tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post4449960024543020620..comments2023-12-30T23:02:57.931-08:00Comments on Deep Thought: Gates matter requires some questions.Eli Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00792743206074537073noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post-12643239761535217592009-07-27T17:24:55.813-07:002009-07-27T17:24:55.813-07:00Look,
in America we have the right to call peopl...Look, <br /><br />in America we have the right to call people names. If I don't have that right to call you an asshole then what rights do I have?<br /><br />I realize that 'disorderly conduct' is a catch-all charge that covers everything from public nudity to playing your stereo too loud to maybe even playing footsie in the men's room at the Minneapolis airport, but I really think that the cop should have just gotten into his car and driven off.<br /><br />Keep in mind too that Gates had just flown back from China (with all the attendant discomforts of modern air travel since airline deregulation in the 1980's killed the 'friendly skies') and then had the frustration after hours of sitting in one position of having to force open his door. Not that I'm defending his outburst to the police officer but I know I'd probably have a short fuse in a similar situation.Eli Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00792743206074537073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post-3268617127023892882009-07-27T15:39:47.672-07:002009-07-27T15:39:47.672-07:00It's my understanding that the police officer ...It's my understanding that the police officer asked the man to step out onto the porch. <br /><br />Nonetheless, isn't your house your castle...at least according to conservatives? The man was defending his domain?<br /><br />Nonetheless, whatever happened to a policeman just showing common courtesy to someone on his beat? Or a citizen showing the requested I.D. without getting all bent out of shape? Or the President not commenting on a legal matter without thinking first?<br /><br />Me thinks all three men involved made a strategic mistake. They let their emotions and egos get in the way. I'd rather they all just act like adults now and admit there is enough blame to go around.<br /><br />Too much testosterone at work.sandyhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13953353795729444943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post-78178967823848584562009-07-26T22:33:12.856-07:002009-07-26T22:33:12.856-07:00What Donna said.What Donna said.shrimplatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08347542266047278227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post-51880549594460566592009-07-25T08:50:37.940-07:002009-07-25T08:50:37.940-07:00I hope this incident leads to a broader discussion...I hope this incident leads to a broader discussion on police powers. Gates was arrested for "disorderly conduct", a charge which is supposed to mean that you are a danger to yourself or others, or are inciting a riot. Yet more often that not, it is really a charge of "arguing with the cop". While generally speaking it's a good idea to be polite to law enforcement personnel (of course, it's a good idea to be nice to everyone) there's no law or article in the Constitution or anything anywhere that says that the police are entitled to politeness. Yet that's essentially the state we are in. If you so much as look at an airport TSA agent crosseyed, you will probably be interrogated and body cavity searched. As a result, we trudge through the security turnstiles like so many compliant sheep being herded. <br /><br />I believe Gates got hassled not necessarily because he's black (though it might have been part of it) but because he was impolite to an authority figure who has clearly internalized the belief that he is entitled to deference.Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11651433158863156669noreply@blogger.com