As most of you might or might not know, I have given up on chasing racism. ---There is just too much of it in the age of Obama--- But, unfortunately for me, the son of a bitch won't leave me alone.
The following post comes compliments of "The Root" online magazine:
"On July 16th, 2009, Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., 58, the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor of Harvard University, was headed from Logan airport to his home [in] Cambridge after spending a week in China, where he was filming his new PBS documentary entitled “Faces of America”. Professor Gates was driven to his home by a driver for a local car company. Professor Gates attempted to enter his front door, but the door was damaged. Professor Gates then entered his rear door with his key, turned off his alarm, and again attempted to open the front door. With the help of his driver they were able to force the front door open, and then the driver carried Professor Gates’s luggage into his home.
Professor Gates immediately called the Harvard Real Estate office to report the damage to his door and requested that it be repaired immediately. As he was talking to the Harvard Real Estate office on his portable phone in his house, he observed a uniformed officer on his front porch. When Professor Gates opened the door, the officer immediately asked him to step outside. Professor Gates remained inside his home and asked the officer why he was there. The officer indicated that he was responding to a 911 call about a breaking and entering in progress at this address. Professor Gates informed the officer that he lived there and was a faculty member at Harvard University. The officer then asked Professor Gates whether he could prove that he lived there and taught at Harvard. Professor Gates said that he could, and turned to walk into his kitchen, where he had left his wallet. The officer followed him. Professor Gates handed both his Harvard University identification and his valid Massachusetts driver’s license to the officer. Both include Professor Gates’s photograph, and the license includes his address.
Professor Gates then asked the police officer if he would give him his name and his badge number. He made this request several times. The officer did not produce any identification nor did he respond to Professor Gates’s request for this information. After an additional request by Professor Gates for the officer’s name and badge number, the officer then turned and left the kitchen of Professor Gates’s home without ever acknowledging who he was or if there were charges against Professor Gates. As Professor Gates followed the officer to his own front door, he was astonished to see several police officers gathered on his front porch. Professor Gates asked the officer’s colleagues for his name and badge number. As Professor Gates stepped onto his front porch, the officer who had been inside and who had examined his identification, said to him, “Thank you for accommodating my earlier request,” and then placed Professor Gates under arrest. He was handcuffed on his own front porch."
This is a joke right? You folks over at The Root are just making this shit up to get a little free publicity. The cops and everybody was in on it, right?............
Okay, I am going back to my regular scheduled life now. Racism, you are way too much for me.
Wait, I have some more. Please excuse the field people, but I just can't write about this in a lucid manner right about now. Instead, I will refer you to an excellent post from a fellow blogger, who gives the story a fair and balanced (Hey where have I heard that before?) perspective.
Thank you for your patience while I recuperate from the ass kicking that racism has been giving me lately.
Civil suit, very large, in 3...2..1...
ReplyDeleteThe 'age of Obama' continues to magnify what most of us already new existed. The only thing some people recognize is the color of your skin. Perhaps Pres. Obama can use some of his hidden power and authority in this matter. It should be unacceptable on principle alone. I'm not sure what sort of reprimand would suffice; but an acknowledgement of a great error and mistreatment would be a start.
ReplyDeleteAgain, white priviledge behavior at work. The core basis that a Black person can never articulate enough, never validate enough and never get away from- just being Black is all it takes for too many people in our society.
No joke. It's all over the news now. Initially, he was probably not surprised & even pleased someone cared enough to call the police - he might've done the same for a neighbor. The incident is a reminder for the professor (not that he necessarily needed any) of what life is like off campus.
ReplyDeleteStunning! Professor Gates is the epitome of gentleman, dignity.... I have longed admired him and his work. Stunning! Field, as you well know, character is huge in determining guilt or innocence... This fool cop just picked the absolute wrong guy. Professor Gates is beyond reproach.... even to many white folks..... What the hell did they charge him with?
ReplyDeleteThe mystery to me is why Mr. Gates neighbor, Lucia Whalen (another Harvard employee) didn't recognize Gates before calling the police.
ReplyDeleteOr see the driver helping Mr. Gates bring his luggage from the car.
Did she forget that a black man was her neighbor?
And why not call Harvard's campus police first?
I agree with I am not Star Jones. What was up with the neighbor?
ReplyDeleteOnce again I say all police departments in the U.S. need to be shutdown and then remade as modern police departments. There is no excuse for this, although I'm sure the police there already have one from the Big Book of Police Excuses.
"Did she forget that a black man was her neighbor?
ReplyDeleteAnd why not call Harvard's campus police first?"
Now now, you know those campus cops can't handle an irate Negro.
Ok... I went and found the charges:
ReplyDeletehe was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge after police said he "exhibited loud and tumultuous behavior."
That is the biggest bunch of bullcrap I have read all day... all week. no, all year!
The more things change the more they stay the same. What kind of cop in Cambridge doesn't not who Skip Gates is, he doesn't exactly keep a low profile.
ReplyDeleteWow, is all I can say about this tragic thing happen to Mr. Gates...I'm not shocked this shit is happening in the age of Obama.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought after getting over the initial shock of Mr.Gates was how in the hell did they not know it was him? Let's be real his neighbors know damn well he is the only Black man living on that block. Did they forget what the hell he looked like?...I hope he sue the hell out of the department.
No need to fear, Rev. Al is on the case...
ReplyDeleteSometimes his presence is warrented and appreciated$ @ other times people that need to listen will turn a deaf ear.
We shall see.
Black people brace yourself for more of this is to come...Middle class so called UPPIDITY blacks will continue to be the victims of attacks and racism from resentful whites....period...When you add up the economic problems in the US (whites are suffering). There is a black president now (they feel less powerful) and most whites arent even aware of the numbers of middle class/upper class black folks who are not atheletes or entertainers... Because of specials like "Black in America" a totally DIM picture of blacks is constantly presented. Black folks are in for increased racism. They are not even politically correct anymore. When regular/average white folks think that they are a few steps ahead of you, they are not thinking of you. When they think that you are catching up/surpassing them that is when the take time out of their precious lives to worry about you. You should read the 700 something comments under the article.
ReplyDeleteI see a civil lawsuit in Cambridge's future. Then again we're talking the Boston PD here, who were immortalized for their DWB of Dee Brown when he was a rookie with the Celtics.
ReplyDeleteNot surprised at all.
LOL The irony of it all. It is gonna get buck-wild in this country very, very soon. - Obama's numbers are tanking because he spent too much time sucking up to his white cousins as opposed to keeping his campaign promises.
ReplyDeleteField, don't travel alone or after dark. LOL If they can treat Gates like that - the rest of you uppity negroes are in for it.
I need a speech from Rev. Wright and Minister Farrakhan about now.
You need to read that police report. It's so contrived based on his wording, you can actually envision what really went down.
ReplyDelete"The mystery to me is why Mr. Gates neighbor, Lucia Whalen (another Harvard employee) didn't recognize Gates before calling the police. '
I wouldn't be surprised if she knew it was him, she probably resented him for years. She saw the opportunity and she ceased the moment. Either that. or her racist reflex kicked when she simply saw a black person forcing a door open. Just that sight alone makes people like her react. That's all it takes, then having any recollection of having a black neighbor becomes inexistent.
Something similar happened to a 52 year old black female friend of the family in upscale Maryland. She had just moved into a white neighborhood in that area. She wasn't there for a good 10 months until one bright day she decided to go out jugging like white folks (according to her). Within no time a patrol officer drove up and ask her for identification, he received a call about a suspicious person roaming the neighborhood.
She told him she lived a block down and didn't walk with anything except for her phone and house keys in her side pockets. He told her to get into the squad car and prove where she lived or else he would have to take her to the prescient for identification. There were a few white people that were onlookers. She calmly asked him why he didn't stop them for identification. He told her they didn't fit the description, and he got aggravated and became highly discourteous. She was humiliated, and I remember her being edgy that entire week. She later found out it was her white neighbor in one house down across the street that called 911.
They got Skip!?!
ReplyDeleteI read here often but rarely post. This however warrants a WTF!!.
Skip is the wrong brother to pull this on. I bet right about now the Cambridge cops are wishing they had just apologized and left.
Btw, that happened just in 2007. I am fearing it's going to get worse now. Racist white people are angry and on their defense more than ever.
ReplyDeleteFact: Never trust a white man in uniform, esp. if that uniform is white.
ReplyDeleteDang...I'm sure Gates is pretty pissed this happened to him. A Harvard Professor treated like a burglar in his own home. Humiliating.
ReplyDeleteI need to keep looking at the calendar to make sure it's not 1959.
ReplyDeleteAnd like I Am Not Star Jones said, how did that white broad not know who this was, and what burglar brings LUGGAGE into a house?! We constantly hear about the angry Black woman/man, why not the paranoid White woman pulling the damn becky card,I'm so glad her name was released. And why was he arrested after he provided all the information, just because he did not smile and say yassuh boss?
I have been on another message board for the past few days arguing about what would it take to get Obama to address racial profiling and brutality (which seems to have gotten even more egregious since Jan 20th, hmmmm), and then this happens today. Professor Gates is militant with a Phd and all kinds of media access, those Cambridge clowns just messed with the wrong Black man.
That police officer is lying about the comment he claimed that Gates made. "I'll step outside for yo momma."
ReplyDeleteAll black folks don't talk like that, especially, educated black people. That is urban street language and someone living in the projects wouldn't say something like that to a police, unless they on something and not playing with a full deck.
I am not so sure that the neighbor saw Gates, since he was inside the house and the driver was outside pushing on the door. If that was the case, maybe she was trying to be a good neighbor and call on anything suspicious looking. After all, Gates had been gone for weeks.
ReplyDeleteI really really hope that Gates is on the up and up with this.
