The American Spectator

Oldefarte| 8.5.09 @ 12:52PM

To Anpu Waset: Apparently you have NOT heard the old addage that YOU CAN TAKE THEM OUT OF THE JUNGLE, BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE THE JUNGLE OUT OF THEM! Do you have any knowledge of the words SOCIAL ETIQUETTE. A so-called Harvard Professor should [but obviously does not] know how to treat police officers that are inside their residences attempting to acertain the facts and circumstances surrounding a neighborhood report of a possible break-in. The cops were there to HELP him as a possibly DISENFRANCHISED HOMEOWNER. Gates had to cause or reason to shout, slander, curse,etc at the cops; but did so [again] BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TAKE THE JUNGLE OUT OF THEM. PS----what kind of name is 'Anpu Waset' ?????

Norman Conquest| 8.5.09 @ 12:54PM

Why would anyone take a person with an absurd cognomen like Anpu Waset seriously?

Vietnam Vet in Communist MA| 8.5.09 @ 1:43PM

Dear Mr (?) Anpu Waset:
As a descendent of white Europeans, I, in these circumstances, would have THANKED the police officer for protecting my property (and possibly my life!). Certainly, don't let facts get in the way of your racial diatribe. For example, "...the piece failed to mention that Mr. Gates provided his identification when asked" -- what YOU failed to realized is that the identification provided to the police DID NOT HAVE HIS ADDRESS LISTED, and was thus useless for proving residence. In addition, Prof. Gates followed the sergeant off the porch into the yard while ranting and raving. This is substantiated by police officers of several races and civilians observing the situation.

I am now more firmly convinced that black leadership is desperate to keep racism ALIVE in our country.

Ranger Roach| 8.5.09 @ 2:44PM

Anpu Waset
Peace and Blessings are much more common in the United States than in any other part of the world. You should be thankful you were born here. I’m confident that you were born in the USA, because if you had been born overseas, you would already realize what a wonderful country the United States is, for all of it’s citizens.

Point One – Law Against Shouting - Although there is no law against shouting – there are local, state and federal laws (and a moral imperative) against making false accusations.
>The only person making loud belligerent accusations in this encounter was the professor. So the question is were the accusations false? Neither of us were present at this confrontation between the policeman and the professor, but it is interesting to me that the policemen’s colleagues (including black and Hispanic officers) present on the scene, and were eye witnesses, back up the officer’s actions.
>Additionally the professor has decided to not press legal action, which indicates that he doesn’t believe that he can win in court. I accept his assessment of the situation.

Point Two – European – African – American Your focus on European versus African displays the root of your confusion.
>Both the policeman and the professor were born and raised in the United States, which makes them Americans and your references to European and African irrelevant and unhelpful in trying to understand the dynamics of this situation. >It seems you are referring to perceived racial mistreatment but please note there are both blacks in Europe and Caucasians in Africa: both continents have dozens of countries/cultures and millions of inhabitants.
>Indicating that all Europeans act one way and all Africans act another is extremely simplistic.
>And please keep in mind that this confrontation did not include either European or an African anyway. It was between a white American policeman and Black university professor.

Point Three – Dealing with Police - If you were not taught to treat policemen with respect when you were growing up, you suffer a serious cultural disadvantage, which you should strive to overcome.
>Policemen are authorized and required to carry weapons because they confront violent members of our society, to protect the innocent. Policemen go in harms way, and several dozen are killed in the United States every year in the performance of their duty. Which is the reason the reasonable citizen support their police force.
>However, our world is not perfect and there is no doubt that some policemen overstep their roles in lawful society, but the most effective way to deal with these problems is not to get into a one-on-one confrontation with the abusive policeman. If you have a complaint – you wait until after the situation, and make that complaint through the official channels established for complaints.
>Note that in the United States policemen are fired not only for inappropriate actions when dealing with citizens “on the beat”, but also for even writing e-mails with a racial epitaph.

Point Four – Shouting at Cops - You don’t believe that a white would be arrest for shouting at a cop – well I have seen white men arrested for shouting at cops – and it’s reported in the local paper as “disturbing the peace”.
>The policeman in this confrontation allowed the professor “to vent” for several minutes, and finally took out his hand cuffs and gave the professor a final warning to calm down or he would be arrested. It seems the professor just couldn’t control himself – and got arrested.

Point Five – United States offers best opportunities You are dismissive of the “culture and value system” which puts “people of color” at a disadvantage in our country. Seems that you are hoping for a utopia, and which doesn’t exist in this world.
>Compare the progress of the people of color in this country – with any country in Africa, and you will quickly find that in spite of slavery in the 1700s and 1800s, serious racial discrimination which persisted thought the 1960s, and lingering problems with the uneducated classes in our country – that anyone rational person would prefer to live in the United States than in any African Country.
>In front of any United States Embassy you will always find two large crowds, the first group is waiting in the Visa line, so they can emigrate or at least visit the United States. The second group is demonstrating against some policy of the United States – but have friends saving a place for them in the Visa line.
>If you don’t like the United States, please proceed directly to the country that you believe will offer you better opportunities. Please take Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson with you. I will be glad to make a contribution to your one-way tickets to the destination of your choice.

