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|*March 10 - 16
|Dead Flies and Snake Charmers: More Life Under the Sun
Read for This Week's Study:
|Ecclesiastes 10.
Memory Text:
|"Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor" (Ecclesiastes 10:1).
|By this time, as far as we are in
Ecclesiastes, it should be clear that it's difficult to find a unified flow
of thought. That doesn't mean there aren't unified thoughts; it's just not
easy to find the flow of those thoughts; that is, it doesn't progress from
one thought to another and to another in any kind of systematic flow. At
least, it doesn't seem to.
Nevertheless, important ideas and thoughts are there, all well worth our study, especially when studied in comparison with the rest of the Bible.
This week's lesson also could have been titled "Thoughts, Words, Actions," for it deals with all three. Solomon talks about our thoughts, he talks about our words, and he talks about our actions, though not exactly in that order. Of course, in one sense, if you cover thoughts, words, and actions, there's isn't much left, is there?
With his powerful poetic style, Solomon gives us more to ponder. Though we have to work our way through the thoughts of this chapter, when we do we can see that there's a lot of meat here, a lot of practical wisdom that would do us all well to heed carefully.
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 17.
|March 11
Dead Flies
Ecclesiastes 10:1 really needs to be read along with Ecclesiastes 9:18, at least the last clause. Though not saying exactly the same thing, Ecclesiastes 9:18 helps clarify the principle found in 10:1, which is-no matter how much good one does, a stupid mistake can so spoil it all.
Last week we talked a little about how in this life we have to make the choices that will, in the end, determine our eternal destiny. But many times our choices also have much more immediate consequences. How often someone can, in a weak and unguarded moment, make a choice that brings sudden and painful consequences. What makes these events even more tragic is that so often those who make those wrong choices can be "good" people, faithful and honorable souls who, as we all do, slip and fall. In one sense the more honorable, exalted, and esteemed the person is, the more responsibility upon that person to weigh his or her decisions carefully.
Below are a few biblical examples of good folk making bad choices. What caused these people to stumble, and what were the results of their folly?
Sam. 11:1-4
A man works many years for the Lord only to, in a weak moment, make a mistake, perhaps a moral fall, and then-suddenly his ministry is, if not ruined, then certainly damaged. Whether right or not, this harsh consequence is a reality, one that should cause us all, regardless of our position, to walk carefully and circumspectly. In all the biblical accounts listed above, the Lord obviously forgave these people; how much more so should we, then, forgive those who have violated a sacred trust. But forgiveness doesn't automatically mean that the damage is undone; most times it isn't. How easily a few dead flies can stink up a whole jar of scented oil!
|Whoever you are, whatever your position in the church, think about the negative consequences that could occur if you were to violate a trust. Watch and pray before you act!
|March 12
The Fool's Heart
Ecclesiastes 10:2 is, obviously, poetic language depicting the difference between the heart (mind) of a wise person and of a foolish one. The imagery of left and right hand is found in various places in the Bible, with the right side considered the side of honor, power, and favor. After all, Jesus Himself talks about, when He returns, sitting "on the right hand of power" (Matt. 26:64; see also Matt. 25:31-34, Acts 7:55). In contrast, the left side was considered the side of evil and misfortune. In fact, the Latin word for left hand, sinistra, forms the basis for the English word sinister. Even today in some countries children who show a proclivity toward writing with their left hand are made to use their right instead.
Keeping these points in mind, what is Solomon saying in Ecclesiastes 10:2?
Because the heart was considered the center of all thoughts, emotions, and plans (Gen. 6:5, Exod. 25:2, 1 Sam. 16:7), Solomon's point is simply that the wise person guards the thoughts, the feelings, and the motives, while the foolish person doesn't. This verse shows how important it is that we keep control over what goes on inside us, because what's inside sooner or later becomes manifest on the outside.
How does Ecclesiastes 10:3 reveal the point made in the paragraph above?
Verse 3 fits perfectly with verse 2. The fool's "wisdom," which is on his left side, eventually exposes him to others as a fool. In other words, sooner or later the corruption of your heart will become clear to others because you will, sooner or later, follow the inclinations of your heart. How important, then, to get control of our hearts! If we have them under control, the rest of our body will follow.
|Suppose you are struggling with wrong thoughts. What does Deuteronomy 30:6 say, and what hope does it offer? How does Philippians 4:6-8 offer us practical advice on how to have that promise fulfilled?
|March 13
More Evil
Solomon here continues with more platitudes and sayings. Verses 4-7, though presenting some difficulty, seem to be talking about the question touched on earlier in the book, that of injustice and unfairness in this life.
What are some of the injustice and unfairness that he talks about in these verses? What are some other examples that you can think of?
"In the time of Solomon only the privileged rode upon horses or mules (2 Sam. 18:9; 1 Kings 1:38; 2 Chron. 25:28; Esther 6:8; Jer. 17:25); men of lower degree used asses for this purpose. In early Israelite history even kings and princes rode on asses or mules (Judges 5:10; 10:4; cf. 1 Kings 1:33)."The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1098.
Though most of us might not have a problem with a few rich sitting in "a low place," the point is that things aren't always as expected: Folly wins great dignity and wealth a low spot. Or, in other contexts, faithful people suffer, evil prospers, and so forth. Maybe this theme is repeated in Ecclesiastes because the problem is so universal. Whatever the reason, we can't allow these things to work against our faith and trust in God. This is just all part of what it means to live in a fallen world.
|What role do we have in working to alleviate the injustices and inequities
that we see? Is it just enough to say, "Well, that's what it means to live
in a fallen world," or are we to work for justice, equity, and fairness?
And, if so, how are we to do it? In what ways would our activism be different
from the world's? See
58:6, 7;
Cor. 10:4;
|March 14
The Snake Charmer
Ecclesiastes 10:8-11 is a sequence of short proverbs dealing with various aspects of life. What points can you make from them?
These are difficult texts; many commentators see different things in them. Following the lead of The SDA Bible Commentary, we can discern the following ideas here.
Verse 8 seems to be talking about what happens when we are vindictive, when we plan evil against someone. The pit that we dug for someone else we end up falling into (Pss. 7:15; 57:6; Prov. 26:27; see also Esther 9:23, 25). The same idea is found in the part about the "hedge" (wall); when you tear down someone else's wall, you can get bitten by a snake that lodges there.
Though the exact meaning of verse 9 is debated, Solomon simply could be saying that even when you do good things, bad consequences could arise from them. This could fit in with his general pessimism.