Anonymous 11:51:
ReplyDeleteShe saw them because she reported TWO men breaking in a house. And what would make you think that he wasn't on the up and up?
I just dropped in to offer you a link to the story - shoulda known you already had it. I saw my first reference to it at http://wonkette.com/ and chased it around.
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely amazing what the 'white folk' choose to focus on when they posted at thecrimson.com. I am just a Grumpy Old Man (white) but I grew my hair long in Montana in the '70s so I got some idea of unequal power politics.
"I really really hope that Gates is on the up and up with this."
ReplyDeleteConsidering the stand you took about the possible scenario, what exactly do you mean now by this statement?
"She saw them because she reported TWO men breaking in a house. And what would make you think that he wasn't on the up and up?"
ReplyDeleteI didn't say that he wasn't on the up and up.
I have seen Mr. Gates in many documentaries on television. He walks with a cane and looks much older than his age. How could anyone believe that he was a threat? After he properly identified himself the police officer should have apolgized and left. My question is why did the police officer keep inviting him outside to "answer any further questions"? He know that Mr. Gates was pissed off because they way they treated him and he wanted Mr. Gates to make a scene. Mark my words, the police department will be issuing a public apology to Mr. Gates, but for me that would not be enough. The officer should lose his job because it is obvious that he is not trained to deal with ALL members of the public, whatever race they may be.
ReplyDeletethis is the song that is playing in my head after reading Ogletree's statement....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ScLW8RiFLE
It's rather strange the door to Dr. Gates' home was damaged while he was away. Those officers should have checked that out, instead of being so worried about asking him to come outside AFTER he provided id.
ReplyDeleteThat police is lying to cover his own behind. Like I said before, an educated black man would not have used the term "ya momma" in addressing a police officer or for whatever reason. That is straight up urban hood language, and even someone from the hood wouldn't say something like that to a police, unless they were high on something or not playing with a full deck.
ReplyDeleteThe word momma is sort of sacred in black communities. It will get you a near death experience in the hood if you said something about someone's momma. That's all I have to say about it.
How far is Lincoln, Mass from Cambridge? I have relatives that live in Lincoln, Mass and their whole intermediate family graduated from Harvard.
Their trying to make Dr. Gates out to be some super duper black militant like Dr. Tony Martin. Every black man knows to not sass the police.It could be fatal.Everyone knows what Dr.Gates look like as much as he been on Oprah and PBS.
ReplyDeleteLet me see now, Oprah, MJ, Gates, Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Michelle's mother, Malia, Sasha, Maurice White, Sotomayor, Janet Jackson... I don't even feel like naming them all, but they have three things in common--successful, prominent, and people of color. The list goes on and on.
ReplyDeleteNot Skip...I hope he calls a nationwide town hall meeting to address this issue; then make a few calls to his friends in the whitehouse, and Danny Glover and a few other high profile folks for them to talk about their experiences. Then we can get Oprah to do an interview, and maybe Spike Lee can do a movie. They messed with the wrong Man. Skip my man we are behind you.
ReplyDeleteIf you read the police report, you can figure out exactly what happened, even though the police report is misleading.
ReplyDeleteThe Massachusetts code for disorderly conduct reads "public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm ... or tumultuous behavior."
These are exactly the words used in the police report. You have to give the cop credit. He knew his legal stuff going into this situation. Gates yelled at him inside his own house and the cop took offense, but there was nothing he could legally do about it except suck it up.
So he asked Gates to step outside under the pretext that he was having problems with his radio. Gates steps onto the porch (a public place) and continues yelling and bam, you're arrested for public disorderly conduct. Gates fell right into the trap. He was probably too mad to realize he was being manipulated.
The cops know all of the rules and you don't. After all, they do this stuff all day long. They will always use that against you.
Let's get this straight: The neighbor was NOT at fault. She saw something suspicious & called the police, & it was not her duty to discern the particulars of situation. Discernment is a police matter; the difference between firecrackers & gunshots (if you aren't familiar with the distinct "popping" sound), between a drunk staggering down the street & the victim of an assault. There are neighborhoods where Gates' TV, computer & anything else of value would be carried off before police even arrived, if they came at all.
ReplyDelete"...The neighbor was NOT at fault. She saw something suspicious & called the police,.."
ReplyDeleteI co-sign. The neighbor did what a good neighbor should have done.
So the neighbor that works at Harvard, who by the way does fundraising for Harvard does not another well-known faulty member that uses a cane to walk, who just happens to be her neighbor? Who had his luggage carried up to the door by his driver and they were breaking in with luggage. Yeah right! If you think so. I don't think so myself.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be really trill. Anyone who says that the neighbour isn't at fault must either be blind, white, or EXTREMELY naive. I really wish this wouldn't have happened. You know certain young students from his department may have some screws loose and cause some bullshit. Keep your eyes peeled for the next few days.
ReplyDeleteShe works for Harvard magazine.
ReplyDelete"...Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., 58,...was headed from Logan airport to his home [in] Cambridge after spending a week in China, where he was filming his new PBS documentary entitled 'Faces of America'."
ReplyDeleteIf Prof. Gates excluded from his documentary the "faces" of fascist cops in this country, I bet he's adding them now.
"So the neighbor that works at Harvard, who by the way does fundraising for Harvard does not another well-known faulty member that uses a cane to walk, who just happens to be her neighbor?"
ReplyDeleteGranny, there are professors and employees in different departments on campus at Universities who don't know each other. They could work at opposite ends of the campus and never see each other. And whether one walks with a cane or not doesn't make them any more known. Believe it or not, not everyone knows Louis Gates, especially if they are White.
But maybe you are right. Maybe she called the police out of spite because she has a deep seated hatred of Blacks, esp. those who walk with a cane. Or maybe she is jealous of Gates, feels that he doesn't deserve to be next door to her, etc.
Nevertheless, until it is revealed that she knew it was Gates in his house, I am going to assume that she was trying to be a good neighbor.
OK let's break it down.
ReplyDelete1. White lady assumes Black man is criminal, calls cops. Apparently doesn't realize she lives next to colored people. Would have moved away a long time ago if she had.
2. White cop arrives and assumes Black man is criminal. Asks Black man to prove otherwise.
3. Black man gets attitude because he can't believe fool neighbor and cop are on some boolshyt in 2009 and gonna come in his very own house with said boolshyt. Fusses out White cop.
4. White cop gets pissed at uppity negro, who he suddenly realizes lives in a much nicer house than he does. Decides to teach a lesson to uppity negro, who is promptly cuffed and stuffed.
5. Black man's lawyer issues statement in which he tones down the references to the fussing out.
6. Cop issues statement in which he makes up some shit about "acoustics" in the house and embellishes "shocked and startled" reaction of neighbors to Black man fussing him out.
7. Stay tuned for public relations damage control/potential civil suit to follow.
Did I miss anything?
"Did I miss anything?" yes. You missed the report of the second cop. You also assumed shit that was not factual, starting with #1. But I am not going to refute your assumptions. If that's your take on the situation, so be it.
ReplyDelete"You missed the report of the second cop."
ReplyDeleteWhich is relevant how?
"You also assumed shit that was not factual"
Such as?
And don't hurt yourself making up excuses for the cop to arrest someone who was obviously not a threat to anyone or anything but your sensibilities.
Anonymous 3:50:
ReplyDeleteAs a black mother and grandmother I think about my own children and grandchildren when I hear of incidents like this. We're living in a country that our ancestors helped build with their forced free labor, blood, and sweat. Yet, we are unwelcomed here. A county where the odds are stacked against us because of the color of our skin and every day we face some form of racism and discrimination in one way or another. Let's face it, all Americans know that, even the ones that pretend they don't or are in denial know that is true.
Not one of them has probably ever given a thought to how it would feel if they had to go through what we've been through or go through just what we go through on a daily basis. Because they feel that it really doesn't concern them or is an issue with them, since it's not happening to them.
But you know, life is so funny when you look at it with all of its different twist, turns, and curves.
"Which is relevant how?" You asked if you missed anything and I told you what you missed. Secondly, why wouldn't the second cops report be relevant?
ReplyDeleteBut as I said before, I know it won't make any difference what I say, your mind is already full. So I won't waste my time.
This is disheartening news. Sometimes you think you are among friends, but are really surrounded by enemies.
ReplyDelete~
ReplyDeleteHmmm, t'would seem that someone, has a little girlfriend in him. This is typically the way a bitch would react; one tries to walk away from her to avoid a confrontation, and she comes after you screaming and cussing.
here field, chase this
`
C/mon Y'all look the same to us...Might as well been OJ with a Slingblade..... And whats with y'all stealin potato chips from Korean ownned stores??? Don't y'all know they add Salt Peter to calm y'all down??? Jeez, no wonder y'all kept goin to Tuskeegee for that "Free Syphillis Treatment" for years....
ReplyDeleteWTF...I thought America was "post racial" now.
ReplyDeleteI find it curious that the apparently black taxi driver also described as attempting to gain entry to the front door, has no information provided about him at all in the police report.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, the officer doesn't elaborate about what additional information he sought from Mr Gates when he demanded he move outside.
It would be difficult to believe the acoustics of the kitchen could be so bad he couldn't ask questions inside. With the officer apparently having arrived in an unmarked car and not being a campus police car, wouldn't it be reasonable for someone as sharp as Mr Gates to demand some identification from the officer?
Surely we've all heard of fake police officers attempting to gain entry in order to rob someone?
I would consider that if I was Mr Gates and had just arrived home to find my door jimmied and an uncooperative officer in an unmarked car with no campus police car also present, he might suspect such a situation.
That would certainly increase his fear level to a level already high simply by finding his home possibly robbed.
Therefore, he might fear the officer was not an actual official and perceived the officer's aggression as beyond the professionalism he's accustomed to.
