Reply #22: Many seem to be missing the real issue

[booley]

People are confusing being racist with being an authoritarian and those are two totally separate things. Not exclusive things but certainly not the same.

And the whole "you white people" thing that has cropped up is just aggravating as hell. IF someone made such generalizations, saying "all you black people", that would be unacceptable. Being the victim of prejudice does justify prejudiced statements in turn.

Here's the deal. I have absolutely no problem believing the cop abused his power and this is wrong and I am one of those "White people" that supposedly doesn't get it.

I do get it and I get it because cops have abused their power with me and my friends as well. Both White and Black cops. Racism can play into this but this is part of a much larger problem... Police and the state in general are demanding unquestioning obedience and they don't care what color you are, you will get punished if you don't give it.

Not all police and not everyone in government, mind you. But I have noticed even the good cops will turn a blind eye to abuses by their peers. Even good non-authoritarian, fair minded people will too often give an authority figure the benefit of the doubt regardless of the actions.

This phenomena isn't racism. It's simple human nature. (which last I heard covered you regardless of the color of your skin). It's a problem we all have within ourselves to at least some degree.

And no, I am not saying Racism isn't a problem. Just that it isn't the whole issue. We could have the equal numbers of every ethnicity in every police force and still have this sort of thing going on.

Here's the REAL issue: Gates did not break the law. Whether he was an asshole or just having a bad day or truly outraged is besides the point. While Gates being black may have played a part, what really got Gates in trouble from what I have read is he demanded the cop's badge number and name.

Asking for a cop's badge number getting that person in trouble should give every poster on DU a big friggin case of DEJA VUE because this happens a lot and not just to black people.

That's the real problem here. Another guy (who happened to be Black) got in trouble for doing something perfectly legal because he questioned someone in power and that person in power didn't like it. IF this had been a black cop questioning Gates, I am not sure it would have turned out any differently.

Maybe we should attack authoritarians rather then each other.