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President Obama is Stupidly
Ya know, to put it all in perspective...just this morning in the paper, the police got a call of a man with a knife in Linda Vista. The reports were that he was suicidal and acting weird. He kept running around (his own home), and finally came towards a cop, without dropping the knife. They had to shoot and kill him and they're suspecting it's "suicide by cop". But these are the things cops are thinking about at EVERY CALL they go to. Something can sound simple (a cat is stuck in a tree) or (loud music complaint) and they get there and someone gets shot. So when they snap at you, bark orders, ask for ID...don't worry about why they aren't being polite police officers. Answer their questions, and let them get on their way.— July 25, 2009 6:49 p.m.
President Obama is Stupidly
Okay refried...let me answer that. First, let me say, I DO believe racism still exists. And I believe it's a problem. I also think when people act the way Gates did, it makes the problem WORSE. He and Obama seem to think that now everyone is talking about it and will somehow learn from this, and make it better. WRONG. The exact opposite. Let's say that Gates has been harassed by the police 25 times in the last two years. Sometimes he's walking, and they stop him for no reason and say "What the hell are you doing at 10 p.m. at night? Show me some damn ID, now!" A few other times, cops pull him over and start verbally abusing him for no reason. After the 25th time in two years, Mr. Gates concludes this is happening because of his color, as he isn't breaking the law. I would say at that point, aside from contacting Internal Affairs or something, he has the right to be pretty pissed off at cops. So now....let's jump into the situation that happened. He gets back from China, and his door won't open. He asks the black driver to help him push in the door. So a neighbor calls the police saying "Two black guys are trying to break into this house." The cops show up. Now, Mr. Gates has had 25 bad run-ins with police. He's angry at police. In fact, he hates the police. But the second they knock on the door and tell him what they're investigating, his mindset should be: Oh, for once they aren't here to bug me, but to actually do their job and investigate a call, as it did look odd to have me standing outside trying to bust down my own door. His next thought should be: these cops are so damn racist, they'll look for any excuse to mace me, taze me, or even shoot me. So, I won't give them any ammo (so to speak). I'll be polite, I'll smile, I'll answer all their questions, and they'll be on their way. So refried, my question to you is now this. My scenario of the 25 times was completely exagerrated to make a point. That EVEN IF those things had happened, you should treat each individual with a clean slate. This is why...the amount of problems I've had with certain people on a basketball court, or certain blondes with dyed hair...doesn't mean when a person that looks like this approaches me, I think they're a jerk. I do what Martin Luther King, Jr. said we should do. I judge this person by the "content of their character" not the color of their skin. Each person gets judged by how I interract with them. Why does this not happen with Gates? Now, to say that we don't immediately do some kind of profiling in our mind...sure. Everyone does. But once someone speaks, you change perceptions. You are now judging them by what is being said, not the amount of tattoos, skin color, or whatever else. So refried...how should Gates have acted in this scenario? Or better yet, in the scenario that did happen? Cops doing their job.— July 25, 2009 6:49 p.m.
Burger and Fries with Extra Lettuce (drive thru with guns)
That's bizarre. Mindy, do you remember the "6 window steps" that all McDonald's employees need to know? We had a girl, very nice and shy, sweet to everyone. On the first day, her register was short. Because she took a $20 bill, that was really a $1, with "20s" taped over each corner. I know, it's hard to imagine someone wouldn't notice that...but on a Saturday afternoon, with little league teams lined out the door and things being busy....— July 25, 2009 6:27 p.m.
President Obama is Stupidly
Also SD, you mention being sick of me calling you and other people "stupid" "idiotic" or "naive". I think naive is the only thing I implied in this thread. And, you've yet to prove otherwise. And us hurtful as that word may be, I can't think of another one to use, for someone that is siding with Gates over the cops on this issue. Although, you haven't really admitted what side your on in this debate. You're just debating me. I'm not sure what that's all about.— July 25, 2009 4:58 p.m.