Either way, Mr Gates is sleeping in his own bed only hours later, while this other officer is now drawing increased attention to himself, his co-workers and family.
His past history is now being scrutinized and he will have no normal life for quite some time.
No matter how one spins it, the officer will be the one that pays the highest price here.
So this is justice in the making.
Even if was announced that the officer was reprimanded and back on his beat, his life will be intruded upon from every angle by the media, his superiors and co-workers.
In no way was this good judgment on the officer's part, nor good PR for the Cambridge PD.
Mr. Gates reputation has the potential to far outweigh an unknown officer given even straight media reporting.
As statements and facts are clarified in greater detail, I believe that Mr. Gates will benefit in a positive way, while the officer will experience the opposite graces.
Again, justice in the making.
Finally, let me say thank you for your blog.
I appreciate your gift of focused cynicism.
I feel blogs like yours create empathy in those capable of it.
What you do is important and valuable.
I'm white and here to tell you that you CAN be compelling.
You provide a commonly shared viewpoint, but one presented in a unique way.
You're much like an Alan Alda style M*A*S*H Hawkeye character that must crack jokes lest he goes mad.
A person that's so disgusted that they have to laugh for fear of losing their sanity.
Thank you again.
Live from "Progressive" Cambridge, MA.. The M$N will blame "America" however would of this happen in Columbia Missouri or Manhattan Kansas or Lancaster, New York? Maybe Prof Gates would of knew the police force, maybe they all would of met at the Volunteer Firefighter Chili Cook Off. The Wives would of met at the book club in the local library.. the kids would know each other from youth hockey.. gasp this sounds too much like "Middle America"
ReplyDeleteI do wonder does Cambridge have that silly "idling" law. Craiglist Rent in Boston just to get the gist of the Cost of Living.
A few weeks ago Blacks got kicked out of Philly Country Club pool. What is "Liberal America" coming too. Its like we put a "clean" black man in the White House and all these ragtag nigger kids think they can just go where ever and whatever.
Liberal Whites are the type to just pay you to keep your black ass in the ghetto. Conservatives don't give a hoot how you made it, just don't take what you did not earn. This is not America, this is another adventure in the I-95 elitist drive Bentley (and have the money to buy the whole lot, not that I just went Platinum Mixtape money) however I catch hell for voting Republican. We don't like our Northeast Blue Bloods either but they all roll in the same click and I say Fuck em all!
This is some Bullshit what happen to the Professor however what about the Cambridge PD? I can take a wild guess most of them live in a shitty triple Decker in Chelsey or have to commute outside the I-495 becuase you can't afford Cambridge on a cops salary. Maybe it was class envy, something we all need to stop participating in if its Boston MASS or Boston Iowa!
Know whats even sadder than Skip getting arrested?
ReplyDeletegrab 10 white people off the streets and ask them who Skip Gates is. $100 says not one knows.
Then ask the same people who Snoop Dog is and I promise they all know.
Field - a rediscovered (by me, that is) treasure: Jimmy Carter's 5/4/74 Law Day address at Univ Georgia:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.narsil.org/index/peopl/jimmycarter/lawday
I, too, found it by re-reading Thompson's Great Shark Hunt.
plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose - eh??
Ha!!!
Sarah Deere
To Comment regarding Reverand Wright and Minister Farrakhan. They have been speaking.....we have not been listening. This is about #2 reason why NAACP,and the rest of the "old schoolers need to hang around". This is a schock for some....for others I would be schocked if they didn't arrest an assertive Black man. NOTICED...I did not say "aggressive"...If that we would be wondering what kind of memmorial service we would see. From this observer.....keep "luvin dem"....the return love is still brutal.
ReplyDeleteTo the commenter about "the Tuskeegee experiment... You were not there. I keep telling you there is nothing you can say that will hurt the average Black in America. At least I have heard it all. Think of it like this...If 100 persons tell 'one part' of a 100 part story to one person (me)...who going to to know the whole story? I have been insulted by your race for 58 years. Do you think you can insult/hurt me? You should take your remarks to a site where someone can be impressed or care about your obvious pains. Now I am going to be like Granny...I am "thruu wit it". (My words)... I know her writing would not come down in the mud with you (the pained commenter) and me (dun feeel the pain for 58 years--only make me stronger).
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of "postracial", The Uncle Toms and Aunt Jemimas over at "Bookerrising" are claiming that the cops were just doing their job and the uncooperative Gates deserved to be arrested.
ReplyDeleteNothing would please me more than to see those self-hating racist apologizing negroes gathered up and dropped into the middle of the white supremacist compound in Coer de lene Idaho.
wow
ReplyDeletefile this under:
racism is no relic!
this is further proof that nothing spares racism in america...not safe tame euro celebrity/white spouses/residences in white enclaves/ivy league thrones...
i have been a sporadic fan of this euro bro...so i am actually elated by this incident
i cannot think of any euro bro who needed such a rude awakening more than skip...
http://www.geocities.com/ambwww/gates.htm
my partner was walking home late at night in our majority white suburb from work. the cops thought he had drugs in his bag of doritos and dumped them out in the street.
ReplyDeletewe are poor. doritos don't come cheap. greenbelt police sukk
Grannystandingfortruth:
ReplyDelete"Not one of them has probably ever given a thought to how it would feel if they had to go through what we've been through or go through just what we go through on a daily basis. "
Let me start by saying that Japan is anything but easy on its foreigners. Even so, I am treated far better here (as a Black woman) than in the States. Many White folks I have known leave here hating the place, mainly because they ARE finally treated like us and they despise the treatment!! I wish I could say that people leave their cultural baggage home when they travel...but I would be telling you something that isn't true. People bring their racist thoughts right along with them, guarding them as closely as they do their precious passports.
I don't have to deal with American racism much, but my most stressful moments regarding American life happens very single time I return and go shopping. If, at first, I'm not followed around in the stores, then I'm totally ignored as a Black female shopper in favor of my Japanese friends (staff usually assume that they are filthy rich!). I called one lady on it after she ignored me while I was looking around in her section. My young, Japanese friend came over and that witch almost broke her neck jumping over the counter. After she had helped my friend, she turned to me with a nasty little smile and offered to assist me. I smiled back, informed her that I make 4 to 5 times what my friend does and that I would happily be paying for all of the things that I had found in her section at another register. I ended that smirk on her face with one last comment: "Don't you just LOVE commission!?" I exited better than any 'pretty woman' ever could. You could say I had the walk of a queen going on.
My 16 years in Japan has blessed me with a unique opportunity to discover and nurture that confident, determined, capable, passionate Black woman inside. I won't lie down to be trampled on by anyone...anywhere. Stay healthy, happy and blessed.
Who's Skip Gates...
ReplyDeleteOK, I know now...he's that uppity Harvard Professor that got put down by "the Man" again... He's lucky he doesn't teach at UCLA cause the LAPD'd go all Rodney King on his black ass...And doesn't Harvard provide Health Care??? Who uses a cane in 2009??? Surprised the cop didn't ask him to do a song and dance number on the way to do the Hokie-Pokie... And what about that Mole on his face??? More Melanin than in Baraks whole body...
Did I offend enough of y'all...
Frank
This reeks of Reno-911 on Comedy Central...
ReplyDeleteHe messed with the wrong negro!!! He is gonna wish he had never been born once Skip Gates gets through with him. It is also funny b/c when I first heard about this yesterday they said that he reused to identify himself and that is why he was arrested. VERRRRRYYYY INTERESTING!!!
ReplyDeleteWTF! Good thing he's a Haaavad prof, otherwise he's be looking at a long time in jail.
ReplyDeleteYour side bars are the best. I am going to call Kelly Carnes.
Tyler Perry, I am so impressed with that man. What a good deed. I hope those kids have a great time. Wonder why the AP hasn't done a story about it.
Slam bammed that idgit David Drake yesterday. However, interestingly, I do not see my comments today. Hmmmmm........
My word verification is quells. OK, extra L, but I'd like to quel Drake for sure.
Field--
ReplyDeleteOnce you calm down, I'd love to read any comments you've got from a legal standpoint. I'm not a lawyer, but on the face of it, even if Professor used profanity toward the police officer, it is no grounds for arrest. Correct? In poor taste, certainly, but I don't think it is an offense for which you can be arrested. Hence, some lawyer is going to have a Field day. (Pun intended.)
I think most people I know in my white suburban neighborhood would be pretty insistent on seeing the officer's ID. Can't imagine a well-educated American who wouldn't.
Great discussions here, Field. Always provocative and forcing some of us to think of a variety of viewpoints.
sd:
ReplyDeletecertainement
mais je crois que la chose plus importante est que skip sera plus noir maintenant qu'il etait avant de cette incident...n'est-ce pas?
The more things change....
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to my commencement at Harvard, in 1984, there were, IIRC, nine black students in the freshman class. By the end of the day, there were eight, because one student's parents had been "escorted off campus" by the Harvard police.
Oh and to think a white friend told me that I reference my race too much (after pointing out that if John Hinkley, the dude who shot Regan, had been poor or a black man he would not be in a cushy mental health institution getting more freedom every year. He said I'm middle class and have an education and need to let these things go.
ReplyDeleteLisa J...the moment racism ceases to exist in America is the day that you CAN let "these things" go. Until that day, keep tending to your fields, lady!! Use your experiences and education to sow the kinds of seeds that will help further our youth!!
ReplyDeleteIf WE don't, who will?? Stay blessed...
When i first read this article my heart began to beat fast, my mouth fell slightly open and my head developed a slight pound. FN, this is my worst nightmare - jail. I try hard to be a good citizen and do the right thing but "the man" and a situation can always bring you down. I know I will not do well in jail and I know Mr. Gates was given a strong wake up - it can happen to you even in your own house (porch).