Verse 10 is pretty clear. If you are using a dull knife, your work will be much harder. How much more profitable to sharpen it beforehand. In the same way, wisdom, i.e., thoughtful preparation before you undertake anything, would be to your advantage. "The Christian should seek and make use of the finest tools of spiritual craftsmanship for the task of character construction. Effort alone is insufficient; there must be knowledge as well as zeal (see Rom. 10:2)."The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1098.
Verse 11 says, basically, that if the snake bites the charmer before it's charmed, then there's no sense in him trying to charm it. The meaning, perhaps, is best seen in the last part of the verse, about the uselessness of a babbler. Charming a snake after it bites you (such as a viper, whose bite is deadly) is as meaningless and useless as someone who babbles.
|Go back over the day's lesson. Which of these points makes the most sense or speaks the clearest to you? What lessons can you learn from it that you should apply to yourself? Are you vindictive? Do you babble too much? How much time do you spend preparing yourself spiritually for whatever trials the day brings?
|March 15
The Fool's Lips
The rest of Ecclesiastes 10 (vss. 10-20) touches on various themes, but for today we'll focus on verses 12-14 and 20, in which the emphasis is on the use of our words. How careful we must be with what we say!
the lips of the wise and a fool, as depicted in
12. What point is being made? See
The word translated "gracious" in the first part of the verse is the same word for grace ("Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" [Gen. 6:8]); grace is unmerited favor; that is, we don't get the punishment we deserve. That's the essence of salvation: We are not getting the punishment we deserve (Jesus took it upon Himself instead). In contrast, the words of the fool cause him to be swallowed, a word used in various instances to depict sinners being punished (Exod. 15:12, Num. 16:32, Jer 51:34, Lam. 2:5).
10:13. How does this verse amplify what was said in the previous
How often we dismiss someone as "all talk, no action." Many times, however, talk leads to action, because talk reflects what's in the heart. It would be bad enough if the fool did nothing but talk; sadly, that's not always the case. No wonder we are admonished all through the Bible to watch our words.
20. What's the wisdom
The bottom line: A wise person will be careful with how he or she chooses his or her words; a fool, on the other hand, will speak words that will, one way or another, bring unnecessary pain and sorrow.
Think about a time when unnecessary words you spoke caused you trouble. What lessons did you learn? What advice could you give to someone who hasn't yet learned to control the tongue?
|March 16
Further Study:
|Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages,
p. 323; Christ's Object Lessons,
p. 337; Testimonies for the
Church, vol. 2, p. 302.
"It is a law of nature that our thoughts and feelings are encouraged and strengthened as we give them utterance. While words express thoughts, it is also true that thoughts follow words. If we would give more expression to our faith, rejoice more in the blessings that we know we havethe great mercy and love of Godwe should have more faith and greater joy. No tongue can express, no finite mind can conceive, the blessing that results from appreciating the goodness and love of God. Even on earth we may have joy as a wellspring, never failing, because fed by the streams that flow from the throne of God." Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, pp. 251-253.
"The words we utter today will go on echoing when time shall be no more. The deeds done today are transferred to the books of heaven, just as the features are transferred by the artist onto the polished plate. They will determine our destiny for eternity, for bliss or eternal loss and agonizing remorse." Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 429, 430.
Discussion Questions:
| Think about the power of words-the good they can do
or the evil they can do. As a class, talk about whatever practical things
we can do to help each other understand how important it is that we carefully
guard our words. For instance, who can give personal examples of lessons
they have learned regarding the power of words? As a class, try to come up
with a list of practical suggestions, simple and basic principles that could
guide us in how we use our words.
Because our thoughts are so important, what can you do as a class to help the young people in your church make the right choices regarding the things they read or watch? Why is it so important that we be careful about what we put into our minds?
As a class, talk about the issue of anyone who has violated a sacred trust. How have we as a church dealt with such people? What principles should guide us in these cases? How do we show mercy and grace toward those who fall while, at the same time, protecting the flock from those who have violated the trust put in them?
|I N S I D E Story
|Bright Light of God
by MATSEPO LAURA LEBONA
I was sickly as a child living in Lesotho, a tiny country in southern Africa. When I began having strange dreams, the village witch doctors told my parents that a strong spirit lived in me. Although my family members were Christians, they feared that I would die if I did not follow the spirit. So, I went to study with a witch doctor. But what I learned from the witch doctor was contrary to everything I had learned about God. I remembered that the Ten Commandments teach us to honor God only. I could not bring myself to kneel and pray to insects and snakes. Nevertheless, I stayed and learned to "prophesy" people's future.
I married a good man, but still I had no peace. God kept a glimmer of truth alive in my heart. When at night the spirit tried to choke me, I called out to Jesus. I prayed that if it was God's will, He would free me from, the spirits. God answered my prayer, and the spirit left me. But my husband began suffering the same symptoms I had suffered.
My in-laws gave me no peace, so my husband and I left their home and moved to South Africa. There I met some Adventists who shared their knowledge of God and helped us understand what the Bible says about spirits. Things became clearer for us. I began attending the Adventist church and answered God's call to "come unto Me."
I read Steps to Christ to my husband and tried to help him understand God's will. Often during this time Satan tried to overpower me and draw me back into the life we had left. But I would cry out, "Save me, Lord Jesus." And Jesus saved me. My husband and I were baptized.
We returned to Lesotho and shared what we had learned with our families and neighbors. It is difficult, because no Adventist believers live in our community. People remember that I once prophesied and had a spirit in me. "How can you be a Christian when you were once possessed by a spirit?" they asked. To make matters more difficult, there are no Adventists in our village, and people think we have joined a cult. Please pray for us, for there is much work to do here in this battlefield. There are many held by Satan who must come to Christ.
MATSEPO LAURA LEBONA shares her faith in her homeland of Lesotho.
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8 Foods That Are Absolutely Terrible for Your Body
By Katie Waldeck | Care2.com
Many people think of healthy eating as consuming a certain number of calories per day. But the truth is, it's not just about how much you eat but the quality of the food you eat, and how safely it's been produced. Check out below some of the worst foods you can put in your body — you'll certainly be surprised by a few!
1. Microwave Popcorn.
Workers in microwave popcorn factories have actually developed an extremely rare form of lung cancer from inhaling fumes. If that isn't enough of a reason to avoid the stuff, here's another: the lining of the bags contains perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a substance that has been linked to several other forms of cancer and infertility. Plus, so many microwave popcorns are loaded with bad fats and sodium. Homemade air-popped popcorn can actually be a health food, believe it or not, so stick to that for your next movie night.
Also Check Out: 6 Healthier Alternatives to Movie Popcorn
2. Non-Organic Apples.
Last year, apples won the dubious honor of being the most pesticide-laden produce. Because they aren't very resistant to pests, apples tend to get sprayed more. They're also treated with pesticides to extend their shelf life. If you're an apple lover, always, always, always buy organic — or don't buy 'em at all. Your body will thank you!
