all too often pit poor black communities against the police must be the subject of the most searching scrutiny and re-evaluation. I have on previous occasions discussed the magnitude of the problem of black incarceration. Scholars, policy-makers and law enforcement officials around the nation now need to redouble the efforts to make sure we have law enforcement policies that insure the public safety of everyone and that involve a fair and even-handed application of the law without regard to race.
There is a lesson here about fear of discourse on race issues. Franklin Roosevelt called it years and years ago: ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” To be sure, the intensity of a high-profile controversy is, in and of itself, no place for meaningful discussion to occur. Our colleges and universities, town halls and school auditoriums, local restaurants and family dining rooms are indeed the places where serious and meaningful discussion can and should now be taking place.
If Gates and Crowley can do it, perhaps all of us can. We just all have to agree to get beyond the sound bites. The teachable moment is here.
Lawrence Bobo is the W.E.B. Du Bois Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard University.
Comments
This article is very interesting. Thank you very much for sharing .
inchirieri auto | fier forjat | cadouri
Louis Vuitton Handbags are perfect imitations, indistinguishable from the real thing.
Our replica Luis Vuitton collection includes everything; Monogram Perfo Pochettes, compact wallets and Speedy satchels can be yours for below-market prices when you buy from Fake-designer.com. The same goes for each and every item in our Louie Vuitton lines- from our Louis Vuitton Bags to our Fendi handbags. If you love Cheap Louis Vuitton, ,designer Replica Louis Vuitton;Fake-designer.com has something for you. Magnificent Louis Vuitton Handbags | Luxury Replica Louis Vuitton Bags wallet Online Sale
Louis Vuitton Outlet | Luxury Replica Louis Vuitton Bags wallet Online Sale
Louis Vuitton Utah Leather Omaha Replica M92994 On Sale - Cheap Louis Vuitton Wallets,Handbags,Bags,Purses Shop Outlet
Louis Vuitton Luggage Replica On Sale |Discount Louis Vuitton Handbags,Purses,Wallets,Bags Shop Outlet
Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Deauville Replica M47270 On Sale - Cheap Louis Vuitton Wallets,Handbags,Bags,Purses Shop Outlet
Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Carryall Replica M40074 On Sale - Cheap Louis Vuitton Wallets,Handbags,Bags,Purses Shop Outlet
Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Keepall 55 Replica M41414 On Sale - Cheap Louis Vuitton Wallets,Handbags,Bags,Purses Shop Outlet
Of all the citizen interactions everyday (millions I would guess) cops have, killing a citizen is usually the exception. We don't live in a police state...get over that argument. Yes, there are some badge heavy nut jobs out there, but they aren't all badge heavy nut jobs. And you shouldn't assume otherwise.
a black Cambridge police sergeant on the scene the day of Gates' arrest:
"I'm forced to ponder the notion that as a result of speaking the truth and coming to the defense of a friend and colleague, who just happens to be white, that I have somehow betrayed my heritage," Sgt. Leon Lashley wrote. "Please convey my concerns to the president that Mr. Gates' actions may have caused grave and potentially irreparable harm to the struggle for racial harmony in this country and perhaps throughout the world."
And lets add a quote from Colin Powell:
"when you are faced with an officer trying to do his job and get to the bottom of something, this is not the time to get in an argument with him. I was taught that as a child."