ReplyDeleteWatch out FN they are coming for you next!
Notice how the officer initiallyr requested he leave the home. This was to facilliate an arrest on mere suspicion instead of serious probably cause. When you're in your home, you have more rights than you do outside of the home.
ReplyDeleteBlack folks need to learn exactly how the damn laws work. Sure, the police will lie anyway, but if you know the law, you make it harder for them. Gates should have never left his home. He should have never let a police officer in his home.
I don't care how innocent you are, never depend on the police to treat you fairly. History has shown this will not happen. Always assume the worst and prepare accordingly.
What ?? No shuckin' and jivin'?? Jeezzzz whatever happen to the black man in this country?
ReplyDeleteWell isn't this strange.This story comes out at the same time Obama missed the deadline on the spending report,budget report,and the club gitmo report.
ReplyDeleteAlso Obama's poll numbers are going down quicker than Rachel Meadow.
I smell a rat.This was sit up in order to make guilty whites feel guilty about not supporting the black man in the Whitehouse.
Well this white man ain't buyin' it.Nice try FN.
I don't trust ANY damn cops, no matter what color they are. Cops are just around to hassle your ass, or show up to the crime scene after you're dead & call the ambulance. "Protect & Serve" my ass.
ReplyDeleteThe story says that "several" cops were at the scene...were they all white? Maybe I missed it, but I only remember seeing the arresting officer-asshole as being white.
I don't know about cops in Mass., but where I live, uniformed cops have their name (last name, at least), in plain view on their uniforms, and their badge, with their badge number on it, prominently displayed for all to see. I wonder why the professor couldn't see his name & badge number. Heck, even freaking rent-a-cops have their names on their uniforms. Or should, anyway.
Excuse my typos, the anger got to me.
ReplyDeleteThere is an ugliness about black brotherhood in America. It is an insidious open secret that every black man knows and understands. He is the face of the criminal, before anything else, and especially before being seen as a symbol of humanity.
ReplyDeleteIn every black man’s life, he has engaged in a conversation about how someone he knew was harassed by the police, or he himself was the subject of harassment. It is an embarrassing and dehumanizing fact that black men attempt to soothe each other in the throes of explaining a commonsense survival experience that no other man in America can ever understand.
"Also Obama's poll numbers are going down quicker than Rachel Meadow."
ReplyDeleteYeah, they've gone from the 60s to the high 50s.
"This was sit up in order to make guilty whites feel guilty about not supporting the black man in the Whitehouse."
But I thought the guilty whites were the ones who voted for Obama.
REAL white folks like you would support Ernest T. Bass before you'd vote for a black, right Mr. R?
Got your "Palin in 2012" banners all set up?
Excellent point, Big Man! We need to start using the law to OUR advantage. Frankly, I wouldn't have let the police in my home if he couldn't provide ID that I could verify via phone....and yes, I would have called the station. And even after verification there would have been no need for him to come in OR for me to go outside. Cellular phones on, people!! YouTube their butts!
ReplyDeleteHey DuchessDee...as long as you keep it clean, you will prevail. You may have to deal with a bit of drama but it will work out in the end. Start by thinking of "the man" as nothing more than a mere man. Don't add to their arrogance by elevating their status for them. And if the mere mortals who assume they are "the men" come a'calling, try to specifically document EVERYTHING... record what you can (video/cellphone) and use the law to YOUR own advantage.
This story is a wake-up call for us all. Everybody should be checking into what kinds of rights they have when in their cars and homes...as well as in public places, when approached by law enforcement.
Well personally, I like Ernest T. Bass. At least he's harmless. Can't say that for too many politicians.
ReplyDelete(No, I don't like or trust ANY politician, either)
Who is Ernest T. Bass ??
ReplyDeleteObama's numbers.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/presidential-approval-tracker.htm
"Okay, I am going back to my regular scheduled life now. Racism, you are way too much for me. "
I thought voting for Obama would end racism? I wasted my vote.Damnit...
Palin/Thomas 2012!!!!
Ernest T Bass was this retarded redneck character on the old "Andy Griffith" show who'd show up in Mayberry from time to time when they needed more comic relief than Barney Fife and Gomer Pyle supplied... Ernest's trademark was throwing rocks through windows... I think I see the Gates analogy...
ReplyDeleteTrivia prize for anyone who can name the one Black character that appeared on the Black and White episodes....
Frank
"I thought voting for Obama would end racism?"
ReplyDeleteWho said that?
There was no doubt in my mind that the election of Obama was going to set off some strong reactions among the inbred/trailer park set.
However it won't be enough to get the Alaska Snow Queen elected to anything.
She's going to spend the next few years tossing out red meat, riling up the goobers and making tons of money.
"Trivia prize for anyone who can name the one Black character that appeared on the Black and White episodes...."
ReplyDeleteThomas Sowell?
Anon 5:06 said: why wouldn't the second cops report be relevant?
ReplyDeleteI'm asking you specifically how it would be. Nice dodge of that question, BTW.
Anon 5:06: But as I said before, I know it won't make any difference what I say, your mind is already full. So I won't waste my time.
Bring some relevant facts to the table and maybe you can get me to agree on some points. But for now it looks like the righteous indignation of an old Black man is a CRIMINAL ACT. What else can we conclude from this?
Racism? What racism? Henry Louis Gates Jr. should have known better than trying to enter his home while wearing a ski mask. Him being a prominent African American scholar you'd think he knew better. I mean if it were Halloween that would have been different; everybody dresses up in costumes on that day you know. That said, how in the world was the neighbor who called the cops to know it was him trying to break into his own house as he donned that ski mask? Yeah, and why would said neighbor vouch for him after the police showed up? I mean, you know all Black peo...oops, residential burglars look alike, right? Shit, I wouldn't wanna stick my head out and vouch for the guy either. You start doing that and all of sudden your neighborhood is over-ran by Black people as they move in.
ReplyDeleteREAD MORE
Arrested for RESIDING WHILE BLACK.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable.
He produced not one, but TWO forms of ID.
This is absolute bull!!
To Granny Standing for Truth: You nailed it. Officer's lying to cover his butt.
ReplyDeleteAnd this story has more layers than a giant onion.
This is nothing new to me .I was once arrested for burglary of my own property.
ReplyDeleteVerite parlante
I don't understand why the officer was not wearing a badge with his name on it, almost all police are required to wear ID. And, the professor should have NEVER walked outside to further "provoke" the officers. I personally would have stayed indoors with a chain on my door, handed the officer my ID, looked for any badge name or ID number and shut the door. Once outside, you are at "their mercy" unfortunately. Of course, there is a greater issue of racism that "has to be addressed here". Unfortunately, we have given police officers the "right" to arrest almost anybody for vague, made up public nuisance laws, but it doesn't mean you will get convicted.
ReplyDeleteAva I have read the comments under that article. I have stated before that while they were on there spouting hateful racist comments, they then turn around and say blacks are being paranoid and playing the race card. Alot of white people ofcourse are going to side with the cops and say he is doing his job and that Gates should be happy he is being protected. I have no doubt in my mind that if it had been a white guy they would be apologizing and kissing his ass and this would have never made it this far. Or the cops may not have even been called. Even if it was a true break in. WHite and black people in this country will never see eye to eye on race relations. White people will continue to be racist and then get pissy when blacks complain about it. One commenter stated that racism was dead and that blacks are always playing the race card and that we should go back to Africa. I sure would like to know who some of those folks are because sometimes I don't want to turn the other cheek I just want to bash in their ignorant heads.
ReplyDeleteUmmm don't wanta judge by appearances, but what the heck, Y'all the ones hungup on just what shade of mocha y'all are...
ReplyDeleteProfessor Gates doesn't look very, how should I say it???
"Professorly"...
he looks more like Fred Sanfords Uppity Brother in Law (Remember that Episode?) But he must not have a degree in Common Sense or he'd realize a Shady Lookin Black Guy bustin down a door in a White Neighborhood (Hell, White STATE) might draw some attention. Mr. Elbow Patches should move to the A-T-L, he could walk down Peachtree carryin a Glock and an AK and noone give a second glance...
Might clown on him for that funky mole stuck on his face...
Frank
Why couldn't Gates just have cooperated with the police officer instead of badgering him and calling him a racist?
ReplyDeletehttp://stuffblackpeopledontlike.blogspot.com/2009/07/99-cooperating-with-police.html
WTF, that's some "neighbor". dumb as the police. i am only surprised that they didn't ask him for a dna sample so he could prove he was really himself, these cops are stupid, lucky nobody was shot or tazed, that is what scares me more than anything about this f'd up shit.
ReplyDeleteand Granny, you are right, the cop- is making that stuff up.
Yep, brace yourselves for more of this type of stuff.
ReplyDeleteNow that blacks are sitting up in the White House and at Harvard and those types of schools, stuff is about hit the fan. He's got a white wife, too?
It's getting to be too much for whites, who were so used to the shoe being on the other foot. More of their people are unemployed, the white middle class is bottoming out because of the bailouts.
Add to that guns, we are fighting unending conflicts all over the world, pollution, this health care crisis, the dollar is now worth about 50 cents, whites are starting to lose their minds. Hope it gets better before it gets worse.
You can't tell me that white ass heifer didn't know who Professor Gates was. To her, it was just another nigga breaking in someone's home. Isn't that what has been taught to her? Damn stupid fuck.
ReplyDeleteI'm tired of these cracka ass crackas painting the black man as the boogie man. Professor Gates is going to eat all of their damn lunch now. Get ready to pay up bitches!