Related: Is Titanium Dioxide in Food Harmful?
3. Soda.
Several studies have directly linked soda consumption to higher instances of cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression, obesity — you name it. Diet soda isn't off the hook, either. 9 Disturbing Side Effects of Soda
Earlier: Leeks Braised in White Wine (Recipe)
4. Chips.
Many brands of chips contain unimaginable amounts of sodium and fat — one bag can often be more than a day's worth. But it's not just the nutritional concerns to think about here — chips also contain acrylamide, a chemical that comes with an increased risk of several forms of cancer and infertility. You can also find the scary stuff in french fries.
Try these instead: Crunchy Kale Chips with Sea Salt & Sesame Seeds
5. Canned Tomatoes.
Aside from being far less delicious than the real, fresh, thing, canned tomatoes have the added "perk" of bisphenol-A (BPA) on their cans' lining. This is the stuff nightmares are made of: BPA has been linked to fetal abnormalities, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, thyroid issues, and even cancer. It's been banned for use in baby bottles, and overall bans are being considered nationwide. You can get up to 50 mcg of the stuff from canned tomatoes; the acidity makes them more difficult to package than most products, so a safe alternative has been difficult to find. Your best bet, though, is to avoid them all together. Stick to fresh tomatoes or, if need be, tomatoes packaged in glass jars.
See Also: 12 Surprising Uses for Safety Pins
6. Non-Organic Celery.
Celery is the dirtiest of all vegetables — the Environmental Working Group has founded dozens upon dozens of different pesticides on the non-organic stuff. As with apples, go organic or don't go at all.
More: Olive Oil Will Extend Your Life
7. Milk with Artificial Hormones.
Many farmers give their cows artificial hormones so they will produce more milk — good for their bottom line, not so good for our health. These hormones lead to higher rates of another hormone, IGF-1, which is thought to increase instances of cancer in humans. Look for milk that is certified organic, or labelled with either rBGH-free or BST-free.
Also Check Out: Skim Milk Doesn't Do a Body Good
8. Margarine.
If margarine didn't have any food dye in it, it'd be a delightful shade of gray. If that isn't evidence enough, what is?! Though margarine is often thought of as a healthier version of butter (there's no cholesterol, right?) it's also a wonderfully terrible source of trans fats — stuff that does, indeed, raise your cholesterol. Here's your excuse to go back to the real stuff — or, of course, olive oil!
Butter vs Margarine
16 Ways to Use Asparagus
Over 10% Of the American Diets is Fast Food
5 Ways to Soothe Sore Muscles
Photo credit: Shutterstock.com

subset: commoncrawl


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27/10/2010 - Germany has been one of the world's largest bilateral donors for the past two decades, but it spent only 0.35% of its national income on official development assistance (ODA) in 2009. This is well short of its promise to raise the proportion to 0.51% by 2010 and to 0.7% by 2015. However, Germany intends to keep its promise of increasing ODA to 0.7% of GNI by 2015.
Germany's global importance as a donor is well recognised and the review encourages it to go further in providing strong international leadership on development issues in the future. The Development Assistance Committee (DAC) commends Germany's leadership on issues related to climate change and development, noting that the government has integrated the issue into its development co-operation programmes and increased climate-related ODA by 40% in the past few years.
Since the DAC last reviewed Germany five years ago, it has made good progress in many areas of its development co-operation. It now works closely with 57 developing countries, down from 84, and plans to focus on governance, education, health, climate and environment, rural development and sustainable economic development, with an increased emphasis on the private sector.
However, Germany gave only 40% of its bilateral ODA to these countries – increasing that would maximize its development impact. Prompted by the DAC, the government has approved plans to reform its fragmented development co-operation system and it has also taken steps to improve the co-ordination of its ODA.
The DAC urges Germany to go further and faster with these planned reforms to achieve greater efficiency and ensure more effective delivery of its ODA. This will strengthen Germany's contribution to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
The peer review of Germany, led by Australia and the United Kingdom, took place on 13 October 2010. The German delegation attending the review meeting was headed Mr. Hans-Jürgen Beerfeltz, State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
For further information, journalists are invited to contact Lawrence Speer at the OECD's Media Division
(tel. [33] 1 45 24 80 97) or visit www.oecd.org/dac/peerreviews/Germany
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Tribute pages to suspected Aurora, Colo. shooter James Holmes have been showing up on Facebook in the wake of the incident that killed 12 people and wounded more than 50 others Friday.
Dozens of Facebook pages have sprung up featuring the alleged gunman, some are negative, but surprisingly some would be termed fan pages, according to Westword. With posts such as "They wanted the full movie. But all they got was clips" and "Shut that baby up. Or I will," the fan page has garnered some heated responses.
You honestly must have something missing from your life if you need the attention you're getting from the creation of this page.
Get your fake profile the hell out of here! You make me sick.
There is obviously someone very sick that has set up this page of a "public figure".
U.S. & World
The internet is teeming with people looking for attention and this fan page has gotten it, including media attention and more than 500 "likes" on Facebook. People need to realize that there are others out there who have the maturity level of an annoying 12-year-old boy and will create websites and Facebook fan pages to broadcast that to the world. We can only control our reaction to it.


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The hits keep comin'
With an 8-4 win over the Diamondbacks last night, the Padres have tied a club record by scoring seven or more runs in five consecutive games, previously done by the 1979 and 1996 clubs. Thanks to MLB.com's Tom Singer for noting the accomplishment.
In addition, Jason Bartlett went 2-for-5 with two RBI last night and now has an RBI in eight consecutive games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is one shy of tying the franchise record, set by Sixto Lezcano in 1982 and Steve Finley in 1996. Lezcano recorded an RBI in nine straight games from April 16-27. Two Padres players have had at least one RBI in eight straight games: Carmelo Martinez (June 21-28) and Tony Gwynn (May 25-June 3), both during the 1984 season.


text: A picture of the entire Yola Team Hi. I think there should be a picture of the entire team of Yola. That would be so kool... Lets start a petition here if they don't wa... Shaq, 11 years ago Last reply: Jacob, 8 years ago 53 53 me toos 26 26 replies Idea Under Consideration


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Before you know it, the kids will be out of school and enjoying summer. And while that usually means lots of fun for children, it can sometimes also mean an injury or a trip to the emergency room.
We talked about that with Dr. Karen Sheehan, an attending physician and medical director of the injury prevention and research center at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital and Research Center in Chicago. Here's an edited transcript:
Q. Do you see more ER visits during the summer months involving children's injuries?
A. We do. I think it's because it's warmer, and kids are outside playing. We definitely in summer have our trauma season, when we see kids falling out of windows, getting hit by cars or falling on the playground.
