7/24/09

Regarding the Gates incident

Um... you want an apology for an accurate statement about your inability to assess a situation? I think not.

Look, my son at three years of age locked me out of the house by deadbolting the back door while I took out a trash bag to the can. The only way I could get back in the house and rescue him from a) flushing 80 gallons of water down the kitchen sink, or b) lighting the house afire, or c) climbing on some unsecured piece of furnitury was to break through the screen door on our front entrance with a set barbecue tongs. Nobody called the cops on me as I ripped the screen to shreds and climbed in through the wood frame. And if they'd have shown up, I guarantee you my explanation would have been sufficient.

This whole thing is ridiculous, and the police did act stupidly. The man had just gotten off the plane after a trip overseas. I feel stressed and pissy when I take a one hour flight from Vegas back to L.A. and don't want to speak to anyone until I can pee, sleep, and eat in my own home. No wonder he was not as 'compliant' as one would normally be when they are well rested and not aggravated about getting into their OWN HOME!! And you mean to say that not one of the so-concerned, let's-call-the-cops-on -these-black-men because we're so watchul neighbors stepped up to say, "oh yes, that's Mr. Gates who LIVES there"?? Unacceptable.

1 comments:

Pomona Joe said...

Seriously! It is at once amazing and not surprising the little amount of analysis being done about this incident. I don't care how upset he was, how verbally abusive he might have been - there is no excuse for his arrest. According to Mass. law "disturbing the peace" is tantamount to inciting a riot - clearly not in the capacity of this handicapped little old professor. Being rude to a cop is only a crime in places like China. I'm sorry Obama walked it back. I would have love to have seen this impenitent officer crucified over this. How many times does this happen to people who aren't friends with the president and have no recourse?