I just wanna say, This happen in Cambridge Massachusetts, not Jackson Mississippi
ReplyDeleteOh, and Mr. R., for all we know, those "numbers" are just more made up shit concocted by the idiots who run the media. the media has an agenda, and that is to discredit the Obama admin., and remember, since the masses are asses who live by group mentality, it probably is made up to encourage more simple simon thinking.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe this is happening in a Liberal Democrat area such has Cambridge.Tell me again why ya'll vote 90% Democrat?
ReplyDeletekathy said...
Oh, and Mr. R., for all we know, those "numbers" are just more made up shit concocted by the idiots who run the media. the media has an agenda, and that is to discredit the Obama admin.,
Is this the same media who gave Obama the most favorable coverage during the elections that any president has everrrr gotten?
OFF THE PIGS!!! Again... SHOOT (and please don't miss) THE UNIFORMED-CAN'T SPELL THEIR NAME-INBRED- PIGS!!!
ReplyDelete"Is this the same media who gave Obama the most favorable coverage during the elections that any president has everrrr gotten?"
ReplyDeleteSays who?????
I can't think of any President in my lifetime who got more favorable election coverage than Reagan who kicked off his campaign talking about "States Rights" in Philadelphia, MS, the site of the murders of 3 civil rights workers.
The press gave him a total pass.
I went and looked at the link one of the many Anonymous's around here posted at 3:13...http://stuffblackpeopledontlike.blogspot.com/2009/07/99-cooperating-with-police.html
ReplyDeleteIt looks like they even have a picture of the actual arrest being made at the Professor's house. Who took the picture, I don't know.
But there, standing in the foreground of the picture, is a big ole mean-looking black cop.
Now...I'd like to hear HIS version of the story. Where do you think his sympathies lie...with the black...or the blue?
The Obama Infatuation
ReplyDeletehttp://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/06/01/the_obama_infatuation_96768.html
Also there's studies by The Center for Media and Public Affairs and Pew Research Center.
FN didn't you have this same conversation around the Ryan Moats situation?
ReplyDeleteThe bottom line--black men DO NOT get the benefit of the doubt--period.
Look if BO was not POTUS he would still have a hard time hailing a cab in NYC! Am I lying?
I am getting sick and tired of ignorant ass white people. I am ready to go to war on their asses. Especially Victim acting ass white women. Who will suck and fuck a brutha in a heart beat and then turn around and scream rape. I am ready to throw these crackas to the wolves. How much more are we suppose to take?
ReplyDeleteObama's presser gets bumped to 9pm because NBC believes Americans would rather watch "America's Got Talent" .
ReplyDeleteLOL FUNNY.....
"Who will suck and fuck a brutha in a heart beat and then turn around and scream rape."
ReplyDeleteWell Anony, just stop hunting them down to sck and fck you. That should help.
"The bottom line--black men DO NOT get the benefit of the doubt--period. "
Redlipstick, neither do black women. I just saw a youtube video where a black woman was tasered by cops. Wrong or right, there were more black males laughing at it and condemning her than any other. One of them even called her a nappy headed ho, and had the nerve to declare he was black. Just goes to show, it only reminded me to save my energy. I'll take a pass on that march and the black t-shirt now.
Mr. R.
ReplyDeleteA black man is your President.
Deal with it.
I got to thinking, and went back to look at that picture again at http://stuffblackpeopledontlike.blogspot.com/2009/07/99-cooperating-with-police.html
ReplyDeleteWhen you enlarge it, it's quite plain that those cops badge and name are prominently displayed on their uniforms. And all badges have the officers badge number on them (duh).
So, I'm not getting it. The article puts Gates in very close proximity to the officer who arrested him, for several minutes. Is Gates blind? He can't see the cop's name & badge number? Wasn't that Gates' major beef, that he wanted the cop's name & badge number?
Much as I dislike cops, something is starting to smell a bit fishy here, and no one seems willing to address this.
Redlipstick, neither do black women. I just saw a youtube video where a black woman was tasered by cops. Wrong or right, there were more black males laughing at it and condemning her than any other. One of them even called her a nappy headed ho, and had the nerve to declare he was black. Just goes to show, it only reminded me to save my energy. I'll take a pass on that march and the black t-shirt now.
ReplyDelete----------------------------------
You know you bring something to mind. Would there be so much outrage if this was a black woman instead of Gates? Black women do seem to be the butt of black mens jokes and I don't see them really rushing to our rescue.
Thank you for brining me back to reality.
5:02
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing fishy but your analysis. Professor Gates was residing while black in America.
Happens to black folks across the country every damn single day!
Is it possible that the "neighbor" never met Dr. Gates?
ReplyDeleteI have been living in my residence for three years and aside from my adjacent neighbors, I have not met the rest of the people in the neighborhood.
" Anonymous said...
ReplyDelete5:02
There's nothing fishy but your analysis. Professor Gates was residing while black in America.
Happens to black folks across the country every damn single day!
5:19 PM"
Just what the hell is there to "analyze"? Either you can read the name & badge number on a uniform, or you can't. Sometimes a duck really is just a duck.
Try thinking for yourself, using your brain rather than emotion.
Mr. Gates shouldn't have ever been put in the back of that police car and handcuffed to a fucking window. The cracka ass police entrapped him to go out on the porch so he could arrest him.
ReplyDeleteI want the cracka fired.
I think this is an opportunity to address these characters in the category of "neighbours".
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine from Zambia was once getting into his car and someone in the neighborhood called the cops on him. He didn't have all his legal documents with him so he spent the night in jail. This is subconscious racism at play. All these people claim not to be racist but they will usually be the first to call the cops on anything they see as "suspiscious".
I guess this is a reminder of the reality of this system in case some of us forget.
If Gates lived in a Middle class Black Neighborhood, I am guessing that neighbor would have probably yelled at the "intruders" first before calling the cops. And even then the cop being in a predominantly Black neighborhood would have probably acted much differently. (maybe just maybe)
Unfortunately I get the same feeling everytime this kind of thing happens to a Black person that is in a white environment. It shouldn't come as a complete surprise to one. For some reason people go socialize and live in these environments and then act surprised when checked with racism. Most White Americans are never racist until their subconscious betrays them.
If you are a Black person in a White enviroment, expect all kinds of ish and be ready to for the fight that comes after. Never forget for a second and delude yourself that its all good. It has never been and will likely never be, atleast not in our life times.
The cops should be fearing Ogletree, not Gates.
ReplyDeleteI read this on the train this morning and let out a yelp when I saw his mugshot. I just knew I was dreaming.
This reminds me of the retired ballplayer whose son was shot in his front yard after returning to his own house in a white suburb somewhere in Texas.
You better believe if a cop gets in my face in my own home over nothing that I will get good and uppity. Take me jail, dammit, I'm not anybody's nigger.
And people wonder why we are so mad all the time...
Arrested while being black. AWBB. Now, you don't even have to be doing ANYTHING. Just being black. Isn't that what happened to the brother in NYC from West Africa? Standing on his front stoop not bothering anyone and reached for his ID and was shot 41 times? Bruce Springsteen wrote a song about it.
ReplyDeleteLook, I cooperate with cops in my area all the time. But I don't have any truck with lawless cops. Not at all.
Doesn't it make you want to stick your foot so far up this cop's ass that he needs surgery to remove it?
"Redlipstick, neither do black women. I just saw a youtube video where a black woman was tasered by cops. Wrong or right, there were more black males laughing at it and condemning her than any other. One of them even called her a nappy headed ho, and had the nerve to declare he was black. Just goes to show, it only reminded me to save my energy. I'll take a pass on that march and the black t-shirt now.
ReplyDelete----------------------------------
You know you bring something to mind. Would there be so much outrage if this was a black woman instead of Gates? Black women do seem to be the butt of black mens jokes and I don't see them really rushing to our rescue.
Thank you for brining me back to reality."
Good points. I wouldn't wear the T-shirt either. People in Gates' position are selective of the issues they choose to address. the Black Woman's plight is always a non issue.
Now THIS is racism. Not a racist act by an individual, but Police Racism.
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't the officer who KNEW that the professor live there not call his boys off? Because that "uppity nigger" wasn't gonna get off that easy!
I'm a black woman. One thing I know about black people is most of them walk around with a chip on their shoulder. And they don't respect authority. When the police officer asked for ID, all the professor had to do was show his driver's license. Instead he was belligerent and showed his Harvard ID.
ReplyDeleteReminder: This happen in Cambridge MASS, Not Ames Iowa
ReplyDeleteA Person of Interest,
ReplyDeleteInitially Gates was alone with only one officer. It is wise to ask for an ID card instead of relying on a name tag. In some area people posing as police officers have committed crimes and the police and the media recommend that you ask for ID.
I don't understand what problem you have. Even if Gates did see the ID, what does it have to do with Gates being arrested when he proved he was in his own residence.
I can't imagine any sober Black man mouthing off to the police, especially if they are alone.
Anon 6:31,
ReplyDeleteWhat country do you live in?
"I'm tired of these cracka ass crackas painting the black man as the boogie man."
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm sick of all ya black boogie men painting the white woman as a craka ass cracka.... such as:
" Especially Victim acting ass white women. Who will suck and fuck a brutha in a heart beat and then turn around and scream rape. I am ready to throw these crackas to the wolves. "
Yeah? Well I'm sick of victim acting black men who rape white women and then do that little "poor me, I'm just an innocent black male who was seduced by some demonic white woman" I'm ready to throw those minstal shows, including Jerimiah Wright and Ron Burris, to the KKK.
Yeah, you want to see some victimized black men and rape crying women? Look at the footage of the Central Park Puerto Rican Day Rape-fest from a few years ago. You can find it on youtube. You'll see all those innocent black men being framed by devilish white women for rape. The question is: How many times have similar things happened that weren't caught on film? Probably thousands.
"Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteI'm a black woman. One thing I know about black people is most of them walk around with a chip on their shoulder. And they don't respect authority. When the police officer asked for ID, all the professor had to do was show his driver's license. Instead he was belligerent and showed his Harvard ID."