cialis online
tiffany co
tiffany jewelry
Blue Tiffany jewelry Eternally Manifests Fashion
Buy Tiffany Jewelry Anytime and Anywhere
Tiffany&Co Engraved HEART TAG Necklace
Tiffany&Co BEAN Cuff Links
Tiffany&Co Orchid Drop Earrings
Tiffany&Co Engraved Round Tag Toggle Bracelet
Tiffany&Co Five S Bracelet
Tiffany&Co Round Circle Earring
Tiffany&Co Heart Link Drop Earrings
Tiffany&Co Triple Circle earrings
tiffany co
tiffany jewelry
Blue Tiffany jewelry Eternally Manifests Fashion
Buy Tiffany Jewelry Anytime and Anywhere
Tiffany&Co Engraved HEART TAG Necklace
Tiffany&Co BEAN Cuff Links
Tiffany&Co Orchid Drop Earrings
Tiffany&Co Engraved Round Tag Toggle Bracelet
Tiffany&Co Five S Bracelet
Tiffany&Co Round Circle Earring
Tiffany&Co Heart Link Drop Earrings
Tiffany&Co Triple Circle earrings
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton handbags
Louis Vuitton Outlet
Cheap Louis Vuitton Bags
Louis Vuitton Replica
Louis Vuitton Sale
Louis Vuitton Women's Classic Mini Sand 5854 SAND Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Women's Classic Mini Chocolate 5854 CHOCOLATE Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Autumn Messenger Black Shoulder Bag 122793-1000 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite Canvas Travel Bag N41140 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Signature Leather Key Purse 181673-9791 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Deep Blue Check Cashmere Scarf BCSC004 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Men's Shoes XMXU1PAG-2 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Men's Shoes PAG58 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Men's Shoes XMXU2PAG-5 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Men's Shoes Y2TT1PMD-2 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Damier Canvas Broadway N42270 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Waist Pouch 28566-8496 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Monogram Multicolor Canvas Rift - Black M40056 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Ballpoint Pen-Solitaire 35988-SN15 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite Canvas Keepall 55 Bandouliere N41413 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Galliera GM M56381 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Tulum PM M40076 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Boulogne M51265 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Beverly GM M40120 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Speedy 40 M41522 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Papillion 30 M51385 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Horsebit Flap Wallet 146207-1000 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Continental Wallets 112724-1000 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton GG Monogram Lomg Wallet - Bow Tie 167464-1000 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Large Horsebit Flap Wallet 146206-1000 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Atlas CUBE Pendant NET125 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Atlas NUMERIC OPEN BAR Pendant TPD011 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Atlas Numeric Round Pendant NET059 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Elsa Peretti Comma cuff links AC015 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Med. D-Ring Logo and Leather Wallets 138029-9791 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Paloma Picasso SCRIBBLE Charm AC026 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Sevillana Earrings ERT038 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Elsa Peretti Quadrifoglio Earrings ERT030 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Eugenie Wallet M60123 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Pochette Wallet M61726 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Porte - Monnaie Accordeon M58007 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Women's Brookfield Tall chocolate 5594 CHOCOLATE Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Partenaire PM R20981 Cheap Sale Louis Vuitton Rollerball Pen-Meisterstuck 12890-SN8 Cheap Sale
Until the issue of violating a citizen’s Fourth Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution is addressed, truly resolving this issue won’t happen — even if the Black Dr. Gates was illegally arrested by a Black police officer carrying a NAACP membership card. Lesser known Americans of every ethnicity and socioeconomic status are violated daily by public servants sworn to serve, protect and respect the citizens (and citizen rights) that pay their salaries.
Mrs. Lucia Whalen, who clearly did the right thing by making the 9-1-1 call for an elderly resident (as heard in the 9-1-1 call below) — yet, still had her words and efforts twisted in officer James Crowley's bogus "official" police report (shown below) — actually deserves the happy hour drink at the White House. She never said that anything about anyone being Black — unlike what was written in Crowley's official report, which points somewhat to his mindset beyond the procedural and 4th Amendment violations. With the reality of police impostors, not identifying himself when asked by Gates was only a small part of a series of violations.
Race and racial profiling is only a subtext to the bigger issue of abuse of power by any rogue officer. The "teachable moment" will only come when a violating officer is held fully accountable legally and administratively by the laws that protect every American — especially since it's highly unlikely that police unions or most police chiefs will effectively reprimand or remove officers who make it more difficult or dangerous for others to police the communities they serve.
The honorable Henry Louis Gates Jr. can give a truly "teachable moment" by enforcing (i.e. civil lawsuit) the Bill of Rights that too many Americans have struggled and even died to uphold.