Q. What are some of the most common injuries you see?
A. Broken bones are probably the most common. We also can see head injuries. Those are some of the most severe injuries we would see. Lots of lacerations in the summer from pets (children getting scratched), getting cut on glass or something like that that needs a suture. That's kind of our bread and butter: lacerations and broken bones.
Q. What are some of the most common causes for injuries among children?
A. Probably the most common cause is falling off of playground equipment or just running and falling. These are the two most common reasons for kids breaking bones. They could also fall off their bike or scooter.
People are just outside more and walking more, so they're going to have more opportunity to fall. It's almost like kids need to get their sea legs. As soon as we get our first few warm days, we'll have a rash of injuries at a higher rate. I think it's because people aren't used to being outside. By far, though, falls are the most common injury we see.
Q. What are some simple things we can do to prevent those injuries?
A. If your kids are riding a scooter or a bike, make sure they have an appropriate helmet. Window falls are a serious injury that I always worry about. We used to have a lot more in the city, and now we see a lot of our falls being transferred in from the suburbs.
Our message is don't open your windows more than four inches, and if you have windows that can open from the top, that's great. Also, get your furniture away from the window. The most important thing is that screens are made to keep bugs out, not kids in.
Because we see so many falls at playgrounds, having adequate safety surfacing is key. Some playgrounds have the rubber surfacing, and that's great. Others have wood chips, and they really should be maintained at nine to 12 inches. If you notice that your playground does not have enough wood chips, then contact your park district and let them know that it is not adequate.
Q. So, your child falls off the monkey bars and then goes quickly back to playing. A few days later he complains that his arm hurts. How do you tell if it's a broken bone that requires a doctor's visit or a sprain that just requires some ice and rest?
A. For younger kids (before their growth plates are developed — 12 years old for girls and 14 years old for boys), it's more likely that they're going to have a fracture than a sprain. If you see swelling, I would suspect a fracture. … If the child seems fine and then goes and plays, and then a day or two later is still complaining, I think you need to bring him in. Younger kids just don't get sprains the way adults do. The great thing is that kids' bones heal really well.
Q. Being outdoors all day is a summer ritual for some kids. What are three key things that should be done before or while kids are outside playing to keep them safe?
A. Again, wood chips and helmets. And supervision, too, depending on the age of the child, especially around pools or open water.
Q. What should you do to prevent sunburn?
Latest Health
A. Children should be lathered up with sunscreen, and (it should) be reapplied several times a day.
Q. What things should be in every parent's first-aid kit?
A. Hydrocortisone for the bug bites, Benadryl (helps with itching and swelling), Band-Aids, a topical antibiotic, an Ace wrap (if someone is unfortunate to break an arm, that can give a little support), moleskin (to help prevent against blisters), Tylenol and ibuprofen for pain.
Q. What's the most unusual accidental injury you've seen with a child?
A. I've had some kids — without their parents knowledge, and I wouldn't condone this — where they watch these videos on TV and jumped off their roof onto a trampoline because they thought it was a good idea, or rigged up a zip line in the backyard … but then they slide into the garage door.


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Culture Wars
Obama Moves to Ratchet Down Tensions in Gates Arrest Controversy
President Obama made a surprise appearance at the daily White House briefing Friday to address the growing controversy over the arrest of Harvard Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr. by a Cambridge police officer. His complete remarks, as provided by CQ Transcriptions, follow:
OBAMA: Hey. It's a cameo appearance. Sit down. Sit down.
I -- I need to help Gibbs out a little bit here.
QUESTION: You're the new press secretary?
OBAMA: I -- the -- if you got to -- if you got to do a job, do it yourself.
I wanted to address you guys directly, because over the last day and a half, obviously, there's been all sorts of controversy around the incident that happened in Cambridge with Professor Gates and the police department there.
I actually just had a conversation with Sergeant Jim Crowley, the officer involved. And I have to tell you that, as I said yesterday, my impression of him was that he was a outstanding police officer and a good man, and that was confirmed in the phone conversation. And I told him that.
And I -- because this has been ratcheting up and I obviously helped to contribute ratcheting it up, I want to make clear that in my choice of words, I think, I unfortunately, I think, gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge police department or Sergeant Crowley specifically. And I could have calibrated those words differently. And I told this to Sergeant Crowley.
I continue to believe, based on what I have heard, that there was an overreaction in pulling Professor Gates out of his home to the station. I also continue to believe, based on what I heard, that Professor Gates probably overreacted as well.
My sense is you've got two good people in a circumstance in which neither of them were able to resolve the incident in the way that it should have been resolved and the way they would have liked it to be resolved.
The fact that it has garnered so much attention, I think, is a testimony to the fact that these are issues that are still very sensitive here in America. And, you know, so to the extent that my choice of words didn't illuminate, but rather contributed to more media frenzy, I think that was unfortunate.
What I'd like to do then is make sure that everybody steps back for a moment, recognizes that these are two decent people, not extrapolate too much from the facts, but, as I said at the press conference, be mindful of the fact that because of our history, because of the difficulties of the past, you know, African-Americans are sensitive to these issues.
And even when you've got a police officer who has a fine track record on racial sensitivity, interactions between police officers and the African-American community can sometimes be fraught with misunderstanding.
My hope is is that as a consequence of this event, this ends up being what's called a teachable moment, where all of us, instead of pumping up the volume, spend a little more time listening to each other and try to focus on how we can generally improve relations between police officers and minority communities, and that instead of flinging accusations, we can all be a little more reflective in terms of what we can do to contribute to more unity.
Lord knows we need it right now. Because over the last two days, as we've discussed this issue, I don't know if you've noticed, but nobody's been paying much attention to health care.
I will not use this time to spend more words on health care, although I can't guarantee that that will be true next week.
But I just wanted to emphasize that -- one last point I've guess I'd make. There are some who say that as president I shouldn't have stepped into this at all, because it's a local issue.
I have to tell you that that thing -- that part of it, I disagree with.
The fact that this has become such a big issue I think is indicative of the fact that, you know, race is still a troubling aspect of our society. Whether I were black or white, I think that me commenting on this and hopefully contributing to constructive, as opposed to negative, understandings about the issue is part of my portfolio.
So at the end of the conversation, there was discussion about -- my conversation with Sergeant Crowley, there was a discussion about he and I and Professor Gates having a beer here in the White House. We don't know if that's scheduled yet, but...
... but we may put that together.
He also did say he wanted to find out if there was a way of getting the press off his lawn.
I -- I informed him that I can't get the press off my lawn.
He pointed out that my lawn is bigger than his lawn.