Hoping that one day you can open your eyes and recognize the Peace and Blessings that you are already afforded living in the land of opportunity.

Ranger Roach

CJohnson| 8.5.09 @ 3:28PM

Dear Author: Read 'The Emmigrant': A detailed account of European white women and children being freighted against their will to non-slave states for use as free labor. And, you should consider recalibrating the standards of decorum you expect of teachers and professors, particularly when they encounter another public servant.

CJohnson| 8.5.09 @ 3:40PM

And... why are you now dragging me down, unwillingly, into your 'world of hope and change'. Please call Prof Gates, get your DNA test and return to your continent of origin.

CJohnson| 8.5.09 @ 3:40PM

And... why are you now dragging me down, unwillingly, into your 'world of hope and change'. Please call Prof Gates, get your DNA test and return to your continent of origin.

FL Libertarian| 8.5.09 @ 6:22PM

Problems with the cops are not exclusive to african americans. Americans all over this nation are starting to run afowl of this group that more and more acts like a occupying army as apposed to a security force.

Go to this website and see all of the horror stories involving cops. You will be suprised.
http://freedominourtime.blogspot.com/

JerseyJ| 8.5.09 @ 11:47PM

Dirk mirrors the libby talking points with ... "However, criticizing any reform effort based solely on the probability that this bureaucratic insertion into the "health care" delivery process is likely, without acknowledging the fact that this is precisely what HMOs and insurance companies do today does a disservice to untangling the mess we're in."

Actually Dirk, HMO's or PPOs or other health insurance vehicles do not insert themselves between you and your doctor. At issue is merely whether or not the procedure in question will be covered (paid for) by the company and at what amount. You are still free to obtain that procedure at your own cost should you so desire.

Unfortunately (especially for the ill) in single-payer / "universal" healthcare systems the government restricts the procedure from being done because it is not cost effective. In addition, it will be illegal for the doctor to take money directly from you to perform the procedure.

Your parallel is invalid sir.

For those 13% of AMERICANS (let's keep this amongst Citizens shall we) who don't like their current coverage ... I say to you, even bad can get worse.

Diane Smith| 8.6.09 @ 1:02AM

Re Anpu Waset's death grip he apparently still has on his Racist beliefs - the Gates dust-up had nothing to do with race. Gates is a "classist" - magna cum hot-shot Harvaard faculty member not about to be questioned by a blue collar cop.

He was not "arrested in his own home", Anpu - if you read the account minus your built-in bias, Gates was shouting goading epithets at Crowley including "Yo' mama" which really revealed his true low-brow personality (classist has nothing to do with class). Crowley was attempting to lower the volume, told Gates the Harvard police had arrived and he was leaving. Gates pursued Crowley out onto the front porch, continuing his insulting remarks. And at that time Crowley considered it appropriate to cuff him. Too bad they don't give saliva tests on the spot. That would have been appropriate, too. Anpu, a saliva test is to determine if a person has rabies - signs which Gates exhibited. If a tape exhists of the entire exchange I am sure it would reveal that Gates exceeded the bounds of decency.

A few years back I was involved in a measure on the ballot of our small community, taking a position in opposition to one council member and more than a few of her loyal constituents. As I gained in support, someone in her little group thought I would be shut down by a phone call. Everyone knew my husband was engaged in the building of a house in Half Moon Bay. Townsfolk knew he spent the day there. One morning I got a threatening phone call, telling me if I ever expected to see my husband alive again, I would back off about Measure D and get together $1,000 in $20 bills, etc.--- and asked me if I understood. I said "Yeah, I understand. I understand this is a hoax call set up by Councilwoman ______and you work cheap." And I hung up. But to be on the safe side I called the HMB Sheriff's Dept. and reported the threat and told them the building site where they could check on my husband.(This was before popularity of cell phones) Sheriff"s men arrived, surrounded the house, guns drawn, apprehended my husband, searched him and questioned him, thinking he might be the would-be hit man. It was all sorted out and I was glad they took such precautions.

Of course, we are all white and are not a bunch of injustice collectors. I did not set up a howl that they roughed up my 64 year old husband who couldn't possibly look like a criminal.

So, Anpu, how about you just Let My People Go?

Diane Smith| 8.6.09 @ 1:09AM

Re Anpu Waset's death grip he apparently still has on his Racist beliefs - the Gates dust-up had nothing to do with race. Gates is a "classist" - magna cum hot-shot Harvaard faculty member not about to be questioned by a blue collar cop.

He was not "arrested in his own home", Anpu - if you read the account minus your built-in bias, Gates was shouting goading epithets at Crowley including "Yo' mama" which really revealed his true low-brow personality (classist has nothing to do with class). Crowley was attempting to lower the volume, told Gates the Harvard police had arrived and he was leaving. Gates pursued Crowley out onto the front porch, continuing his insulting remarks. And at that time Crowley considered it appropriate to cuff him. Too bad they don't give saliva tests on the spot. That would have been appropriate, too. Anpu, a saliva test is to determine if a person has rabies - signs which Gates exhibited. If a tape exhists of the entire exchange I am sure it would reveal that Gates exceeded the bounds of decency.

