David, the word "monkey" has been used in many languages and for many centuries as a slur against blacks. It comes from the racist belief that blacks are "from the jungle", are more closely related to, or more closely resemble simians than do whites.

As to what Gates said, we only have Crowley's word for it that Gates "yo-mama-ed" him. I personally find it hard to believe, especially since we know that Crowley did falsify his report:

1. He claimed the 911 caller identified "two black males" to the dispatcher. She did not.

2. He claimed he had a discussion with the caller at the scene; she asserts she only identified herself to him as the caller, and nothing more.

As to Gat...

David, the word "monkey" has been used in many languages and for many centuries as a slur against blacks. It comes from the racist belief that blacks are "from the jungle", are more closely related to, or more closely resemble simians than do whites.

As to what Gates said, we only have Crowley's word for it that Gates "yo-mama-ed" him. I personally find it hard to believe, especially since we know that Crowley did falsify his report:

1. He claimed the 911 caller identified "two black males" to the dispatcher. She did not.

2. He claimed he had a discussion with the caller at the scene; she asserts she only identified herself to him as the caller, and nothing more.

As to Gates claiming that "this is what happens to black men in America", well, it is. Day in and day out, north, south, east, and west, blacks are racially-profiled in the United States by police, employers, landlords, shop clerks, and folks walking down the street. Sadly, incontrovertibly true.

Aside from the fact that the banana remark was very definitely AND deliberately, yes, racist, I think anyone (a cop, a professor, a hooker, a liberal or conservative, a Navaho, a mafia guy, myself included and you, as well) would seriously freak if one is in one's home and suddenly the police enter (walk in, bust the door down, whatever) and tells one that he or she is under arrest for breaking into the house. And then, when one pulls out I.D. and other proof of residence, the police arrest one anyway. This is America and supposedly one doesn't have to worry about being snatched from home by "law enforcement". I would go ballistic! They would have to knock me down and disable me to get me o...

Aside from the fact that the banana remark was very definitely AND deliberately, yes, racist, I think anyone (a cop, a professor, a hooker, a liberal or conservative, a Navaho, a mafia guy, myself included and you, as well) would seriously freak if one is in one's home and suddenly the police enter (walk in, bust the door down, whatever) and tells one that he or she is under arrest for breaking into the house. And then, when one pulls out I.D. and other proof of residence, the police arrest one anyway. This is America and supposedly one doesn't have to worry about being snatched from home by "law enforcement". I would go ballistic! They would have to knock me down and disable me to get me out of there. When "authority" acts like out of control hoodlums, then it is a citizen's duty to resist and resist mightily. I'm sorry, but that whole situation was one of the most stupid, idiotic stunts ever pulled.
In the meantime, I think any cop who believes his position entitles him to act anyway he pleases to anyone under any circumstances, needs a time out and some serious help.

This inconsequential misunderstanding has moved from the headlines and deserves to be buried. Nobody went to jail. Nobody lost their job. There were no ill consequences.

One correction: the caller was on TV and they played the 011 tape. She did not mention the race of the individuals. She mentioned two people appearing to be breaking in a door.

The protections of the Constitution don't mean nothing bad will happen. Stuff happens. But it means to have legal rights to seek redress of grievances.

From pics I saw: the professor was shouting. Wide open mouth yelling.

It is not against the law to yell at cops...although disturbing the peace could probably cover it...but yelling before, during ...

This inconsequential misunderstanding has moved from the headlines and deserves to be buried. Nobody went to jail. Nobody lost their job. There were no ill consequences.

One correction: the caller was on TV and they played the 011 tape. She did not mention the race of the individuals. She mentioned two people appearing to be breaking in a door.

The protections of the Constitution don't mean nothing bad will happen. Stuff happens. But it means to have legal rights to seek redress of grievances.

From pics I saw: the professor was shouting. Wide open mouth yelling.

It is not against the law to yell at cops...although disturbing the peace could probably cover it...but yelling before, during or after an arrest is not going to help you avoid arrest; quite the opposite.

There are two ways to deal with a police arrest. #1 you shout: "You're never going to take me alive, copper!" - You pull out your big guns and start blasting away as you run towards your 'get-away,' car. Change your name. Get new ID. Move far away. Start a new job and life.

Method #2, you say: "Yes, officer, what information would you like? Can I help you in any way."
Then...if there is something wrong with how you were treated you get a lawyer after you get a bondsman to bail you out and you start filing administrative and civil complaints.

clip-on-tie said:

If he's a Boston cop - he's a Democrat.

This didn't happen in Boston - it hapened in Cambridge, which is a blot of deep red in the otherwise blue sea of Massachusetts. There's another suburb nearby (I don't recall the name) that has its collective head so far up its ass that they don't even have street signs. If an outsider gets lost and the local cops take notice, the person is asked to leave because they "don't belong".

Cops don't have a loyalty to a party, just to their power.

Clip-on, if Massachusetts is such a depraved place, why is it that it has one of the lowest divorce rates in the nation, lowest rates of teen pregnancy and lowest rates of single-pare...

clip-on-tie said:

If he's a Boston cop - he's a Democrat.

This didn't happen in Boston - it hapened in Cambridge, which is a blot of deep red in the otherwise blue sea of Massachusetts. There's another suburb nearby (I don't recall the name) that has its collective head so far up its ass that they don't even have street signs. If an outsider gets lost and the local cops take notice, the person is asked to leave because they "don't belong".

Cops don't have a loyalty to a party, just to their power.

Clip-on, if Massachusetts is such a depraved place, why is it that it has one of the lowest divorce rates in the nation, lowest rates of teen pregnancy and lowest rates of single-parent families. Must be all that depraved liberal living.