But if anybody has any connections to the Boston press as well as national press, Sergeant Crowley would be happy for you to stop trampling his grass.
All right?
Thank you guys.
Posted at 3:01 PM ET on Jul 24, 2009
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Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 27, 2009 7:48 PM
i'll take care of irony
BTW...i just shot Nostradamus
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 27, 2009 4:29 PM
I'd rather wait for "nvanative".
Posted by: JakeD | July 26, 2009 11:24 PM
he's not here jakey....
you have scotoma.....
now, he may be on another string...
but we are cross referencing.
i apologize
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 26, 2009 8:58 PM
Point to ONE procedure that Sgt. Crowley violated.
Posted by: JakeD | July 26, 2009 8:35 PM
but he was on his property
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 26, 2009 8:24 PM
Professor Gates was NOT arrested in his home. Try reading the police report.
Posted by: JakeD | July 26, 2009 8:00 PM
but i cannot tell you right now
i would need charts & graphs
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 26, 2009 7:42 PM
No, you can't.
Posted by: JakeD | July 26, 2009 7:17 PM
sure ya can..
i'll show you sometime
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 26, 2009 6:56 PM
You can't "apologize" for someone.
Posted by: JakeD | July 26, 2009 6:48 PM
he wasn't....
jakey jakey jakey
sorry but that's just the way it is
i apologized for him
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 26, 2009 6:32 PM
Great post! We protested yesterday in front of Gates's house, and my sign read: "APOLOGIZE TO CROWLEY". He didn't come out, screaming about my mama, so maybe he wasn't home.
Posted by: JakeD | July 26, 2009 6:08 PM
menu has changed
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 26, 2009 2:39 PM
Whoa! Is Obama the coolest President we've had yet or what?
Let's face it, Gates, Obama and Crowley all acted a little out of character about this event. Everybody could have tried a little harder to see the other point of view. But, so what, its over!
Having a beer and talking things out is the best strategy. Obama is a political genius.
Posted by: csh181 | July 26, 2009 1:46 PM
President Obama is correct. The officer did negatively "profile" Dr. Gates.
Posted by: leontunctson | July 26, 2009 1:41 PM
fletcher & shear don't wish to update their story?
what about the thompson twins?
gotta update those strings
you and your bethren possess something that is not rightfully yours
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 26, 2009 10:21 AM
tell the AP i refuse to install flashplayer
so there
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 26, 2009 9:42 AM
OMG it's early....
do i have to read all that text....
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 26, 2009 8:54 AM
There was no "racial profiling" concerning Gates arrest and incidents justified or unjustified does not make it racial. To refer otherwise is just political grandstanding by Obama and his buddy Gates.
Mr. Gates should take a course on behavioural and anger management for his obvious anti-white attitudes, which he clearly displayed during and after this incident.
He should further take the officers course in racial profiling. Only then will Gates himself learn a lesson from his own arrest and have a better understanding about racial profiling in America from another prospective which I am sure he would find enormously gratifying.
It was, it is and it shall remain all about Gates and his friend Obama.
When these two understand that they already live in a society in which 'equal justice before law' is a lived reality and not go around with attitudes that attempt to place themselves above the laws incidents such as this might not happen in America.
What is urgently required is an open apology from Obama and Mr. Gates, to the police officer, police forces throughout the country and the American people for such anti-white remarks and off the cuff comments that continue to flow from both individuals..
Posted by: peterclarke1 | July 26, 2009 8:29 AM
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 26, 2009 4:42 AM
WHEN DID THE LEFT STOP STICKING UP FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS UNION MEMBER AVERAGE JOE AND PROTECT THE RICH WELL CONNECTED INSTEAD? Its so tragic that HERR PROFESSOR was arrested for what amounts to less of a crime than a parking ticket at Wally World. OH GOD that poor poor well connected, rich, I am friends with the most powerful man in the world professor. Sad thing is there are many people that are suffering at the hand of racism WHITE AND BLACK and this ELITIST SLOB thinks that HIS DOESN'T STINK? What do you suppose he wanted the poor slubs badge number and name for to send him a thank you card. I bet you dollars to doughnuts (no pun intended) it was to give to make sure this cop wised he never bothered such a superior man of letters. ABOUT RACE???? its about a professor that had to save face because his was plastered on the evening news and we CANT HAVE THAT!!!!!!We call the police heroes when they die in 9/11 or at a holocaust museum AS WE SHOULD but go agaist a well connected RICH POWERFUL CAN CALL CNN OR ABC OR CBS BECAUSE THEY KNOW ME or buddy Obama and some how its seen as the police officer was ABUSING HIS POWER??????OH sure I bet Gates wants to see if he can make this working stiffs job any more a nightmare. I guess the police and fire men are heroes until they go after a professor. IT NEVER WAS ABOUT THE PROFESSORS RACE BTWWhat VP of the networks did he KNOW and CALL to facilitate the OUTRAGE and HEADLINES.PIGS and SNOBS and I don't mean the police!!!!!!! I have sympathy for this cop and as much for every black man, woman and child that thinks they voted for change or that GATES has their best interest at heart.This is the wost case REAL ABUSE OF POWER in a generation and people are still rooting for the POWER?I would stand side by side with any man black or white but I have l ZERO respect for a man who claims to fight for the middle class but has such a knee jerk reaction AGAINST A POLICE OFFICER TO STICK UP FOR HIS IVY LEAGUE FRIEND. LEFT FOR THE LITTLE GUY? HA HA HA FRICKING HA. I want to vomit thinking about it.
Posted by: DavidfromWI | July 26, 2009 4:10 AM
This came down, once again, to class and ethnicity. Maybe its time to review why one group seems stuck in the ghetto of uniformed service after decades in America. - Desperately holding on to jobs, through tricks of Civil Service and rulings of The Supream Court their local demograpics simply no longer support.
Municipalities for economic and safety reasons; Blacks and Latino's women and gays for social want uniformed personel who live in the communities. Who love and know the people they serve because the see them in chuch going shopping taking their kids to school in the morning. This is a natural human right.
Posted by: empireport | July 26, 2009 2:44 AM
nothing a capitalistic WASP would ever do
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 26, 2009 1:18 AM
.... as I said, what has Jesse and Al done for blacks that have advanced their standing in this country? The Jena Six? Please spare me about that being anything to point to regarding advancing blacks. All they have done is gotten rich on the backs of blacks.
Posted by: MikeJ9116 | July 26, 2009 12:45 AM
let me tell you a story of the jena 6.
that was the best organized protest i have even seen...
put together within --2 or 3 days....
by jesse and al.
