27 July 2009

What if Professor Gates were white?

Based on the limited, media-filtered information that I have about the recent case in which an African-American Harvard professor was arrested while trying to break into his own home, I believe that the whole thing has been overblown by both sides.

And both sides should have done things differently.

Professor Gates should not have provoked the police with what appeared to be an arrogant attitude.

But, at the same time, the police should not have assumed the worst without first investigating the facts.

In that respect, President Obama was correct in calling Police Sgt. James Crowley's actions "stupid". But President Obama also jumped the gun here, as he later admitted.

But what is even more disturbing is that fact that race was dragged into this story. (The arresting officer is white.) This proves that race is still a factor in American daily life, even as an African American sits in the White House.

A post-racial America is still no more than a far-off dream for the future, folks.

And such will be the case for as long as race remains a factor in news stories such as this.

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