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July 28, 2009

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A Teachable Moment

 

Pat Buchanan Sunday, professor Louis Henry Gates retreated from his threat to sue Sgt. James Crowley. Friday, President Obama retreated from his charge that the Cambridge cops "acted stupidly."

As Crowley has not budged an inch -- his arrest of Gates was correct, and there will be no apology -- there is no doubt who won this face-off. Game, set, match, Crowley and the Cambridge cops.

It is, indeed, as Obama said Friday, a "teachable moment."

And those most in need of teaching are the professor, the governor of Massachusetts and President Obama. By charging or suggesting Gates was a victim of racial profiling, all three were guilty of having reflexively reverted to racial stereotypes about white cops.

Here is the chronology. Read On

 
 
 
   

PEOPLE HOPED Many people hoped that the election of a black President of the United States would mark our entering a "post-racial" era, when we could finally put some ugly aspects of our history behind us.

That is quite understandable. But it takes two to tango. Those of us who want to see racism on its way out need to realize that others benefit greatly from crying racism. They benefit politically, financially, and socially.

Barack Obama has been allied with such people for decades. He found it expedient to appeal to a wider electorate as a post-racial candidate, just as he has found it expedient to say a lot of other popular things-- about campaign finance, about transparency in government, about not rushing legislation through Congress without having it first posted on the Internet long enough to be studied-- all of which turned to be the direct opposite of what he actually did after getting elected. Read On

   
 
 
 

911 CALL I hate to admit it, but I have reached a stage in my life that if I am walking down a dark street late at night and I see that the person behind me is white, I subconsciously feel relieved." -- Reverend Jesse Jackson

Slavery and racism have been like a soiled garment that America has diligently and at great expense tried to wipe clean. President Obama acknowledged at his news conference last week that America has made "great progress" in the direction of racial reconciliation and he is living proof of that. Read On

   
   
   
   

EXPERT ON SEX CRIMES Linda Fairstein, America’s foremost legal expert on crimes of sexual assault and domestic violence, led th e Sex Crime Unit of the District Attorney’s office in Manhattan for 25 years. A Fellow at the American College of Trial Lawyers, she is a graduate of Vassar College and the University of Virginia School of Law. Her bestselling crime novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Her nonfiction book, Sexual Violence, was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. Her newest novel, just out this month, is Lethal Legacy. She lives with her husband in Manhattan and on Martha’s Vineyard. For more information visit her website at www.lindafairstein.com.

LESLEY STAHL: Linda Fairstein, thank you so much for joining us! Of course I want to discuss your new book, Lethal Legacy , which came out this week and is part of your Alexandra Cooper mystery series. What number is this one?

LINDA FAIRSTEIN: This is the eleventh one. And thank you, I’m thrilled to be on wOw. I’ve been reading you from day one and you are among my favorite women in the world so it’s a thrill to be with you. Read On

 
 
 
 
GOOD NEWS IN HARD TIMES If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.  Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs....  Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.  There will always be poor people in the land.  Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."  (Deuteronomy 15:7-15 NIV)

Despite some encouraging signs of recovery, many people are still struggling in the wake of the current economic crisis.  Unemployment numbers continue to rise, home foreclosures are at record highs, and investment portfolios remain ravaged by a volatile stock market.  Relief is needed, and action is required.  While economic relief and recovery continues to be the primary focus of our leaders in Washington, there is considerable disagreement over the best way for the government to address our economic woes. Read On
 
 
 
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