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 26, 2009 12:13 AM
I don't think that blacks understand that all this whining about racism they do is getting old. We have elected a black man as president so trying to make this country out as having severe racial problems doesn't fly anymore with most of the non-black public. It is time blacks stop being lead around by people like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Wrangle etc. and get some leaders that really care about helping the black community instead of exploiting them for money. Blacks are hindering themselves far more than any real or perceived problems emanating from all other racial groups.
Posted by: MikeJ9116 | July 25, 2009 10:29 PM
I guess Obama forgot he is president for the professor AND the cop . This being the case, he should have folded his Dumbo ears over his mouth and not made any comment. Instead he has a knee jerk reaction to play the race card right along with his liberal, socialist, Marxist, race baiting, fellow black, college buddy. Way to go Obama! We just got our first glimpse behind that fake cover he uses to hide his real radical views from the public. What is behind it isn't very appealing to the majority of the public.
Posted by: MikeJ9116 | July 25, 2009 10:14 PM
The president had no business weighing in on the issue at all, much less judging that the white participant "acted stupidly" while at the same time admitting he did not have all the facts. The unfortunate result is the appearance that the president of the USA has a racial bias.
Posted by: dscot | July 25, 2009 5:19 PM
nah, just Harvard.
So much for Princeton and Dr. Nash now,
wouldn't you say?
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 25, 2009 3:51 PM
No one considers Henry Gates, Jr. to be a scholar.
Sgt. James Crowley should sue Baracky Hussein Obama $10 million dollars for his terrible remarks
Posted by: hclark1 | July 25, 2009 2:10 PM
Thinking back to what happened to this correspondent one month ago, the question arises:
Is there a pattern here?
And how far does it extend?
Is Team Obama aware?
Or co-opted and purposely misinformed?
http://NowPublic.com/scrivener RE: "GESTAPO USA"
Posted by: scrivener50 | July 25, 2009 10:41 AM
the front porch in not a public place..
it is in the line of sight of the public
we need a picture of Professor Gates' house to establish what 7 people saw...
including Lucia
so they are outside...(because crowley just simply had to report back to ECC right then and there--- ....
what? Figueroa couldn't report?
How many of you blue boys showed up...???
ECC was more important to report to than taking care of the volatile situation.?
-a second aggressive, instilling behavior stance was then taken by the cop by putting his handcuffs in his hand
to request, the second time, that Professor Gates ....how do i put this...
shut the heck up....indirectly
I think Roland Martin was saying from the gate that the behavior BACK ON the cop was that...
Professor Gates wanted and requested the cops badge number and such....
(as we all do, all the time in an arrest)
which was a "how dare you moment" to the cop.
I love crowley's implication that somehow he gave all that information to Professor Gates 3 times already.
was that by morse code officer?
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 25, 2009 4:23 AM
Reporting from Washington -- For some defense lawyers, the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. was less about racial profiling than about how persons can be arrested simply for speaking angry words to a police officer.
The laws against "disorderly conduct" give police wide power to arrest people who are said to be disturbing the peace or disrupting the neighborhood.
In Massachusetts and elsewhere, courts have said the "disorderly acts or language" must take place in public where others can be disturbed.
It is probably not a crime of disorderly conduct for a homeowner, standing in his own kitchen, to speak abusively to a police officer.
According to his police report, Sgt. James Crowley said the professor was "yelling very loud" and "accusing me of being a racist."
Complaining that the "acoustics of the kitchen" made it difficult to communicate, the officer said he "told Gates that I would speak with him outside."
Once on the front porch, the officer arrested Gates for being loud and abusive in the presence of several neighbors who had gathered on the sidewalk.
"You might think that in the United States, you have a right to state an opinion, even an offensive opinion. But prosecutors like to say you don't have a right to mouth off to the police," said Boston defense lawyer Samuel Goldberg.
"Gates was saying, 'You are hassling me because I'm black.' I understand how that's offensive to a police officer.
"It's astounding to me to call it criminal."
Police officers can arrest people in their own homes for accosting police, interfering with an investigation or resisting a lawful arrest. But Gates was not accused of interfering with an investigation.
"I would say it is not constitutional to arrest someone in his home just for being loud and abusive to a police officer," said Boston University law professor Tracey Maclin. "That's why the cop asked him to come outside, where he could be arrested for being disorderly in public."
Most lawyers who looked at the reported details of the incident say both men could have easily avoided a confrontation. Crowley, after learning that Gates was the homeowner and not an intruder, could have left and ignored the abuse.
For his part, Gates continued to loudly berate Crowley as he was leaving the house, according the police report.
Gates was placed under arrest, the police report said, because of "his continued tumultuous behavior outside the residence, in view of the public."
Posted by: kendreik | July 25, 2009 3:55 AM
Posted by: kendreik | July 25, 2009 3:52 AM
the basic issues of the fabric of society.....
and they are?
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 25, 2009 3:48 AM
This DOES smell like Prof. Gates was set up.
But now that President Obama turned it around on the "torture matrix", perhaps his team will start to listen to what we've been saying in this space for a year now.
I'm betting Prof. Gates has been a longtime "target" of the fed- and police-enabled community gang-stalker brigade -- part of a nationwide, GPS-activated nationwide Gestapo created and overseen by a secretive executive branch "multi-agency coordinated action program."
Are the community stalkers the ones who burglarized his house when he was away, and jammed the door shut so it wouldn't open upon his return?
Is that how the media just happened to be outside? Did a cameraman/stalker get its GPS-activated "node" alert and rush to the scene?
When will Team Obama wake and smell the police state bequeathed to a terrorized nation by Bush-Cheney and kept in force by "leave-behinds" who are subverting democracy and the rule of law in America -- with the help of local police who KNOW ALL ABOUT IT?
That's just the beginning. When will Team Obama and the media realize that this powerful and evil cabal within has WEAPONIZED the electromagnetic spectrum, and can deliver debilitating (even fatal) microwave/laser "directed energy weapon" TORTURE, and inflict misery upon any "targeted" citizen, 24/7, wherever they are?
Don't believe it? Neither did I. Until I became a victim of this torture matrix five years ago.
OR (if link is tortured):
http://NowPublic.com/scrivener RE: "GESTAPO USA" (search "stream" or "stories" since the opening page link has been sabotaged).
Posted by: scrivener50 | July 25, 2009 1:27 AM
The Bamster owed Cambridge Police Department 15 parking tickets from the time he was at Harvard from '88 to '90. Ole' professor Gibbs also gave Obama $4600 for his presidential campaign in '08. Bama paid something like $400 for penalties and late fees in 2007 when the Bamster began running for pres. Yowzza!
Posted by: sperrico | July 25, 2009 12:54 AM
Classy. And funny!