A few years back I was involved in a measure on the ballot of our small community, taking a position in opposition to one council member and more than a few of her loyal constituents. As I gained in support, someone in her little group thought I would be shut down by a phone call. Everyone knew my husband was engaged in the building of a house in Half Moon Bay. Townsfolk knew he spent the day there. One morning I got a threatening phone call, telling me if I ever expected to see my husband alive again, I would back off about Measure D and get together $1,000 in $20 bills, etc.--- and asked me if I understood. I said "Yeah, I understand. I understand this is a hoax call set up by Councilwoman ______and you work cheap." And I hung up. But to be on the safe side I called the HMB Sheriff's Dept. and reported the threat and told them the building site where they could check on my husband.(This was before popularity of cell phones) Sheriff"s men arrived, surrounded the house, guns drawn, apprehended my husband, searched him and questioned him, thinking he might be the would-be hit man. It was all sorted out and I was glad they took such precautions.

Of course, we are all white and are not a bunch of injustice collectors. I did not set up a howl that they roughed up my 64 year old husband who couldn't possibly look like a criminal.

So, Anpu, how about you just Let My People Go?

frost| 8.6.09 @ 6:08AM

The raw hate eloquently disguised as something worthy of thought? Nah, don't think so.
Yet, to those so totally caught up in racial crap (and, yes, a sister-in-law is a Navajo; a daughter-in law is African-American, so don't try to twist the following observations, please!
There seems to be a very disturbing undercurrent of racial discord these days in our (not so) United States. More than fifty years after Selma, Alabama, too many instances of people attacking others, too often with racial hate. Those are unpleasant observations, and it sure isn’t Politically Correct to say, but there is turmoil, hate, resentments – it’s all too true, damn it. Several thugs jump a white kid in what’s been called the “Jena-6” -- kick him after he’s been knocked out, similar to the aftermath of Rodney King in South Central Los Angeles some years ago when a white guy was dragged from his truck by a mob and badly beaten. The thugs’ “leader” has a violent rap-sheet, several convictions – yet the apologists point the finger of cause elsewhere. There’s no accountability from the Jesse Jacksons-Al Sharpton-Rev Wright-Maxine Waters bunch – and the end result is growing white resentment, some would say “with good cause.” The potential for increased violence between the races in the US is, so very unfortunately, growing – especially in random black-on-white muggings/shootings, etc. It’s bad. And the future does not look overly optimistic either.
Now, I’ve been quite fortunate in having traveled, and I’d like to cite Brazil as a contrast. I’ve read a bit of their history and have paid a great deal of attention to what I’ve seen; I certainly don’t claim to have any or all answers, and I certainly could be mistaken -- but several things seem to stand out, a lot!
Brazil imported SIX times as many slaves as the US (sugar cane, the mines, coffee plantations; city and home help) until outlawed in 1888, almost 25 years after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. And, while there have been a few “troubled times” in the past, especially in the Northeastern parts of Brazil, generally speaking, blacks appear to be doing very well in Brazil -- Rio, Sao Paulo and the Southern regions especially. Those problems which exist today appear to be economic ones, education (or the lack thereof) and “class.” And that transcends color! Whatever problems they’re having do not seem to be racial, and I’m not aware of any Affirmative Action either. The reason, as I see it, one word – assimilation. Intermarriage or mixed marriages? Lots of that, absolutely. Blacks in Brazil aren’t blacks, they’re Brazilians – they’ve assimilated! Can’t overemphasize that. And I don’t even know whether the word “reparations” is in their dictionary – it’s certainly nothing you’re likely to hear in Rio. They may have “quotas” in hiring, but they deal with numbers of people, not the color of their skin. Black bosses, business-owners and supervisors are most everywhere – the respect factor is obvious. It’s no big deal, literally! Educated, well-read? It would certainly appear so. And, by the same token, most blacks wear their hair short, businesslike, dress conservatively, like their Caucasian brethren. No “do-rags” or hats worn crookedly, sideways - - and I’d guess that less than 1/10th of 1-percent wear “cornrows.” Teeth aren’t capped with ostentatious “grills” and there are no scowling, swaggering “attitudes” in Brazil. Period. Nor are there “shorts” which find the crotch at knee-level or below, the ungodly gangst’a look. No, down there, blacks just simply Get Along with everyone else, no sweat, because they’re all Brazilians! But again, the magic word is assimilation – and I don’t have the vaguest idea how to import that concept to the US from Brazil.

Kapt. Kleagle| 8.6.09 @ 4:55PM

Anpu Waset is a typical stupid, subhuman black. They have never been able to better their situation and never will. They depend on whites for their very existence then bite the hand that feeds them. Loathsome apes.