Gates

I find the president's remarks that the officer acted stupidly to be far too politically correct. I think he (the officer) was racist. (I'm a white, conservative, Christian, middle class male from the south.) Now, did he lynch him, no. Did he drag him behind a truck, no. But clearly his judgment call on Dr. Gates had been shaped by a lifetime of stereotypes, fears, cultural norms, etc. While this is something worth arguing about, there are other items I want to comment on.

1. It's a very sad commentary when your neighbor calls the police on you for breaking into your own house. In the case of Gates, I think that both he and his neighbors are at fault but even more so our American individualistic culture. We have become so busy that we don't even recognize, let alone know our neighbors. Why didn't his neighbor call him or just go over and assist him in opening the door? I don't know if Dr. Gates or his neighbors are either Christians, but Jesus made it very simple that the two greatest commandments are to love God with everything and love your neighbor as yourself. Imagine if this truth had been lived out in this case.

2. I'm curious why so many of the critics of this event, are indirectly labeling themselves as racist-less. It is very, very difficult to not judge a stranger based on what you 1st see. If you are walking downtown and see a man (black, white, Asian, or purple) in a three piece suit, the immediate assumption would be that he is some sort of professional with no evil intent . If you see a young black male in a white t-shirt & dreads, then you may assume he's a thug and up to no good. However the professional could be another Bernie Madoff and the young black male may be an inner-city youth pastor helping kids turn their lives around. In Gates' case, he is old, of small stature and presented 2 ids. He gave all the necessary evidence to prove who he is and an applogy should have been given by the officer and a "just checking to make sure everything was ok Dr. Gates."

A big part of this stems out of not knowing or being friends with people of other races. Most of America is segregated. "White" neighborhoods, "black" neighborhoods, etc. I had the privilege of growing up in a diverse school system that allowed me to have friends of a variety of ethnic & racial make ups. I now live in inner-city New Orleans. I have good friends who are white university professors and friends who are young black males with dreads. I have friends that are rich and some that are desperately poor. I have many Christian and non-Christian friends. Believing in the depravity of Man, I'm eternally grateful that I get to rub shoulders with such a cross section of society as it helps to push back the effects of the Fall (original sin) in me. It helps me to see people as people and alleviate fears & misconceptions. God truly has been gracious.