Posted by: nodebris | July 25, 2009 12:21 AM
Obama simply has not made a change and does not know how to tackle the basis issues of the fabric of society. There are great leaders and great talkers and the President has done little for national security or state security. I cannot understand why basic laws to business enerprises have not been changed, stronger regulations for gun ownership and gun control and simply free medical health care for all persons under 25 years. The car industry and the Republican Party are dead. People were looking for a change and all they got was cold turkey coated with Washington hot air. Kingsley Ferdinands of South Brighton.
Posted by: kingsley_ferdinands2005 | July 25, 2009 12:17 AM
RESPONSE TO: kg4thepeople | July 24, 2009 4:32 PM
Period need not be repeatedly spelled out p-e-r-i-o-d. I agree with you but you need to improve your style. PERIOD!
Posted by: gregp1 | July 24, 2009 11:56 PM
Gates was arrested in his home after acceptance of and by the Policeman Crowley that it was his residence.
How can that be....because he dared say bad words to the Officer?
So he was arrested in his home because the cop did not like what he said to him. Now which of you readers would go along with that if it happened to you?
This was about Power and bad policing.
Why was the media at the house when Gates arrested ....who called them if Gates was not known to the owner?
Posted by: october30 | July 24, 2009 9:52 PM
but are the two groups calibrated
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 24, 2009 9:28 PM
Post racial? naaw! Back to the same old same ole'. At least the two groups are straight now.
Posted by: sperrico | July 24, 2009 8:37 PM
Whoa.....Anger Anger Anger!....The Tea Bagging a$$--holes are in their full red-faced glory.
Posted by: hayden1 | July 24, 2009 8:08 PM
i don't think i could trust
a story at this point
........"The Irony: The Cambridge Police are doing more to help race relations, from their united stand, black and white, defending a colleague, than the racial bomb-throwers and agitators like Gates and Obama did to damage it!"
***yet, the beat cop doesn't know his neighborhood
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 24, 2009 7:19 PM
No one ever said the "TRUTH", was POPULAR.
Either way it is still the "TRUTH".
Posted by: austininc4 | July 24, 2009 6:50 PM
If you're having girl problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems but this ain't one (1).
Posted by: angriestdogintheworld | July 24, 2009 6:46 PM
Well, whom would you trust more: an outstanding Irish-American cop or Henry Louis Gates whose academic career has been based on hatred, fraud, and resentment?
Posted by: ravitchn | July 24, 2009 6:19 PM
Without a shadow of a doubt --- no one considers Henry Gates, Jr to be a scholar --- he is a racist.
Gates should receive a 2 year prison sentence - with absolutely zero - zip and zilch chance of parole.
Sgt. James Crowley should immediately sue Baracky Hussein Obama and Deval Patrick for $100 million each - for defamation of character and mental anguish.
Posted by: hclark1 | July 24, 2009 6:15 PM
Cornell1984 wrote:
Obama sided with the liberal millionaire instead of the working class good guy
Well, actually, Obama sided with a friend and probably reacted because of personal experience--he said as much. I'll bet neither the socio-economic status nor political affiliation of either Gates or the officer had anything to do with it. As for who the good guy is, there's plenty to to criticize on either side, and WE'LL never settle that scores. So what's left of your point? Not much.
If I had to bet, I'd say that Obama siding with the working class guy would be more typical. Just like I'd say that George Bush would be likely to side with the conservative millionaire rather than the working class guy. All of which, of course, is beside the point. This was essentially NOT about class or politics, your distortion notwithstanding. It was, unfortunately, about race. Maybe we'll mature, including Gates, Officer Crowley, Obama, you, me . . .
Posted by: post_reader_in_wv | July 24, 2009 6:05 PM
the core is good.
beer is good.
one cannot get to the core without
going down the rabbit hole
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 24, 2009 5:52 PM
now why would the issue be put to rest.
I had a dream in my short power nap.
I saw Camp David by the pale moonlight
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 24, 2009 5:49 PM
hard to rachet down the reight wing nutters. I do appreciate keeping it going because I'm enjoying the stream of consciousness emanating from the core, as they have been missing since the election except on the birth certificate nonsense.
Posted by: angriestdogintheworld | July 24, 2009 5:20 PM
Did Obama successfully put the Gates / Crowley case to rest?
Posted by: usadblake | July 24, 2009 5:19 PM
This is why I voted for Obama. He's smart, and he's willing to look at all sides of a situation and revise his view (and/or how he expresses it) as necessary. And he uses language precisely, so when he said that the Cambridge police "acted stupidly," I'm sure he meant just that: that they made a bad decision in this particular case. I'm also pretty sure that if someone were to ask President Obama if he has, on occasion, acted stupidly himself, he would say "yes"; even smart, well-meaning people make dumb decisions sometimes. That's not an insult or an expression of contempt; it's just a fact of life. And it includes Prof. Gates; as Obama pointed out, it sounds like neither he nor Officer Crowley was at his best during their encounter.
Posted by: nvanative | July 24, 2009 5:06 PM
• WH PRESS CORPS: Are You Sure Aaron Sorkin Didn't Sneak Out the Back?
Don't EVER anybody tell me that this guy is not brilliant and a skilled extemporaneous speaker.
A teachable moment, indeed. Almost like he PLANNED it this way.
Remember Jeb Bartlet's supposedly off-camera comment alluding to his opponent's affection for guns?
If it wasn't premeditated, it still is a brilliant rebound.
But Mr. President, I hasten to inform you:
These sorts of situations, what the overseer in "Cool Hand Luke" termed a "failure to communicate, happen EVERY DAY, ON PURPOSE...
...and DO seem to effect certain minorities, and not just blacks and Hispanics but ethnic minorities; those perceived to be physically challenged; those oppressed do to their religious or political beliefs or their lifestyles, etc.
Even white guys like me:
http://NowPublic.com/scrivener RE: "GESTAPO USA"
I do look forward to seeing Crowley and Prof. Gates quaff a cold one with you and Michelle. Make sure Crowley sits between FLOTUS and Prof. Gates, at a small table.
And let Michelle peck him on the cheek!
Posted by: scrivener50 | July 24, 2009 5:03 PM
but a self sufficient white woman would
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 24, 2009 4:38 PM
Mr. President believe me you were correct the first time and the Black Experience in your life spoke the truth. Not only was the arrest of Mr. Gates bad judgment it stems from racial biasness/racism. Mr. Gates is a senior and distinguished looking gentleman living in upper white middle class neighborhood. A white Mr. Gate would have NOT been arrested period. Even if a white Mr. Gates would have argued with the police he would not have been arrested because white officers do think first to arrest white upper society males, period. The officer made a bad judgment call. Here is the bigger problem because of the blue code (protect and support your fellow officer) officers go by none of his fellow officers stepped in on the scene and corrected the situation.
