Change we can believe in

[Bubba]

BGIF was not arrested because he wasn't biligerent. Just like I was not arrested when I was suspected of stealing my own car. I was at a county fair and there had been a lot of car thefts. I opened my car door with my car key and reached over to open the passenger door for my buddy. When I came back up, I was staring at the barrel of a gun. The cop was rude, he was rough with me; cuffed me put me on the ground, then made me get up without help with my hands cuffed behind my back. Once my buddy showed them the registration in the glove box, he couldn't even get the cuffs off because he had put them on too tight and he was so jacked-up. His partner had to step in and help. I received no apology and yet I didn't make a big deal about it. Plenty of people said I should have sued, but that's not who I am. My point is that reaction is everything. You assume Gates is telling the truth because he is a minority who was mistreated. You don't know what happened anymore then any of the rest of us. The cop's partner (who is black) even said the response of the officer was appropriate and that he supported him 100%. I guess he's a sell-out because he supported the white cop?

Why is it that you assume those of us who are white cannot empathize with a situation? We haven't walked a mile in your shoes so we don't know what we're talking about, right? That's BS. Again, we will NEVER move past this as long as people continue to hang onto this belief that you will always be mistreated because of the color of your skin. Of course it happens, but it's not always the case.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

I think the point BGIF was trying to make is that almost all of us have been put in situations where if we had been a minority it would have been easy to call it racism. It's sad that racism still exists and I hate it. There have been times that a lot of us have been treated poorly by law enforcement, I don't get to call it racism though because I'm white.

 

[fortwayne_nd]

If there was not a double standard then we wouldn't have to ask this question. The real problem is why are we still asking if this would happen if he was white, and unless you have ever been mistreated because of what you look like than you have no idea what this issue is about

I imagine just about everyone has been mistreated/judged because of the way they look: too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short, too pretty, too ugly, etc. It ain't easy being a pimp.

 

[Junkhead]

It ain't easy being a pimp.

I heard that.

 

[WabashFalcon]

It is... right now... even hard out there for a pimp. Brothels are cutting prices worldwide.

 

[Bubba]

It is... right now... even hard out there for a pimp. Brothels are cutting prices worldwide.

sweet!

 

[jason_h537]

I imagine just about everyone has been mistreated/judged because of the way they look: too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short, too pretty, too ugly, etc. It ain't easy being a pimp.

Yes you are exactly right everyone has been mistreated or judged because that is the nature of man. The question is whether or not this was a racial issue and whether or not "racial profiling" exists. People like to ignore the issue of race and how it affects people lives and decisions in this country. The reason that the Gates arrest has become such a polarizing issue is that people of color can completely identify with having been mistreated by the police or people in general because of their race and most of white Americans say it is not because they like to believe that this is a thing of the past. Racism and racial profiling do not exist anymore and that poeple need to stop playing the race card. The point that i am trying to get across that constantly gets ignored in my posts is that people of color have to deal with issues of judgement everyday that white's do not. Ask any person of color and he can tell you stories of being called nigger, wetback, chink, terrorist or any other derogatory word. Being followed in a store, being pulled over by an officer and asked why you are in a neighborhood, being illigally searched, and mistreated because of your race and knowing it is because of your race. This is engrained in your psyche from chilhood that you are different, and whenever anyone talks about it or tries to explain this he is considered angry or bitter or a reverse racist. It is this idea that many here will never understand.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Yes you are exactly right everyone has been mistreated or judged because that is the nature of man. The question is whether or not this was a racial issue and whether or not "racial profiling" exists. People like to ignore the issue of race and how it affects people lives and decisions in this country. The reason that the Gates arrest has become such a polarizing issue is that people of color can completely identify with having been mistreated by the police or people in general because of their race and most of white Americans say it is not because they like to believe that this is a thing of the past. Racism and racial profiling do not exist anymore and that poeple need to stop playing the race card. The point that i am trying to get across that constantly gets ignored in my posts is that people of color have to deal with issues of judgement everyday that white's do not. Ask any person of color and he can tell you stories of being called nigger, wetback, chink, terrorist or any other derogatory word. Being followed in a store, being pulled over by an officer and asked why you are in a neighborhood, being illigally searched, and mistreated because of your race and knowing it is because of your race. This is engrained in your psyche from chilhood that you are different, and whenever anyone talks about it or tries to explain this he is considered angry or bitter or a reverse racist. It is this idea that many here will never understand.