President Obama is Stupidly
You left out the part about Woody Allen, where you insisted the young Asian girl that Larry Davids character was teaching chess, had something to do with Allens stepdaughter (which again, the written script pre-dated). Not to mention, they showed him teaching chess to an African-American, and a white kid. So, I don't really think it showed anything. And second, when I tell someone that personal stuff won't be blog topics, I mean that. Which means I wouldn't bring anything up about things you've SPECIFICALLY asked me not to, or any medical conditions, or a number of other things that a person obviously won't care to have discussed. But when someone comes on my blog, and says I'm racist, insecure, or brings up that idiot writer from another publication....and, let's go even farther back. You wrote about that night all of the bloggers were meeting up at The Field. You didn't check with me first to see if I was cool with any of the things you wrote (that my stepbrother had a "severe haircut"), or that I gave you a card and wrote something sweet in it, or that listening to me talk is like swithcing TV channels. So, why is it different for you than I? I'm sorry you felt that I whispered to my girlfriend "watch this...I'll really get her going." I brought up the police thing, because something at the time came up that made me think of it. I'm used to thinking "adults" can talk about things like the police, racism, movies, relationships, cupcakes, loud motorcycles...without one flying off the handle! Maybe you're just used to students over the internet that don't talk back, and therefore you've forgotten what it's like to have normal give-and-take in conversation. It's possible...because the time we talked cinema on the phone, you spent 30 minutes going on about Japanese films and every time I waited for a pause to bring up a few films, there either wasn't one or you'd immediately interrupt. Pete: I didn't delete that post, but I did read it before it got removed. Don't you think it was a little out of line? I mean, even someone like Spliff knows how to spell the words to get around the censors!— July 25, 2009 4:51 p.m.
President Obama is Stupidly
anti: that joke rocked! Pistol...you seriously think the government spent $25 million to train a pilot? I doubt it. But that being said...if a pilot in the military lost his job because he was gay, that sucks (no pun intended).— July 25, 2009 2:04 a.m.
President Obama is Stupidly
I can say "internet"...I just can't use it. I looked at the lyrics to the Ozzy song, and it's five minutes before Conan, so here goes my attempt to change them to this: Sgt. Crowley, what went down at Harvard? (Oh) Mr. Crowley, did you talk to a turd? Being a cop can be so tragic You're supposed to stop crimes without questioning Fools think it's like magic (Yeah)You went on Gates neighbors call.... Mr. Charming, did Obama think he was, this time? Mr. Alarming, his PR people had to be revived Uncovering things that Gates said about mamas Obama back-pedeled about racial tensions, he claims they still manifest this Earth But it's really no secret That his friend played the race card, now's weepin' (guitar solo...as to not be considered racist, I'll drop dead white guitarist Randy Rhodes, for the much more talented dead black guitarist, Jimi Hendrix) Sgt. Crowley, did you give Gates a ride in your black and white? Sgt. Crowley, was he yelling he was right? Approaching his tenure at Harvard He really wants to be heard.... But why doesn't he realize he was wrong? Maybe I'll send him this song! (bass solo this time...I'll use talented local Nathan East, another wonderful African-American musician I dig) Was it a political bent? I wanna know what you meant When you talked about his badge number and his mom Did your mom raise you wrong? I wanna know what you meant, yeah!— July 24, 2009 11:32 p.m.
A Static Charge
You know what, Pete? I remembered that later in the day, when I was in my car. As I was typing that, the name Reggie was coming up, but not the last name. I don't think there's anything wrong with being a fan of a player, and therefore, liking that team. A lot of folks did that with Jordan when he played with the Bulls. Sure, it's a form of "bandwagon" but so what. We pick all kinds of reasons why we follow certain teams. I'm involved in some charity things, and hear some adult fans talk to athletes, and say they became fans of so-and-so team, after the QB met with their sick son 8 years ago. Nothing wrong with that, I say. Now Spliff...why is it you agree with ONE TEACHER (when she spouts off about slave trade), but not those biology teachers that tried telling you there's something to evolution? The reason I get on NFL players, or any athlete, when they say stupid stuff is...well, we should do that with anyone that says stupid stuff. It can be the President, an athlete, movie star, anyone. I'd just think athletes would have enough sense, to realize they're making millions. And that children look up to them. And that PR is a big part of sports.— July 24, 2009 11:15 p.m.
President Obama is Stupidly
highrock: I loved all your points thus far, but I do believe that swimming pool incident did involve race. The pool claims it ONLY has to do with the amount of kids that went to the pool, and how that many couldn't attend. But the problem with that logic is -- when they signed up, they said how many kids they had. So why all of the sudden, do they have a problem with that number? And yes, I know they also dropped some white groups of children from the pool, but still. Something sounds fishy about it. And, with that Sgt. being named Crowley, it seems like someone can do a parody of that Ozzy Osbourne song Mr. Crowley. I don't know enough of the lyrics to attempt it.— July 24, 2009 10:21 p.m.
President Obama is Stupidly
Well Pete, the problem I have with your statement about the riots in LA because you don't like the verdict in Rodney King...what does damanging store owners property, that had NOTHING to do with the legal decision, or the cops beating King? And looting their products? If you want to go picket, do a million man march, or any kind of "protest", that's one thing. But to riot is wrong. And SD, if I got that story wrong, you can gladly correct it here. (didn't think so)— July 24, 2009 10:14 p.m.