Racial Issues…in 2009…go figure!

The lead story on the Today Show this morning was a discussion regarding President Obama's comments last night about the arrest of his friend Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct following an incident on July 16, 2009 at his home.  Gates, who was just returning from a trip, was having trouble opening the door to his house when a passer-by called police, suspecting that the "two black males" (the Professor and his driver) were breaking into the home.  

Those are the only facts that don't seem to be in doubt. 

The story then splits into two versions…

Professor Gates says when police arrived at his home, he established his identity as the home owner and then demanded the name and badge number of the police officer — going as far as following him outside of his home, which is where the arrest took place.

The police officer says that Gates was being very loud and was warned several times to calm down.  He also says that he asked the Professor to step outside because the shouting was making it difficult for him to hear information from other responding units.

The charges have since been dropped by the Cambridge Police department who have also called the incident "regrettable and unfortunate."

Here's my problem – I understand it's a big deal when the President of the

weighs in on an issue that is deemed personal to him — primarily because Gates is a friend.  But to lead off the show with this simply because the President made a comment about how he views the situation…is nuts.  And from what I can tell, Good Morning America lead off with the same story so it's not like the Today Show is alone here.

The 'debate' on the Today Show was maddening. They had two commentators (one white / one black) "debating" the President's comments.  Here is a link to the video – http://bit.ly/1sMBt

I'm sure everyone will take something different from the discussion.  For my part, there were several comments from Mr. Smerconish that really pissed me off.

1. "Whatever you look like seems to dictate the facts of the case"

     Really?  Why is that?  Could it be because a white male rarely has to deal with being questioned by the police in his own home? Or that a white male doesn't know what it's like to cross the street and STILL hear the locking of car doors as you pass in front of a vehicle? Or had a cab drive right by you for the crime of "Standing While Black."

2. "I think that one can reach the conclusion that it was Professor Gates lit the fuse on this incendiary situation."

    I see, why, because he was furious? Having not experienced all that I just mentioned above how does one reach that conclusion?  And another thing, even without knowing the ALL facts of the case, is it really THAT BIG A LEAP to expect a trained police officer to handle a situation such as this better? And if the answer is no, then we have more problems than we think.

And this is the doosie of all comments…

3. "Something that's not being said by anybody…If you look at that still photograph that shows Professor Gates in handcuffs, I take note of the fact that of a pretty large African American police officer right in the foreground of that picture."

    I don't even know where to begin with that statement. Not only is it insulting, it's stupid.  Are we to assume that because a African American police officer is present no racism or racial profiling occurred?  When did that 'pretty large African American police officer' arrive? Before the actual arrest? After?  Smerconish also states that the photographer who shot the picture in question also stated that the Professor was agitated.  Really? Imagine that.  It just seems Smerconish who faulted the President for using the word "stupidly" because he doesn't have all the facts in the case, is doing the same thing.  But I guess it's OK for him to make those assumptions because he's just a commentator. 

Every couple of months the media grabs hold of a story like this and "discusses" for various reasons.  In this case it's because the President weighed in on it.  Sadly however, there are more stories like this taking place across this great land of ours everyday that don't see the light of day.  And that's truly sad — some 40 plus years after civil rights laws were enacted.

On a side note — this is why so many of us are pushing for equal rights for gays and lesbians.  It's not for us.  It's so our great, great, great, great grandchildren will hopefully live in a world where they are just accepted for who they are. Because apparently it just takes that long for people to get it on their head that neither the color of their skin or their sexual orientation makes them a better person than the next.