Ethnically Speaking, August 1

Larry Meeks
Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700
Lifestyle

Dear Larry: I love your column and look forward to it every week.

Can you stand just one more comment about the professor Henry Louis Gates incident?

I have been following the whole incident very closely and read in an article that professor Gates was incensed because "he, as a prominent member of the community, wasn't recognized by this officer."
Updated: Fri Jul 31, 2009

Dear Larry: I love your column and look forward to it every week.

Can you stand just one more comment about the professor Henry Louis Gates incident?

I have been following the whole incident very closely and read in an article that professor Gates was incensed because "he, as a prominent member of the community, wasn't recognized by this officer."

His words and arrogance reminded me of Rep. Cynthia McKinney. If you will recall, she was arrested for assaulting a Capitol police officer. She punched the police officer in the chest because he stopped her when she decided to walk around the building's metal detector.

Congress members are allowed to walk around the metal detector if they are wearing the proper identification. The policeman didn't know her and asked that she walk through the detector. She refused and thought he should have known who she was.

This is a similar situation and similar media circus. The entitlement mentality strikes again. — Sally

Dear Sally: You are right. What I always find so amazing is how the people who claim to represent the poor, minorities and the disadvantaged can be the most arrogant, egotistical and contemptuous.

So many times, they come from the very groups they represent, but once they are in power, they become bigheaded and difficult.

You are not the only person who had more to say about the professor Gates incident. Read on.

From Ruby: The president was right when he said this is a teachable moment. The people who need to be taught are the ones with the most education — Obama and Gates. President Obama needs to be taught not to let his biases show and to be quiet until he knows all the facts. Professor Gates needs to be taught to keep his mouth under control when another person is wearing a badge, carrying a gun, and holding a pair of handcuffs.

From Steven: The one I feel the most sorry for is the poor woman who phoned in the 911 call. It is amazing how the media accused her of saying the people who broke in were black. Nothing like that happened. You would think they would apologize. Well, if the president will not apologize for talking "stupidly," what do we expect from the Obama media?

From Jamal: I am a community activist and teach teenage African-American boys survival skills. I taught them that if they ever are stopped by the police, they should obey every instruction without any lip. If they are driving and are stopped, they should put their hands on the steering wheel, and they shouldn't move them until directed. And above all else, I taught them to keep their comments to themselves.

If my boys follow professor Gates' example, somebody will get seriously hurt or killed. Gates is a poor excuse for an example.

From Katrina: What I can't stand about President Obama and professor Gates is they both live in an ivory tower. They try to become some kind of symbol for oppression. Both of them have lived the good life. They received the good life by going to school, studying and obeying the rules. This is what they should be teaching, not some activist junk that is dated and no longer relevant.

From J.B.: Please do not say any more about this issue. It is obvious what is going on. Professor Gates is an egotistical jerk. The police had to investigate the 911 call. The jerk acted like a jerk. The jerk's friend acted like a jerk. I am tired of all this jerking. Enough already.