The truth hurts. A white man in the same situation would have not been arrested period.
Posted by: kg4thepeople | July 24, 2009 4:32 PM
so it's all hunky dory and we should all
forget about it.
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 24, 2009 4:23 PM
Not only is Obama a political genius, he's also a nice guy and somebody who we would all like to drink a beer with!
"So at the end of the conversation, there was discussion about -- my conversation with Sergeant Crowley, there was a discussion about he and I and Professor Gates having a beer here in the White House."
Talk about making a lemon out of lemonade!
Posted by: csh181 | July 24, 2009 4:16 PM
"African-Americans are sensitive to these issues" - that's "code" for thinking that there is ample justification for reverse (black-on-white) racism. The non-apology apology. Indeed.
Posted by: johnbowers | July 24, 2009 4:13 PM
The President stated,"be mindful of the fact that because of our history, because of the difficulties of the past, you know, African-Americans are sensitive to these issues."
Well maybe the President Obama is finding out via the ruckus this is causing that white people too are sensitive about race. Most also do not accept his pat interpretation of race relations that we have heard over and over ad nauseam. We actually have our own perceptions, beliefs and feelings about race relations in the U.S.
Posted by: BillMiller2 | July 24, 2009 4:08 PM
Pres. Obama "apologized" and the Police Dept. "apologized". End of story but no some individuals have their agendas and nothing is going to get in the way of their agenda.
Hate and racism continues to rear it's ugly head just by some of these comments.
Posted by: rlj1 | July 24, 2009 4:05 PM
Because he called Obama a disgrace as a Commander in Chief - way harsh and shows he has no respect
Posted by: chrismc28 | July 24, 2009 3:58 PM
The Irony: The Cambridge Police are doing more to help race relations, from their united stand, black and white, defending a colleague, than the racial bomb-throwers and agitators like Gates and Obama did to damage it!
Posted by: pgr88 | July 24, 2009 3:57 PM
Obama sided with the liberal millionaire instead of the working class good guy
Posted by: Cornell1984 | July 24, 2009 3:56 PM
This issue has taken away from the real issue, Health Care. All of America knows that there are some white officers in America that practice their racial profiling. While this number is small, it is good for our Commander in Chief to address this issue. I think the President Obama was brave to touch on this issue. It shows that he is human and that he still too understand that there are some people in America that are victimize because of the color of their skin
Posted by: bob1232 | July 24, 2009 3:52 PM
Now the Police Union Chief needs to apologize to Obama
Posted by: chrismc28
Why? Obama didn't apologize to anyone. In fact, by his very words above, he still insists that Sgt. Crowley acted inappropriately.
Posted by: boosterprez | July 24, 2009 3:47 PM
Kudos to President Obama for admitting his mistake (not that a politician these days can actually say "I admit my mistake", but he still did a good job of it).
And kudos to Officer Crowley, the Police union, the police chief and Crowley's fellow officers for refusing to back down in the face of waves of criticism and political pressure.
Now Gates should apologize. He won't, that requires character.
Everyone else comes out of this looking good, though.
Except the press, the press doesn't look very good right now, but they have lots of time to make up for leaping onto the wrong band-wagon.
Posted by: ZZim | July 24, 2009 3:47 PM
OMG--i am rolling.
uh, Professor Gates -
there's a man on your lawn.
((shades of field of dreams)))
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 24, 2009 3:47 PM
interesting word to use in the title
I have never had Blue Moon beer.
Is that anything like Blue Dog burgers.
Posted by: TheBabeNemo | July 24, 2009 3:45 PM
And now, we have proof that we have a TRUE leader! No advancement -- in ANY AREA -- can be achieved if the parties do not talk with one another. I believe Americans are seeing just how and why Obama excelled at Harvard Law (I'm an attorney), and how he is putting his exceptional skills to work on behalf of ALL Americans. Racism, ageism, sexism, 'homophobism' -- all the 'ism-s' will be addressed in his administration. I'm PROUD to be an American now more than anytime in my 60 years.
Posted by: DRFJR | July 24, 2009 3:44 PM
My home includes my yard. And I have acted stupidly enough times, although I am not "stupid," that I know, at the time, that's an accurate description.
The whole incident shows what happens when people are too prone to anger. Anger stinks! I mean, like a rotten fish!
Obama, Gates, and Crowley will be enjoying a cold one together while internet trolls still hooked on angertainment are hooting like chimps at each other. Hoot hoot!
Posted by: Jumper1 | July 24, 2009 3:37 PM
Now the Police Union Chief needs to apologize to Obama
Posted by: chrismc28 | July 24, 2009 3:31 PM
"... gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge police department or Sergeant Crowley specifically."
He didn't "give that impression"; he specifically said, "the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home". That is not an "impression" - these words cannot be interpreted differently.
"I continue to believe, based on what I have heard, that there was an overreaction in pulling Professor Gates out of his home to the station."
The police, neither Sgt. Crowley nor any other officer, EVER pulled Professor Gates out of his home. Sgt. Crowley was walking down the steps of the porch, and Mr. Gates followed Mr. Crowley.
Obama continues to step in it....now we know why that teleprompter is so necessary...he's worse than Bush.
Posted by: boosterprez | July 24, 2009 3:26 PM
Barack Obama & Professor Louis Gates- BFF Souvenir Art Tile
Posted by: frankieblacken | July 24, 2009 3:25 PM
but Obama DID call the Officer.
So time to DROP this.
Obama trashed the Office of President of the United States by his toxic hate filled ABUSE of POWER.
Obama's twisted racist assumptions, vindictiveness, and warped worldview were dislpayed in all their disgusting nakedness.
This has HURT Obama permanently. And he KNOWS it.
But if we fail to respect his office
President of the United States
than we are no better than Gates and Obama who expressed utter CONTEMPT for the Police.
So Lets PRETEND Obama MEANT the "Apology".
Posted by: JaxMax | July 24, 2009 3:21 PM
So, somebody stepped in the Doo Doo.
I think The Top Dog of the Country should THINK before Speaking.
I also believe People Speak their Minds.
Once they realize that they said the Wrong thing, Due to the Media Blasting and the Police Unions Asking for an Apology, Then and Only Then does Mr President Apologize.
I think we are getting into a point of Animosity of the White Voting Public.
We have been hearing Many Shots of Racism aimed our way.
It appears that the White America is Supposed to Hang Our Heads in Shame for what White America Was in the PAST.
THIS Will get Old with White America, and it Probably already is Old.
When is Our NEXT Election???
Posted by: Zeppelin2 | July 24, 2009 3:20 PM
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