In my opinion, it is that mindset that will prevent us from ever making a breakthrough. If we are expected to walk a mile in another race's shoes, as opposed to just treating everyone with dignity and respect from the get, we will perpetuate this issue for eternity. I prefer looking down upon those who DO profile or denigrate because of race, but don't think that it is a social (white) majority, as I often feel is perceived.

I understand the past. I regret all racism and discrimination that has ever taken place. It is a sad chapter in our country's (and world, for that matter) history. I'd like to move forward, but have to be continually reminded of the past.

I love my brothers (and sisters) from other mothers. Still think this professor overreacted. Big time.

 

[dudexcore]

is this where the party's at?

 

[WabashFalcon]

No... the party's three threads down on the left. Tanner and Urbanmeyerbadhire are sharing a bottle of peach schnapps and are giving each other reach-arounds.

 

[jason_h537]

In my opinion, it is that mindset that will prevent us from ever making a breakthrough. If we are expected to walk a mile in another race's shoes, as opposed to just treating everyone with dignity and respect from the get, we will perpetuate this issue for eternity.

No one is expected to walk in anyone's shoes. This idea of being colorblind is an excuse to ignore the problems people still go through because of their religion, ethnicity, or gender. It is a matter of discussion and understanding that people have different needs and life experiences. The reason Gates has become such a divisive issue is because it is a his word vs the officers word story. The officer says he arrested Gates for being uncooporative and Gates says he was arrested despite being cooperative so the question is who do you belive and WHY?

The bigger issue that i have is that despite whether or nor he was cooperative or not is that he was arrested for disorderly conduct while being in his home which means 1) he was arrested illegally because you can not be arrested for disorderly conduct in your own home or 2) he was arrested despite showing eveidence that he was in fact in his home.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

No one is expected to walk in anyone's shoes. This idea of being colorblind is an excuse to ignore the problems people still go through because of their religion, ethnicity, or gender. It is a matter of discussion and understanding that people have different needs and life experiences. The reason Gates has become such a divisive issue is because it is a his word vs the officers word story. The officer says he arrested Gates for being uncooporative and Gates says he was arrested despite being cooperative so the question is who do you belive and WHY?

The bigger issue that i have is that despite whether or nor he was cooperative or not is that he was arrested for disorderly conduct while being in his home which means 1) he was arrested illegally because you can not be arrested for disorderly conduct in your own home or 2) he was arrested despite showing eveidence that he was in fact in his home.

Did you see what Colin Powell had to say on Larry King? It does not have anything to do with the 'officer's story.'

 

[jason_h537]

No but ill be sure to check it out.

BTW i thought all of Colin Powells decisions were based on race.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

No but ill be sure to check it out.

BTW i thought all of Colin Powells decisions were based on race.

How about some baseball?

ACamp, you watching?

From Wikipedda:
His father was a soldier, sheriff, and photographer from New York and greatly admired the former president. His mother, May Venzor, was a Salvation Army worker from El Paso, Texas.

His paternal ancestors were a mix of Welsh and Irish and his maternal ancestors were of Mexican descent. [4][5][6] Through his Mexican side he is related to Mexican Revolutionary General Pascual Orozco, who in turn shares descent from the Habsburg family of Europe, and related to Maximilian I of Mexico. Other sources claim his Mexican mother's family was Basque in origin. Of his Mexican ancestory he wrote: "If I had had my mother's name, there is no doubt I would have run into problems in those days, (considering) the prejudices people had in Southern California".

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

By the way Jason, it was Ted Williams.

 

[Quinntastic]

While I'm not going to weigh in on this issue, I just wanted to say that I'm enjoying the mature discussion that's taking place.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

You just did.