Comments on: My Take on the Arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. http://www.awomansblog.com/2009/07/my-take-on-the-arrest-of-henry-louis-gates-jr/ Balancing Love, Life & World Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:41:37 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Renee http://www.awomansblog.com/2009/07/my-take-on-the-arrest-of-henry-louis-gates-jr/comment-page-1/#comment-3490 Renee Sat, 01 Aug 2009 03:32:27 +0000 http://www.awomansblog.com/?p=485#comment-3490 What if the media had reported this scenario without adjectives? A man confronted by a police officer. How would this have played out then? Would this discussion even be going on? Let's lose the adjectives! We are all part of the HUMAN race; that's all the race that matters! What if the media had reported this scenario without adjectives? A man confronted by a police officer. How would this have played out then? Would this discussion even be going on? Let’s lose the adjectives! We are all part of the HUMAN race; that’s all the race that matters!

]]> By: Renee http://www.awomansblog.com/2009/07/my-take-on-the-arrest-of-henry-louis-gates-jr/comment-page-1/#comment-3488 Renee Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:15:39 +0000 http://www.awomansblog.com/?p=485#comment-3488 What would have happened, if, when the media reported this scenario, they left out the adjectives that described the race of the people involved.... A Man, stopped by an Officer. Would this discussion even be necessary? The only way race will stop being an issue is for people to stop making it an issue! What would have happened, if, when the media reported this scenario, they left out the adjectives that described the race of the people involved…. A Man, stopped by an Officer. Would this discussion even be necessary? The only way race will stop being an issue is for people to stop making it an issue!

]]> By: Tawnya Jonsek http://www.awomansblog.com/2009/07/my-take-on-the-arrest-of-henry-louis-gates-jr/comment-page-1/#comment-3477 Tawnya Jonsek Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:25:15 +0000 http://www.awomansblog.com/?p=485#comment-3477 Let me add this - I don't view Crowley as a racist cop looking to bust a Black man. I just see a man, reacting to another man, who is reacting from a perspective already tainted by years of distrust and harm inflicted on his race. I think they both overreacted. I think it should serve as a reminder that there still is a deep wound in our country. Perhaps this can be a starting point for opening the conversation and finding ways to authentically heal the racial divides and move forward. Let me add this – I don’t view Crowley as a racist cop looking to bust a Black man. I just see a man, reacting to another man, who is reacting from a perspective already tainted by years of distrust and harm inflicted on his race.

I think they both overreacted. I think it should serve as a reminder that there still is a deep wound in our country. Perhaps this can be a starting point for opening the conversation and finding ways to authentically heal the racial divides and move forward.

]]> By: Tawnya Jonsek http://www.awomansblog.com/2009/07/my-take-on-the-arrest-of-henry-louis-gates-jr/comment-page-1/#comment-3476 Tawnya Jonsek Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:20:09 +0000 http://www.awomansblog.com/?p=485#comment-3476 You make some very good points - particularly about the issue of having him step out of the house. But - the issue remains, once they determine he is not in danger and is actually the occupant of the home, Gates' behavior, while reactionary, is not sufficient cause for arrest, in my opinion. The police are not here to put adults in time out. They are here to protect and enforce law. In my opinion, they both overreacted. I am able to put myself in Gates shoes enough to understand his motivation, even if I think he should have behaved more appropriately. I do not understand why the police officer insisted on arresting him once they determined he was safe and had a legal right to be in his own house. You make some very good points – particularly about the issue of having him step out of the house.

But – the issue remains, once they determine he is not in danger and is actually the occupant of the home, Gates’ behavior, while reactionary, is not sufficient cause for arrest, in my opinion. The police are not here to put adults in time out. They are here to protect and enforce law.

In my opinion, they both overreacted. I am able to put myself in Gates shoes enough to understand his motivation, even if I think he should have behaved more appropriately. I do not understand why the police officer insisted on arresting him once they determined he was safe and had a legal right to be in his own house.

]]> By: Ralphie http://www.awomansblog.com/2009/07/my-take-on-the-arrest-of-henry-louis-gates-jr/comment-page-1/#comment-3475 Ralphie Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:36:38 +0000 http://www.awomansblog.com/?p=485#comment-3475 The thing everyone forgets is the officer asked Dr. Gates to step outside, why to remove him from possible danger. The report was two men entering the house, so even if Mr. Gates showed his ID there is nothing saying he was still not in danger if the police left. Once outside, away from the possible intruder who could have been waiting to hurt Dr. Gates after the police left, could the PD get the real story. If the story remained the same the Pd leaves, if Dr. Gates says no a kidnapper is in my house and is planning to kill me after I give him all my money, the police would now be recognized for quick thinking heros (yes I feel they are and no I am not an Law Enforcement person). The police deal with more situations then the average person realizes. Obey the law due what they ask and they treat you with the same respect you give to them. A wise man once said don't judge a man until you walk a mile in their shoes. As for the arrest when you cause a ruckus and people notice and you start to create a bigger problem than the one the police responded for originally they need a way to defuse the situation. In this case seeing Dr. Gates was not charged, consider comparable to an adult time out. Sounds like a good solution to me. The thing everyone forgets is the officer asked Dr. Gates to step outside, why to remove him from possible danger. The report was two men entering the house, so even if Mr. Gates showed his ID there is nothing saying he was still not in danger if the police left. Once outside, away from the possible intruder who could have been waiting to hurt Dr. Gates after the police left, could the PD get the real story. If the story remained the same the Pd leaves, if Dr. Gates says no a kidnapper is in my house and is planning to kill me after I give him all my money, the police would now be recognized for quick thinking heros (yes I feel they are and no I am not an Law Enforcement person).

The police deal with more situations then the average person realizes. Obey the law due what they ask and they treat you with the same respect you give to them.

A wise man once said don’t judge a man until you walk a mile in their shoes.

As for the arrest when you cause a ruckus and people notice and you start to create a bigger problem than the one the police responded for originally they need a way to defuse the situation. In this case seeing Dr. Gates was not charged, consider comparable to an adult time out. Sounds like a good solution to me.

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