What's that quote by James Baldwin? Oh, yeah, I remember:
To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.
Hathor said...
ReplyDeleteAnon 6:31,
What country do you live in?
I was thinking the same thing.
The very fact that the situation has to be explained, especially to white people is enough of a reason to continue to harbor resentment and at times hatred.
ReplyDeleteBeing Black can't be explained.
Being White never has to be explained.
"Much as I dislike cops, something is starting to smell a bit fishy here, and no one seems willing to address this."
ReplyDeleteI co-sign. As I have said before, I really really hope that Gates is on the up and up. Otherwise, it's going to be another big embarrassment for Blacks. Except this one will be bigger and shame us more than other incidents such as the Duke Lacross incident or other events that I am sure many might remember.
I bet Al Sharpton won't be sticking his neck out on this one. This story has a fishy smell to it, and Al has been made to look foolish in the past by rushing to the rescue of others who cried wolf before.
6:31pm
ReplyDeleteIs not a black woman. Nothing but a cracka trying to protect & make excuses for another cracka.
Anon 8:41p"Is not a black woman. Nothing but a cracka trying to protect & make excuses for another cracka."
ReplyDeleteYou got a big chip on your shoulder.
Well I had my own little racial incident after a 15 hour day from a person that just got of the boat from China. And I find people like them much worse than those born and bred in the good ol USA.
ReplyDeleteI never, ever forget that I'm a Black woman living in America, but I'm suprised to find that the higher up I go on the food chain, the worse it's seems to be getting.
As for the law, I have seen too many times that it doesn't have jack shit to do with what's right. Stories like these remind us of what Malcom X said about those of us with fancy degrees/jobs and such, to many people we're, still just ni**as.
6:31pm
ReplyDeleteIs not a black woman. Nothing but a cracka trying to protect & make excuses for another cracka for their racist cracka ways.
To the so called white woman claiming that black men rape you. Your own men rape you, kidnap you, and murder you more than black men do. As a matter of fact I don't remember the last time I even heard of a black man raping or murdering a white woman. EVERY single time I have heard of that happening it's your WHITE husband or someone you met online. Please don't play that victim shit here. It's not the place. Right now I just don't give a fuck what happens to any white person. I wonder if Nancy Grace is going to have what happened to Gates on her program for two weeks straight. Stop being a victim. BTW I am a black woman. Just be lucky that at least if you get attacked you have the whole world coming to your rescue. I wish sistahs could say the same. I have to pack heat every day.
ReplyDeleteI'm a b/m & a cop.Was 1 in Atlanta & now chicago. Let me shed some light from the blue perspective. The call came as a Burglary with 2 b/m subjects.Thats all we get on our cpus sometimes. Hopefully we get clothing descriptions but thats besides the point. If we arrive at the address and see one b/m,might be in the street in front of the house,we MUST ask him questions and find out who,what where,etc until we can say he is or isnt part of the incident.To find some1 in the home would require the same. If the individual,in this case being the professor,shows 2 forms of ID,both have pictures,his name,& support his story,that should be sufficient.From that we get his info & use it for our report which would be changed from a BURGLARY to whatever.From that point the officer should ask why the homeowner forced his way into the house.Understandibly the professor was pissed & demanded a name & badge #.We as officers don't have to provide that info,just as we don't have to tell you why you got pulled over.Both common misconceptions.Im surprized a SERGEANT that deals with drunkards in a college town all the time & has the experience & rank,could not talk to the professor & explain the call.There was no reason to ask the professor to step out on the porch after establishing that he lived there, PERIOD.Screaming or raising your voice at an officer inside a home isn't a criminal offense.There were no verbal or physical threats made towards the officer.At best if he did raise his voice might've violated a noise ordinace which is punishable by a ticket.There wasn't a party in the house.If some1 is yelling @ you in a house,u will hear 'em.The only REAL reason the officer could use to even have a fighting chance of being believed is to say: seeing as though the professor was so irrate,he asked him to the front porch cause fellow officers were there.Meaning if things escalated & the professor got physical or flipped out,3 against 1 is more tactical than 1 on 1.Hard sell though noting the professors age, physical stature,& lack of weapons.Then again,if he felt threatened,he could've asked for units to meet him inside.Leaving all the speculation behind & soley dealing with the facts:the officer,his bosses,& the department were wrong.The arrest should've never happened.It was just an unfortunate event,it could have been a different officer that handled the whole incident differently and we wouldnt even be here.I predict a major civil suit.We'll just have to see what happens.
ReplyDeleteThanks for explaining that officer.
ReplyDeleteHAhahaha!! Some people LOVE to toss that "Go back to Africa" idea out when they are on the defensive, don't they. Naahhh...that's KARMA baby...those who wanted Black people here sooooo bad to work the fields for them will simply have to learn to DEAL WITH US! We ain't going nowhere!! In my opinion, Native Americans probably have every right to tell certain Americans to "go back to Europe!"... considering America was their land and all. But that, of course, is yet another account of American history some of us seem to downplay to our "convenience."
ReplyDeleteBack to our topic: I think the laws regarding whether or not we MUST show ID upon request by police depends on the state in which you reside. They have the right to request but that does not mean that we must reveal our identity. Of course, there are certainly consequences to that. Similarly, when it comes to "stop and search," police must abide by the laws that govern their states....and the laws vary. As for MA when it comes to brief searches and stops (from what I could find):
"...They may examine all persons abroad whom they have reason to suspect of unlawful design, and may demand of them their business abroad and whither they are going; may disperse any assembly of three or more persons, and may enter any building to suppress a riot or breach of peace therein. Persons so suspected who do not give a satisfactory account of themselves, persons so assembled and who do not disperse when ordered, and persons making, aiding and abetting in a riot or disturbance may be arrested by the police, and may thereafter be safely kept by imprisonment or otherwise unless released in the manner provided by law, and taken before a district court to be examined and prosecuted...If a police officer stops a person for questioning pursuant to this section and reasonably suspects that he is in danger of life or limb, he may search such person for a dangerous weapon. If he finds such weapon or any other thing the possession of which may constitute a crime, he may take and keep it until the completion of the questioning, at which time he shall return it, if lawfully possessed, or he shall arrest such person." M.G.L.A. 41 § 98. [derivation note: St.1851, c. 162. G.S.1860, c. 18, § 38. P.S.1882, c. 27, § 85. St.1893, c. 423, § 7. R.L.1902, c. 25, § 94. St.1920, c. 591, § 24. Amended by St.1953, c. 319, § 9; St.1954, c. 162, § 1; St.1957, c. 688, § 1; St.1967, c. 368, §§ 1, 2; St.1970, c. 181.] [Frisk part added in 1967]
NOTE: Some of the laws have probably changed but at least this is a start. Notice that "disturbance" part of the law...that's how they got the professor!!
http://www.wfu.edu/~wrightrf/Aspen-Students/statesurveys_briefstops.htm
The office was in the right.Indentify yourself and stop playing the race card.
ReplyDeleteYep, brace yourselves for more of this type of stuff.
ReplyDeleteNow that blacks are sitting up in the White House and at Harvard and those types of schools, stuff is about hit the fan. He's got a white wife, too?
It's getting to be too much for whites, who were so used to the shoe being on the other foot. More of their people are unemployed, the white middle class is bottoming out because of the bailouts.
Add to that guns, we are fighting unending conflicts all over the world, pollution, this health care crisis, the dollar is now worth about 50 cents, whites are starting to lose their minds. Hope it gets better before it gets worse.
It's over folks amerikkka is falling & i fucking love it!! this country has been shit since it's savage beginings you know times are tuff when white people are loosing thier ill gotten gains!middle class whites are loosing thier fucking minds they are ass racist as the cousin cooters & it will only get worse.
Whether or not the officer was right will probably be judged in a court of law. From what I read in the JAPAN TIMES, the lawyer of Professor Gates is stating that he showed two pieces of identification: his drivers license and Harvard ID. If that ain't enough...(if he actually did that, of course)????
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: I appreciate you trying to get us to see your point of view...but in order to not appear arrogant and ignorant, you may want to try to leave your own "comfort zone" of assumptions about how America works for most Black people. Dare to see it from where minorities stand...even if you dread the thought of being in those shoes (and for all I know, you may even be a minority yourself!!).
Don't just chastise those whom you see as "playing the race card." Chastise those who first and foremost bring those "race" cards to the game table and deal them out!
Anon @8:36: "Otherwise, it's going to be another big embarrassment for Blacks. Except this one will be bigger and shame us more than other incidents such as the Duke Lacross incident or other events that I am sure many might remember."
ReplyDeleteAnon, you will probably never read this post. But I've written it many times, and in many ways, yet concerns like yours keep cropping up.
Just in case my handle doesn't give it away, let me preface my remarks by saying, first, that I'm black. That will put what I say in perspective.
I'm black, but I'm not ashamed of being black. I'm not ashamed of what blacks have done, will do, or might do.
I make no excuses for my blackness, and have never been embarrassed by it.
Further, there's nothing that blacks can do to make me disown them as individuals, or as a collective.
In short, I embrace the totality of our blackness--the good as well as the bad, the sellouts, and the buyouts, the dimwitted, and the black intelligentsia, the ganstas, and the saints, the welfare queens, and the Mack Daddies, the hardworking mom-and-dads and the twelve-pack-a-day bums--every last one of us.
For all our greatness and shortcomings, we didn't discover a new world and nearly destroy its indigenous people because of rapacious adventurism, and haul hundreds of thousands of people from their homeland to a world that was foreign, harsh, and brutal, to work in cotton fields, and cane fields, enslaved in ways that was unknown to the modern world at that time.
