Obama is too diplomatic. I can't decide if I think (cynically) that he's doing this thinking of reelection and politics, or if he really thinks this will work. Good luck, I guess. And I'm impressed with Obama and Gates and Crowley for looking for some common ground.
But, honestly, I am still angry and I'm not ready to "have a beer" What would I say to the police officer who yelled at me red-faced and spitting for meekly pointing out that a car was illegally parked? What would I say to the security guards who searched my purse after shopping convinced I was a thief, or to the ones who insisted that I check my bags but said nothing to others-- what would I say to the cops who pulled my brother over for no specific reason while driving? These are not isolated incidents. And it's tiresome to be treated like a criminal all of the time.
They have probably forgotten me but I remember all of them. I bet they aren't terrible people. I think we make the mistake of thinking that a person who makes a racist action must be a terrible person. In fact, I don't even know that every bad interaction I have had was the result of racism. Maybe I'm just unlucky. (Though, when I compare notes with others I have fewer "bad cop" stores than most.) Is this just the "price" I have to pay becuase people who look like me commit more crimes? That's what my conservative friends say.
I have been reading all of the news on this story and it makes me very sad. So many people say that Gates was wrong, that he was too angry, that it was all in his mind. I have never lost my temper like that but I understand the desire to do so. If I had a beer with these cops and security guards what would I say? Would it change anything?