The above statement by President Obama opened up the floodgates of criticism, as well as support, about whether he should have even gotten involved. Some say that racial profiling in America is an issue that needs to be brought up and discussed. But was this incident really about race?
Here's a slightly different view:
"My suspicion is that this was not about race, this was about power," said Richard Weinblatt, director of the Institute for Public Safety at Central Ohio Technical College. "In the old days, we used to call this 'contempt of cop.' This person was charged with 'contempt of cop' because they kept pushing and pushing. But it has opened up a very powerful national dialogue on race, and it's something that police need to address." ~ from a Washington Post article
If the issue is about power, then why are we not talking about power instead of race? I totally agree with the statement that power and class division are the bigger issues here.
Could the situation possibly be seen from the following perspective?:
a) a highly educated and respected professor refusing to succumb to what could be interpreted as undue authority imposed on him by less educated police officer
in direct conflict with
b) a highly respected and experienced law enforcement officer given the power to make arrests at his discretion feeling disrespected by what could be interpreted as academic and, possibly, upper-class arrogance
Perhaps race did play a role, but I don't think it was the main issue at all. I just think that the "race card" is grossly overplayed in this country. It's so much easier to blame it on racism than to look at a more complex problem that would put all of us under one umbrella.
I am disgusted with the phrase "race card." Period. Any commentary that uses it, I lose interest...then again, I prefer to read the scholarly works of Gates than blogs that dismiss racial issues. I could easily say that the writer of this blog is playing the "power card." Yes...see how silly that reads? Belittling someone's experiences and views by using the word "card" as if someone's experiences and views are a "game" is racist within itself and dismissive. The only way the phrase would have validity is if there was no history of centuries of racism and someone was claiming prejudice without a history and perspective to support it.
ReplyDeleteIt has given President Obama the oportunity to get into this issue of Race. I think he is right that Black & Other Minority races are treated like this around the world & not just in America.
ReplyDeleteBlacks in London are treated the same as America.
In the Irish areas of London in the 70s & 80s, Irish People just to be beaten up & arrested on Weekend mainly for just been Irish.
Minority's always have had a tough time & continue to have a tough time.
Hello I don't agree,
ReplyDeleteYou said: "I am disgusted with the phrase "race card." Period. Any commentary that uses it, I lose interest."
How can we continue a dialogue with anyone if we keep focusing on the words that should or should not be used rather than the message that is being communicated? With all the political correctness going on in the U.S., it gets increasingly harder to express ourselves with honesty.
You also said: "I prefer to read the scholarly works of Gates than blogs that dismiss racial issues."
Hmm... I am not dismissing racial issues. I'm only suggesting that perhaps there are other factors at play in many of these cases we call racially motivated. I'm only wondering if there is any way to look beyond the race.
Instead of the age-old "you're a racist"--"no I'm not" dialogue, which goes nowhere other than more rules about political correctness, maybe we can look deeper into the underlying reasons from a broader perspective.
Otherwise, we are only masking the symptoms.
I think one way to take a step in the right direction is for all sides to validate other views by attempting to see it from the opposite perspective. These matters cannot continue to be only about who's right and who's wrong, nor can it be resolved by agreeing to disagree. I look forward to the day when we can all have the courage to say, "I can see your perspective and I may have been wrong."
Perhaps that's too idealistic?