We have a name for it: It's called genocide.
Now, next to that wondrous American history, blacks will never have anything to be ashamed of, unless they choose to be.
I don't choose to be: not for you, and not for me.
If anyone should be ashamed, it's whites, especially the unrepentant ones--those who believe that the world was made for them, including the people.
If your crimes against humanity never rise to the level of those whites that settled this country, don't you ever be lured into feeling shame or embarrassment for being black, behaving black, or living black--however that translates, for better or for worse, in your daily life.
How many times have you heard whites speak of being ashamed of their deeds?
Not many; not often. Now, I wonder why?
Anonymous said...
ReplyDelete"I'm a b/m & a cop.Was 1 in Atlanta & now chicago. Let me shed some light from the blue perspective."
I want to thank you for your perspective. It corroborated what I suspected was true.
@BD "I'm black, but I'm not ashamed of being black. I'm not ashamed of what blacks have done, will do, or might do."
ReplyDeleteI am Black also. I am proud of being Black and I am also ashamed of some things Blacks do. Being part of a race where killing our own children in the streets is one example. Black rap and hip hop with lyrics that degrade our women is another reason I am ashamed. Academic disidentification encouraged by a large segment of our race is also shameful.
Your lectures to me as though I got off the boat yesterday are unnecessary. I am much too old for that. I marched with King and I fought in RVN. I have been through college and have put my son through graduate school. He has his PhD and works at a prestigious University. I have plenty to be proud of so you don't have to be concerned about my self-esteem or pride.
Like you, I have had many experiences and issues in life and I wouldn't trade them with anyone. I love myself, and I know the difference between feeling shame for myself and feeling shame for others. I also know when it is appropriate and when it is not. Take it from me, I am quite comfortable in my skin and with who I am. If you are bothered with who I am, that is your problem, not mine. Who I am is between God and me, not you.
Re:SHAME..It is the one feeling that distinguishes a human being from all other creatures. If some of our folks had some of it, half of the black-on-black crime and the murdering of our children wouldn't be happening. As far as I am concerned there is far too much SHAMELESSNESS in our race, which you seem to advocate.
No human being is perfect and it is perfectly normal and healthy for a person to feel embarrassed or ashamed for their own actions or mistakes. It lets the person know that he/she has limitations and that he/she is not God. If some of our folks understood that much, it would reduce the killings and thefts in our community.
As far as I know, only God is perfect, and therefore shameless. However, I have read some of your past comments that you have chosen to incarnate on earth as Vishnu, which to the Hindus is on the level of Jesus Christ. If you are truly at that level, then of course, you have no shame.
But I DO. And I have no intention of pretending that I don't, not even for you, BD. I am a human being before the God of my understanding...nothing more, and nothing less. I strive moment by moment to keep that awareness...it keeps me humble with a sense of healthy shame and it keeps my ego from inflating and going about bothering others or worse, injuring others without a conscience.
Respectfully Anon 8:36
I
ReplyDelete"Your lectures to me as though I got off the boat yesterday are unnecessary. I am much too old for that."
Read me again. It was not a lecture so much as it was a sharing.
I have no right to lecture you. You do what you do. Your choices are your choices, and mine or mine.
"I have plenty to be proud of so you don't have to be concerned about my self-esteem or pride."
I'm not concerned about your "self-esteem or pride." That's exclusively your concern, and yours alone.
I gave you reasons why I'm not ashamed of blacks, and never will be.
You're welcome to feel anyway you choose.
"Who I am is between God and me, not you."
I couldn't agree more!
"As far as I am concerned there is far too much SHAMELESSNESS in our race, which you seem to advocate."
No. I advocate no such thing! Shame, however, is not a quality of mind that will advance the soul anymore than quilt will.
If you wish to feel shame, feel it. But, for my part, I have nothing to feel ashame of--not my actions, your actions, or the action of any other person, living or dead, white or black.
Now, I do feel compassion, but compassion is not shame. Now, I do feel empathy, but empathy is not shame. Now, I do feel regret, but regret is not shame.
"No human being is perfect and it is perfectly normal and healthy for a person to feel embarrassed or ashamed for their own actions or mistakes."
Feel it if you choose, I have no preference in the matter. Shame is indeed "normal," but it is not natural. Shame is born of fear, and compassion of love.
You're not fear; you're Love.
I repeat: Shame is shamefully and woefully lacking in its ability to change behavior and ensure progress towards a shameless existence, and a reunification with the soul.
"It lets the person know that he/she has limitations and that he/she is not God. If some of our folks understood that much, it would reduce the killings and thefts in our community...."
I know that you think that, and that's okay by me, but it won't accomplish what you hope it will.
I could only wish you were right.
Believe me!
But just the opposite is true, if I may respectfully say: When we come to know ourselves as the gods that we are, then will we give up the belief that there's more than one of us here, and come to realize: We Are All One.
That knowledge, alone, will end the violence that is so prevalent in our world.
There's more to us than we know....
II
ReplyDelete"However, I have read some of your past comments that you have chosen to incarnate on earth as Vishnu, which to the Hindus is on the level of Jesus Christ. If you are truly at that level, then of course, you have no shame."
Thank you for taking note of what I have written. Much of what I write here goes into the cyberspace void, without my having much knowledge of who might read it.
But be reminded: I claim nothing for myself that you cannot claim for you.
I have no shame, because I choose not to. I have no hatred, because I choose not to. I have no envy, because I choose not to.
"I strive moment by moment to keep that awareness...it keeps me humble with a sense of healthy shame and it keeps my ego from inflating and going about bothering others or worse, injuring others without a conscience."
Blessed one, as you have lived your life, please know that I fully concur.
But know, too, that "shame" is not a necessary state of mind by which to remain "humble" before God and before your neighbor.
I say, release your Ego, don't stifle it, let if grow, and expand, until it embraces all Egos, so that you might say to the Universe: There is Only One Self, and I am that Self.
Expand the Self, so that you embrace all selves as One Self, because it is in the belief of separation that we hurt one another, exploit one another, injure one another--because we believe that we do it to the Other, rather than to the Self.
The echo through time has always been: "There's Only One of Us Here! We Are All One!"
It is even emblazoned on our money: "E Pluribus Unum" ("Out of Many One"). That was not by mistake.
That knowledge, Blessed one, will put an end to the pain and the suffering that we inflict one upon the other.
And we will finally know the truth behind the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto to you." Because you are the other.
And if my prior words, and my current ones, appear harsh, and abrupt, I extend my apologies, and my regrets. Because that was not my intentions.
And if I have said something that may have vexed, or appeared insensitive, I extend my apologies and my regrets. Because that was not my intentions.
Please consider signing off on your posts, so that I might recognize future posts. It's merely a suggestion. It doesn't have to be your name. One commenter here uses A+ as his/her handle.
I like to visit and revisit those that I have dialogued with in the past.
Anon 7:31AM, thanks for that perspective.
ReplyDeleteBD and Anon 8:36AM, thanks for that discussion among yourselves. That was some heavy stuff. We all learned from reading your exchange.
Angie-in-Japan, I love that fact that you are in the Far East and can give us the 411 from that perspective.
Please keep checking in.
Thank you, Field Negro, for encouraging us to examine these issues...and thank you all for your enlightening contributions! It is nice to feel at home away from home. Stay healthy, happy and blessed!!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWe need to review some of those thoughts that our country was founded upon:
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
Field, you mentioned my perspective from Japan. Let me just tell you about my experiences with the Japanese police.
ReplyDeleteI once had a flat tire on the way to a dinner party.
I made a mistake and called from one of the box phones on the side of the road (I didn't know it at the time, but these phones are reserved for calls about accidents)...so the police came. They were sooooo polite; didn't chastise me for not knowing any better; called for someone from a local gas station I frequented to come and change my tire... then sat in their police car behind me until it was done so that I would be safe. I was truly grateful for their assistance...never felt threatened.
I was stopped once for "driving while FOREIGN," though! (LOL...) I had stopped at a redlight and was chatting with my friend seated next to me when a police car pulled up in the lane right beside us. He looked over, saw that I was a foreigner driving a $60,000 car (maybe he was upset because it was an Italian import and not a Japanese model!!) and then proceeded to get out of his car and knock on my window. Freaked me out..we were still seated at the intersection, the first cars in our respective lanes. He then asked for my driver's license, so I handed him my Japanese one (which seemed to surprise him!). I then felt my blood starting to boil a little...and I actually started to think about DWB issues in the States...so I did the only thing I could. I asked him if I had done anything wrong, of course knowing that he would say "No." (This was my round-about way of having him vocalize that the foreigner had done nothing bad.) Then I smiled and calmly said that I was actually glad to catch up to the police, since we had been having problems with young, Japanese drivers running that same redlight and speeding through the intersections in the evenings. I then asked in very humble Japanese for them to please catch the BAD JAPANESE GUYS...to which he sheepishly responded that they would. And then, as if a timely gift had dropped from the heavens, a carload of young, Japanese men playing loud music sped through the intersection. It was actually nice to be a part of the learning experience for those particular officers who just may have assumed that the foreigner in the expensive Italian car was automatically a "suspect." He thanked me as they drove off...and that made my night.
On the other hand, the police stopped my car in the States because it was the same color as a car that had been involved in a nearby crime. (It wasn't me....REALLY!!) When I got pulled over, I remember immediately putting both hands on the steering wheel so that I wouldn't inadvertently give them any reason to justify blowing my head off. They were really nice but the initial terror that I felt as a Black woman stopped on the side of the road in a very secluded area out in the country (both in terms of geography and the people) almost made me sick to my stomach. The minute I saw that White officer walking toward my car, I remember praying that I would be able to drive away unharmed. Stressful, scary stuff that has unfortunately become a sad reality for so many of us. Both the Japanese and American police were extremely nice...but my reactions to them as they approached me REALLY were worlds apart.