Dennis Moore — Publisher — http://www.POTUSworld.com — ppceo@potusworld.com
http://www.potusworld.com/Page_Two.html#RacePoliceAndTheConstitution
FULL SIX-MINUTE 9-1-1 POLICE AUDIOS:
http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/documents/WSJ_audioPlayer08.html?audio...
FULL 3-PAGE POLICE REPORT:
http://www.samefacts.com/archives/Police%20report%20on%20Gates%20arrest.PDF
ANALYSIS: http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0728/p02s04-usgn.html
http://ethicist.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/27/why-henry-louis-gates-shoul...
POLICE MISCONDUCT REPORTING:
http://www.lawcollective.org/article.php?id=95
LEGALITIES OF ARREST & THE FOURTH AMENDMENT:
http://criminal.findlaw.com/crimes/criminal_rights/your-rights-search-an...
http://criminal.findlaw.com/crimes/criminal_rights/your-rights-search-an...
http://law.jrank.org/pages/1451/Justification-Law-Enforcement-Arrest-att...
The United States Constitution — Bill of Rights — Amendment IV:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
THE U.S. CONSTITUTION - FOURTH AMENDMENT:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Const...
THE FOURTH AMENDMENT REGARDING ARRESTS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Const...
http://www.lectlaw.com/def/f081.htm
THE U.S. CONSTITUTION:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Constitution
UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UCMJ
http://www.jag.navy.mil/documents/UCMJ.pdf
PRESIDENT OBAMA VIDEOS ON GATES' ARREST:
http://www.c-span.org/flvPop.aspx?src=60days/whpb072409.flv&s=0&e=0&live...
http://www.c-span.org/flvPop.aspx?src=60days/wh072209_obama.flv&s=0&e=0&...
We - who are not so smart as our gifted President - may learn something from him. We may not get to be able to read his mind telepathically (oh! that's impossible), but he's given us an opportunity to share his un-mediated (not distorted or spinned by the media) by sharing an intimate thought with his soul-mate. What better way to learn of his true thinking is there?
If we listen we can appreciate his appreciation of the pure accidents of history.
We should also work together to restore his rating by admitting what should by now be obvious - stupid is what stupid does. Stupid arrests someone for being at home. No need to go much deeper than that (no "R" word is needed).
To: Michelle Obama
Subject: Re: Why so fractious at breakfast??
Yeah, I'm sorry. Not myself this week. Partly the falling approval ratings, I guess, but mainly the fact that I didn't become president in order to spend 12 days of the most precious political time in the recent history of the US organising DRINKS MEETINGS. If America never gets healthcare reform, I'm blaming that jammed door on Skip Gates's house. xxB
Kinda funny that Rev. Al and Jesse got real quiet when they found out that this racist cop currently taught a course on racial profiling, and that Gates called the officer a redneck. I wonder if Harvard will suspend him for racist remarks like the Boston Police did to that other officer.
by allowing your civil rights to be violated without taking legal action you have done a disservice to this country and yourself. your craven behavior has forced other to take up the fight for rule of law and freedom of speech.very few americans have the resources you have to fight an unjust arrest and being an african american studies scholar makes your behavior even more shameful
Man arrested for chanting at police
D.C. police launched an internal investigation after a 33-year-old lawyer complained that he was improperly charged with disorderly conduct after chanting "I hate police" while walking down the street.
Pepin Tuma, a lawyer in private practice, said he was walking in the U Street corridor late Saturday with two friends when they came upon several police cars at a traffic stop. Tuma and his friends, also lawyers, had been discussing the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.
"In a singsong voice, a little louder than conversation, I said, 'I hate the police. I hate the police,' " Tuma said. He said an officer came over and said, "You can't talk to the police like that," before pushing him against an electric utility box and handcuffing him.
Tuma said he asked why he was being arrested and said he had a right to express his opinion. Tuma said the officer called him a "faggot."
A police spokeswoman said Tuma's complaint is being investigated but would not comment further.