Race to the Bottom

Whatever you're looking for, you'll find it. A black studies professor, steeped in historical and societal slights of blacks by whites, found racism in his encounter with a white policeman.

Gates said he sensed a series of unspoken slights in the way Crowley treated him -- demanding he step outside, assuming he was an intruder, not the homeowner...

In a strange twist on Spider Man, his whitey sense was tingling...

The President Acted Stupidly (and legally insulated Officer Crowley)
OK, I'm the 10 bajillionth person to say it. President Obama acted stupidly for shooting off his mouth without having all the facts. More importantly, he just shielded Sgt Crowley and the Cambridge PD from any lawsuit. The first thing any lawyer defending Crowley will bring up is this prejudicial statement from the most powerful man in the world, arguing that it is now impossible to have a fair hearing.

A Black Man's Perspective
A well-written piece in HuffPo by John Ridley, takes up the cause of Professor Gates from a black man's perspective. BTW, is it racist of me to call a black man's article "well-written" as if I were surprised about it? Maybe we could ask Joe (clean and articulate) Biden. Just wondering. Anyway, here are some excerpts:

I think it's 'cause the professor was putting into action what a whole lot of us were thinking: nun-uh.

We're sick and tired of having to prove things to the self-righteous reactionary fringe which looks at life as one, big racial profiling traffic stop: Step out of the car Mr. President and show me your birth certificate. Ma'am, could you show me how being a "wise Latina" isn't going to infringe on my male whiteliness?

At some point, he and others will just have to let it go. What's the alternative? You can't go back and change history, and human beings will always be hardwired with a natural affinity for their own kith and kin. We are all biased, we all prejudge, but 99% of us try our best to give our fellow man a fair shake in our daily dealings.

US Military Separates the Winners from the Whiners
Instead, I suggest they look at the anecdotal data we have before us. Successful people of all races, creeds and colors. My 25 years in the military taught me that no class of people is any better than any other.

Why is the military our most successful government enterprise? Because soldiers refuse to traffic in victimology and unfairness. Life is unfair. Get over it. Somebody puts a brick wall in front of you, you climb over it and get the damned job done! Complaining and self-pity is not tolerated. That is what separates the winners from the whiners. That wall is unfair. Whiners wallow in self-pity. Winners knock it down.

Racial Intifada
Some people would love to turn this into a Palestinians vs. Israelis thing, which would be a shame for the 99% of Americans who live productive lives without engaging in racism and victimology. But the race hustlers and limousine liberals of all colors, a rainbow of loudmouths, will stoke the righteous anger. And the press will gleefully fan the flames. Gotta have something to keep the yokels tuned in now that DC is on vacation.

It's going to be a long, hot August.

Politico - Ben Smith
ABC News
The Hill - Obama Phone Call
ABC News - Liberal Bastions
HuffPo - John Ridley