@BD: Pt-1
ReplyDelete@BD "Read me again. It was not a lecture so much as it was a sharing."
I read your original comment several times. I even discussed my opinion with a psychologist and a professor. NOPE. Sorry BD, you were lecturing. You were sharing, but the tone of your sharing was to lecture.
In any case, my point to you is this: There are too many of our folks acting as if they are God. Too many Blacks act SHAMELESSLY in their thinking, speech and behaviors. Lack of SHAME is the root cause why bm degrade bw, bw degrade bm, back stabbing, black-on-black crime, the killing of our children, abandonment of our children, lack of parental responsibility, hurting others physically and emotionally--and not feeling a thing, and feeling they have a right to shit they don’t deserve.
@BD "I repeat: Shame is shamefully and woefully lacking in its ability to change behavior and ensure progress towards a shameless existence, and a reunification with the soul."
Well, shame changed my behavior and put me on the Spiritual Path 25years ago. Not only that, it continues to keep me from doing things that I would be ashamed of doing. You see, shame is what keeps people from doing shameful things. Do you know that people often cover up things they know are wrong because of shame? I bet any human with a ‘conscience’ would agree. You seem removed from your feelings; you seem to live in your head, where concepts and theories abound. However, it isn't practical for the majority of human beings, esp. Americans who equate self-worth with net-worth.
However, those with a sense of low self-worth who are looking for power really love hearing they are God. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop the killing, stealing, adultery, lying, divisive speech, harsh speech, ill-will, hatred and deluded views. In fact, it often encourages those harmful qualities because since you are God, you can do anything you want, and there is no karmic consequence to 'anything' you do.
Throughout recorded history SHAME is mentioned as part of being human. Again, it IS what DISTINGUISHES humans from all other creatures on earth; without a sense of shame, humans act and become like any other animal. Drive bys who shoot innocent people is an example of humans without shame who have turned into animals. I suggest you consider studying some psychology, Freud, Carl Jung, Gershen Kaufman(Shame, The Power of Caring), the book of Genesis(the dialogue between God and Adam and Eve who hid from God because they were ashamed). Also, you can read any other sacred text and chances are that you will find "shame".
@BD My ID is "K2"
ReplyDelete@BD: PT2 (from K2)
ReplyDeleteBD "If you wish to feel shame, feel it. But, for my part, I have nothing to feel ashame of--not my actions, your actions, or the action of any other person, living or dead, white or black."
Most Blacks and Whites today know the 'shame' of slavery and Jim Crow intimately. Are you saying that you don't? BD, it is known that it is unhealthy psychologically, emotionally and spiritually to repress or try to ignore feelings. Part of the continuing racial flare ups between Blacks and Whites is because of repressed shame. What is the defense against shame? It's rage/anger, and putting down and shaming the other.
Repressed shame wreaks havoc, and decays into a neurotic nightmare for a human being. Internally, it becomes like a foul smelling demon of self-hate in the basement, banging on the locked door, clamoring to get out. Refusing to acknowledge it will lead to human ruin. Just ask Madoff and a few others. Without shame, everything becomes permissible in an already greedy dangerous world. Think about it.
BD “I say, release your Ego, don't stifle it, let if grow, and expand, until it embraces all Egos, so that you might say to the Universe: There is Only One Self, and I am that Self.”
E.G.O. is an acronym for “Edging God Out”. The spiritual journey to higher and higher consciousness is about 'diminishing' the ego, not about 'pumping' it up. The recent conflict between the Cambridge policeman and Professor Gates is a classic example of egos too bloated for their own good. And you say allow egos to grow more? A psychologist/ psychiatrist, ministers, and many true spiritual teachers would be quite concerned about you.
Shame gives us a conscience and a sense of what's right and what's wrong. Without a moral conscience, human beings cannot distinguish between right and wrong. They merely become ARROGANT wrongful jackasses, much like the out-of-control egos of Bush, Cheney, and Nixon-or worse- Hitler, Stalin, and many other tyrants, including the shameless killings of Blacks by Blacks. So I find your theory to let the ego grow more quite alarming. In my work, that is the mind of a narcissist.
Human history is riddled with 'growing egos', people who thought they were above both Divine LAW and man-made law. It usually leads to disaster: Jim Jones, and David Koresh come to mind. Look at what happened to those god-like 'growing egos'.
BTW, your claim to be Vishnu can be an insult to some Hindus and others in the Far East. Since you are here in the West, why didn’t you just incarnate as Jesus Christ? Could it be because of shame?
K2
K2, I have no shame.
ReplyDelete"E.G.O. is an acronym for 'Edging God Out'", or the other, which I prefer: "Embracing God's Omnipotence."
And, yet, I applaud you for creating your reality in a way that resonates for you, and supports your truth.
Don't let anyone talk you out of your 'highest truth.'
Angie-in-Japan said: "Both the Japanese and American police were extremely nice...but my reactions to them as they approached me REALLY were worlds apart."
ReplyDeleteThanks, Angie. I enjoyed reading about both accounts.
@BD "Don't let anyone talk you out of your 'highest truth.'"
ReplyDelete"If you don't write things from deep inside your heart, what's the use of churning out words?" Zen
Anonymous said...
ReplyDelete@BD "Don't let anyone talk you out of your 'highest truth.'"
"If you don't write things from deep inside your heart, what's the use of churning out words?" Zen
Sorry: You lost me. Care to expound?
@BD Sorry, I assumed too much with very little explanation.
ReplyDeleteThe quote is from a Japanese Soto Zen Monk/poet regarding the experience of Truth, which comes from deep in the heart/soul. Once the truth is known, no one can talk you out of it. Only another experience in higher truth can do that. Hence to write, formulate words, or chatter about things one knows little or nothing about for the sake of argument, is meaningless and a waste of time.
K2
Thanks for that Angie.:)
ReplyDelete"Hence to write, formulate words, or chatter about things one knows little or nothing about for the sake of argument, is meaningless and a waste of time."
ReplyDeleteK2
Thanks. I agree.
K2 and BD...thank you both so very much for the dialogue. It was a very fascinating read for me. As I took in the meaningful lessons that you BOTH taught us, I walked away thinking about my own EGO this morning.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the quality of person I will become is affected by the extent to which I diminish and/or inflate my ego, as well as the positive and/or negative ways in which I choose to exercise my ego. Not to straddle any field fences, but maybe sometimes my ego does fail me by "edging out GOD"....while at other times I feel it elevates me by allowing me the opportunity to "embrace GOD's omnipotence." I will be the first to say that I am not, nor will I ever be perfect...and with those shortcomings also comes my chance to become an even better person.
As you both noted, our egos have the power to move us forward in life - as well as hold us back. As for the incident in question, I don't know which of the egos these two men chose to exercise on that porch...but what I do know is that something went terribly wrong that day. I think that means that at least one or both of those egos was/were moving in the wrong direction.
Stay blessed...and have a GREAT weekend.
Angie-in-Japan said...
ReplyDelete"K2 and BD...thank you both so very much for the dialogue."
You're welcome, Angie.
Have you ever considered that you're perfect just as you are?
Have you ever considered that what we see as "imperfection" is not imperfection at all, just as a child's early efforts to speak, and to walk, are not seen as imperfections, but steps toward a grander achievement, and echos of a greater reality yet to come?
Namaste
@Angie-in-Japan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comment. I hope you are enjoying your stay in Japan and that it is enriching your life. Enjoy your weekend and have a Sake on me!
K2
BD...thank you for that. You delivered it at a really good time for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to make this thought my mantra for a month and see how I feel afterwards. Thank you again.
Hello again, K2. Japan has been a very interesting journey for me. Funny you mention sake. My friend is the president of a local sake company. The name is Kikusui (which means chrysanthemum water).
ReplyDeleteAngie-in-Japan, "Hello again, K2. Japan has been a very interesting journey for me."
ReplyDeleteWhat has life been like for you in Japan? Do you missed America? What are race relations like there today?
K2
Wow, now that the call was released and Gates' "anti-whitey" past has been revealed what will everyone use to try to turn this into a case of racism. Oh, my bad, nothings changed - except now the racism is black on white rather than white on black. You can all go back to your blame the white man world and wait for the next big thing to complain about in this "age of obama". This is the most racist bunch of drivel I have ever seen. MLK would be turning in his grave - "one day my children would be judged not on the color of their skin but on the content of their character". You can apply that to everything in the last few months and spin it as you will.
ReplyDeleteWow, now that the call was released and Gates' "anti-whitey" past has been revealed what will everyone use to try to turn this into a case of racism. Oh, my bad, nothings changed - except now the racism is black on white rather than white on black. You can all go back to your blame the white man world and wait for the next big thing to complain about in this "age of obama". This is the most racist bunch of drivel I have ever seen. MLK would be turning in his grave - "one day my children would be judged not on the color of their skin but on the content of their character". You can apply that to everything in the last few months and spin it as you will.
ReplyDelete@Anon: "[N]othings changed - except now the racism is black on white rather than white on black."
ReplyDeleteSalivating are you? Foaming at the mouth will not change the facts. Black on white racism is a figment of your overworked imagination.
"You can all go back to your blame the [black] man world and wait for the next big thing to complain about in this "age of Limbaugh".
Don't hide behind Martin Luther King's words as a way to evade the Truth of America: Its moral core is rotten, it's been rotten since its inception (King knew this), and the ones responsible for that putrefaction have been white, and not black.
Reversing this crap, tagging the black man as racist, won't make it so.
I hate to break it to you: We've got a better grip on reality than you.
By the way: You came to the party a little late didn't you?
You snuck in at the end. Was it like this: You wanted to speak, but didn't want to meet with resistance?
Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!
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