GATES ARREST, WAS CAMBRIDGE POLICE STUPID?

May be a more politically correct word would have been used instead? But, hey, this is American society where a nigger is always seen as a nigger and it does not matter if that nigger is the brightest bulb in the chandelier or is a Harvard University Professor or his home address is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?

So, when once in a while a blackman speaks out passionately and candidly, expressing how he truly feels about race relations in America, some people interpret that as being too strongly worded? But these are the same people, who, having not been on the receiving end of racism in America, and do not know what it is, to be a minority in America questions such opinion as was expressed?

Pictured above right is the man whose wrongful arrest is provoking this perfect storm, Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., the director of Harvard's W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research; and a tenured professor of Harvard University. Gates also makes regular Television appearances on issues of race in America and has produced a documentary which aired on CNN.

So President Barack Obama spoke as a blackman, who knows how it means to be a 'nigger' in America society. That is the real America the world does not know about, but which is the undercurrent of the society, where a man is primarily judged by the color of his skin and not necessarily the content of his character or his true abilities? There is simmering tension in the land and hopefully it will not ever boil over; with each passing day, a man's heart somewhere in America is boiling with vengeful thoughts on how to get at someone or render a pay-back?

But what is the solution, Icheoku asks? A good staring point is for us all to start talking about our differences and as often as the opportunity calls; and in an open honest manner. That way the walls of prejudices will begin to crumble in earnest as we understand one another better; but to continue to pretend that all is well or that prejudices of race does not exist or that things are honky-dory is a fallacy of the moment which incubates in American society and that is what fuels each person's suspicion of one another. Icheoku proclaims that racism exists and cuts across everyone in America, whether whites, blacks, Latinos, Asians, Native-Americans etc. It is all about protecting what each thinks is his rightful entitlement and the preservation of their race? Let us acknowledge that fact, and then we can take the next step towards exploring ways of improving and making it better?

And so it was that a neighbor could no longer recognise her neighbor in a sunny afternoon daylight in Cambridge Massachusetts; that she called 911 and reported her neighbor as a break-in suspect? But that 'break-in suspect' neighbor was merely trying to push his way into his own house, having misplaced his keys earlier in the day? The police came and the neighbor who was already lounging in his house, was marched off in handcuffs and the rest is now history. Not being on video, we can only rely on "he said, he said" account of what transpired that fateful July 16, 2009 day in Cambridge Massachusetts.

Whether the Cambridge police department was "deeply pained" by President Barack Obama's statement or not, Icheoku does not really care to know; but suffice it to say that Mr. President's comment was borne out of frustration that some sections of the American society are still treating disrespectfully, fellow Americans as if they are second-class citizens? Our position is that two wrongs does not make a right and the Cambridge police chief should have avoided joining issues with the president. We all should rather find a way of bridging the racial divide in America instead of protesting the obvious or being in denial as to what really exists.

Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr was arrested inside his house for breaking into his own house? If really it was a neighbor that called the police, Icheoku asks, why did that neighbor not recognise his neighbor, Professor Gates? OJ Simpson is languishing in prison today for similarly "stealing his own stuff"? But unlike OJ, Professor Gates does not have the notoriety of past accusation of murder and so people rallied around his cause and his charge of disorderly conduct was dropped. If in doubt, how many Network Televisions parade a blackman or any minority in their prime-time slot or any other full fledged anchor-person; yet some deny there is no racism in America?

Icheoku says, whether or not Gates 'flew into a verbal rage' was no reasonable ground to arrest an owner for breaking into his own house; once proper identification has been made to determine his identity? Since when has verbiage become a crime in the land or was he a madman to just fly off the handle without any provocation or prodding? Normal practice dictates that Sgt Crowley, upon ascertaining Gates identity, would have greeted and left, after explaining to Gates that they had received a report of a possible break-in into his house? Therefore, the real question here should be, why did Sgt. Crowley and co overtly prolong their look-in call and not leave immediately after ascertaining Professor Gates identity; and that an owner was the alleged break-in suspect? Peradventure, is it possible that they were surprised that a 'nigger' could own and live in a house in that neck of the woods, in Cambridge Massachusetts and decided to probe further, provoking the "verbal rage"?

Sgt. James Crowley, as a professional police office, would have after confirming the identity of the accused, conduct a cursory visual sweep of the home to further confirm through pictures and artifacts that Professor Gates is, who he said he is? This way, the whole world would have been saved all these pains of re-starting conversation on race. The matter would have died off quietly, but instead subsequent events prolonged an otherwise police check into the spat which is percolating through our society today. Also, it is very surprising that Officer Crowley does not know or recognise Professor Gates whose eminence is world-wide and a network television persona. Also, being one of the few academia in Harvard makes him a 'sticking sore-thumb', standing out conspicuously in Cambridge and requiring no further introduction? But no, may be through over-zealousness or the rush to be a police officer before this university professor, Sgt Crowley over-reached and today, the world is focusing at Cambridge as another American city with a profiling police department? Icheoku says, if this could happen to a person of Professor Gates stature, imagine what the average Joe blackman is going through in America and this is 2009 and not 1950?

Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts chimed in to say he was troubled and upset over the incident; while Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons, said had she spoke with Gates and apologized on behalf of the city, and issued a statement which called the July 16 incident "regrettable and unfortunate."

Icheoku calls on all altercation parties to now sheath their sword; as many Americans have deduced what possibly transpired. As a society, we must learn how to treat each other with respect, understanding that we are all in it together as fellow Americans and this is what will help bring down the walls of racial tension in our society. Icheoku says, irrespective of the rage in the tone of a provoked Professor Gates, Sgt. Crowley would have shown a cooler head and carried out his duty more professionally? But bee that as it may, we beg to move on now from this matter!