Should President Obama Apologize to the Cambridge Police Department?

[newview]

I have my thoughts on this but what do the rest of you think?

[Child of the Kingdom]

No because what he said is just plain true. These cops acted ignorantly as they have historically. We all know that if this guy were a white guy there would not have been an arrest much less a question of him being the home owner. White cops continually abuse blacks and hurt our children and I think having the president of the United States say something shows courage on his part.

[A.W. Bowman]

I agree that having a black man as president, or as a state governor, military leader, or the goodly number of blacks (male and female) in positions of political, legal and the professional trades has not eradicated the centuries of slavery or enforced poverty or other personal and social abuses suffered at the hands of many of the white race. This is a fact of history and remains a fact in many locations throughout our nation (world). Making and enforcing laws is one thing, but changing attitudes (hearts) of men is a different matter altogether - for both sides of the racial fence.!

In this case, however, there seems to be more at play than just the media hype. Also, these seems to have been several additional officers present for at least the last half of the confrontation. These officers were white, Hispanic and black. I read the police report (assuming it is a true presentation of the facts surrounding the events in question), then it was the professor who over reacted, not the police officer. If that is true, then both the professor and the president owe the police department an apology. If the report is false, and the other officers will testify to that, then no, the president owes no one an apology and corrective measures need to be taken by the police department.

The problem is that we are all looking at, and evaluating this event through our different cultural eyes. How can we strip ourselves from creating our preconceived ideas and assumed positions of who must have been "right and wrong"? I have no idea!

It is a most difficult task to undertake, the shedding the victim mentality when one has been a victim their entire life! Just ask the Hebrew children when crossing the Red Sea or standing before mount Sinai waiting for the return of Moses. It took a generation of a people traveling through the wilderness, beset on every side by trials and tribulations, and learning to "overcome" all obstacles by their own strong right arm and the leadership and power provided by God Himself.

Perhaps that is why in today's society, where so many men and women of color who have been subjected to second class citizenship and third class social status have given rise to some of the most powerful spiritual leaders this nation has ever seen. No, most of these leaders have not been acknowledged by society at large, but some of us have seen the power of a "Black Church" in action and individuals who live out their convictions and faith on a daily bases and we "lighter skin" brethren can draw courage, strength, and encouragement from such an association.

Thank you! And, Praise God for the love and forgiveness expressed.

[Child of the Kingdom]

Brother Bowman,
Someone pointed out that it is not a crime to yell at a cop, so overreaction or not, is not a reason for arrest. Now if he hit the cop then arrest him, but simply yelling at him and demanding to see a badge is not a crime or a reason for arrest.

I take this view not because of my race but because of the historical abuses I've seen on non-white citizens. One major statement I made in my post is that, This would not have happened if the homeowner were a white man. I have seen many videos where a white citizen would curse and yell at police officers and they do nothing at all. But if a black person opens their mouth it is called attacks or resisting arrest. That is absurd!!

Also, if you looked at the video of the two black teenagers, this would not have happened had they been two white teenage girls. Now, each and every time you see over kill where the police shoots and kills someone it is almost always a white cop and a black man. Why is this? I call it as I see it. I shouldn't have to fear for my children's safety because some cop thinks that they are only 3/4 human.

Racism is what it is in America. Now everyone wants the president to apologize but this cop doesn't have to apologize for wrongly arresting an upstanding citizen who was angry at being mistreated. Let's just be fair here. No crime was committed but the cop can't be a big enough man and apologize for his mistake.

I was driving through a white neighborhood one day and was 5 miles over the limit. Now I agree that a ticket should have been written but to make me get out of my car and lean on the hood of the car is ridiculous. In another incident. a school teacher in Detroit was at a grocery store in a white neighborhood and she was loading her bags into the trunk in the fire lane, as do most people. The cop asked her to move her car and she said she would just let me get my last two bags. Instead of letting her get her last 2 bags, he arrested her and a took her to jail which was over kill. He could have let her grab them but he wanted to show this black woman a thing or too.

Now I know it is very difficult to understand what we go through because you are on the other side of the fence, but please understand that we can only call it as we see it. If we are asking for apologies, then the last 5 presidents before Obama owes apologies to the Black community for intentionally funneling drugs into our neighborhoods.

JUST ANOTHER CASE OF RACIAL PROFILING.

God Bless you brother.

[Evangelist Altha Fugett]

Actually EW it is a verbal assault (misdeameanor) to yell at a cop, now the law has degrees, and betcha by golly wow, we got some officers that stretch them there degrees. Especially with a bent toward misunderstanding of different cultures.

I talk loud period, so every person who gets accused of yelling may not necessarily be yelling, especially in a situation like this one, and officers should be trained to know the difference.


Either way the President stated on the facts presented to him and percieved them to be stupidity, he shouldn't apologize.

[PASTOR CHARLES E BELL JR]

YES IT IS A CRIME TO YELL AT AN OFFICER OR TO YELL HARMFUL WORD TO SOMEONE ELSE . NO IF A PERSON IS TELLING THE TRUTH NO MATTER WHERE ONE TITLE LEAD THEM THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO APPOLIGE BUT BECAUSE OF HE IS BLACK EVERY THING HE DOES OR DO FROM KILLING A FLY TO TELLING THE TRUTH HE WILL BE JUDGE EVEN IF IT IS NOT FAIR BUT THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO PRAY FOR HIM .THE KKK IS STILL ALIVE BUT THE JUST CHANG UNFORM . LOOK AT MY STATE MISSISSIPPI GOVNER HALY BABER. OBAM IS TELLING THE TURTH HE DIDNT LIE ITS ABOUT TIME SOMEONE IN GOVERMENT SPOKE UP

[Child of the Kingdom]

I understand it may be a crime in Mississippi, but the article I read said that it is not a crime to yell at an officer in Boston. At any rate, if apologies are to be given they should come from both sides and not just one.

[PASTOR CHARLES E BELL JR]

YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT AND I AGREE WITH YOU. BUT IF BUSH HAD SAID THIS WE WONT BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION LOL

[Child of the Kingdom]

I really don't feel that Obama owes anyone an apology, but if people want to force the issue then he shouldn't unless the cop does too. Bush was able to say what he wanted and do what he wanted with no questions but no one (whites) really harped on it too much.

[Tara Robinson]

Why should he apologize for speaking his mind DON"T WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH ANYMORE!!!!

[Evangelist Altha Fugett]

I question that article?, I worked in law enforcement, and I understand laws are different in some states, but in MOST yelling at anyone with malice is a verbal assault, but again I agree, with Tara, he shouldn't apologize

[PASTOR CHARLES E BELL JR]

TARA YOU ARE RIGHT I GUESS IT ONLY GO FOR SOME GROUPS KKK