The Gates Arrest

Background: incident report #9005127

Shouting in your own home isn't a crime; contrary to the official report, Henry Louis Gates was arrested because he was being an asshole ("Anger is as a stone cast into a wasp's nest"). The arrest constitutes an actionable error.

Given Officer Crowley's background (in race relations), to what degree racism played a part in the arrest is a question entirely up in the air (likewise, the following example).

Imagine racism as a Twinkie, and the cellophane wrapper as an individual. Separate, and clearly, the wrapper is not the Twinkie. Yet, when one sees a Twinkie wrapper, one can safely assume that, at some point, Twinkies were present.

How many see a Twinkie wrapper on Officer Crowley's forehead?

Fr. the New York Times:

Mr. Gates shouldn’t have yelled at the police officer; still, what he did was irritating, not criminal. Once the officer determined Mr. Gates did live in the house, he should have left, no matter what the professor was shouting.

Harvey A. Silverglate, a criminal defense lawyer, civil liberties defender, and Harvard Law School graduate, believes Mr. Gates’s arrest should be investigated, but not only because of its racial implications: Was Mr. Gates arrested and held as a way to teach him a lesson? If so, asks Mr. Silverglate, “Is this acceptable, regardless of whether the citizen is white or black?”

From the Seattle Times:

Gates and every other American have a First Amendment right to shout and be rude in their home and on their private property.

Crowley's refusal to apologize and his public criticism of Obama's remarks are manifestations of his contempt for civilian control and civilian rule, in a democratic republic.

The fact that Crowley didn't arrest Gates for burglary or trespass and the local prosecutor rejected the disorderly conduct charge shows Crowley's professional misconduct.

-- Steven L. Kendall, Seattle

There was no real basis for the arrest. Thus, President Obama was justified in initially categorizing Officer Crowley's behavior as "stupid" (1). Crowley should be reprimanded. A lawsuit wouldn't be out of the question, if only as an attempt to further delineate standards for police behavior in exactly these types of situations.

Given his friendship with the president and the flak Mr. Obama would have to deflect during, and in the aftermath of such proceedings, Gates (via back-channels) has obviously been persuaded not to persue this course of action.

Better make those beers, "Moosehead"s, boys...

"Gates, Crowley Due Soon at White House for Beer, Gibbs Says"

YouTube

Politics and "political correctness": destroyers of men and killers of civilizations.

(1) “Black males hold the distinction of being the only group in America who are expected to be responsible full-blooded men and acquiescent boys, simultaneously.”

--- Anthony E. Russell

3:15

Hypocrisy In The U.S. - Tip of the Spear

Marijuana is estimated to be the U.S.' largest cash crop, exceeding the combined values of corn and wheat.

A few weeks ago, Gov. Arnold Schawarzenegger called for a national debate on the legalization of marijuana, or, to put it "bluntly", a debate on whether or not the government should decide that's it's _okay_ for its citizens to use marijuana.

The debate is over. What will eventually happen is a decision by the government to make money off the front end of pot production instead of the back end (the penal infrastructure).

A government cannot deny its people access to plants (or seeds) in their native state. The right to use plant life as seen fit is not a right conferred by man, but is a God-given right.

As Joe Klein stated in 'Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense' (Time) : "The hypocrisy inherent in the American conversation about stimulants is staggering. But there are big issues here, issues of economy and simple justice..."

Mr. President, if it's not already too late, you have a decision to make: are you going to ACT like a president, or are you going to be a president?

3:15

Sunday Semi-Smorgasbord

Didn't watch the series finale of Battlestar Galactica live (got it Sat. from Amazon On Demand), but here's a quick fun read of Entertainment Weekly's live blog 

I was impressed by the resonance of the scenes in general, and the idea of civilizations being continually "recycled". The Caprica/Baltar, Kara Thrace as "angels/guides" theme was on-point...although you'd have to "walk the walk" in order to even come _close_ to serious consideration of those plotlines...

[Centurians free for 150,000 years - there's a spin-off for your ass!]

***

Demi Moore  and Ashton Kutcher had some interesting comments last week, not so much about religion per se, but about the implications of Jesus and his works:

@mrskutcher so tru RT @aplusk: if U cn let go of preconceived notions about God Jesus holy ghost & just listen 2 the advice as a whole it's 4 everyone"

LOOK BEYOND RT @ishmael5: @mrskutcher wht about the passages that R Jesus's claims of exclusivity? 'No man cn come 2 the Father but by me...

My'04 review of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" that touches on Demi's "Look Beyond" comment (and I'll be revisiting this theme in future blogs).

***

It's interesting to see how chic and trends are being re-defined in the wake of the recession/depression; just common sense, really. Can't afford a car, automakers failing? Car sharing becomes cool. Can't afford a condo, lost your mortgage downpayment? Renting becomes cool.

Some new "Cool":

1) The Big 3 automakers will get into car sharing _big-time_, and renting autos by the hour will become mainstream across the country. Look out, ZipCar.

Hertz as tip-of-the-spear 

ZipCar Makes Moves

2) Covered electric bikes will become a hot item for commutes under 20-25 miles.

3) A quasi-"Blade Runner" mix/match look will dominate fashion within the next seven years.

4) Cremation will fast replace burial as a dominant "last rite", as land becomes more and more precious. Cemetaries will be re-claimed for construction purposes.

***

I'd really like to see a jazz/classical version of "American Idol"; I'm tired of seeing those kids power through songs in order to garner votes.

Imagine instumentalists and ensembles being judged by a panel consisting of Martha Argerich, Herbie Hancock and Joni Mitchell. 

Lancebowski...out.