Gates vs Crowley - The Real Issue

I was shocked and dismayed when I first learned of Professor Gate's arrest in Cambridge, MA. After hearing the initial reports of the case, I knew immediately something in the police version of the story did not ring true, and today, after reviewing the official incident report, I am more certain than ever the arrest was in fact a 'stupid' decision.

Many have made race an issue in this case, and it most certainly played a role in the incident. However, in my opinion, the bigger issue is not 'racial profiling' but rather the attitude of police in general. The fact is that no other public servant welds the power a police officer does -- the power to immediately strip you of your rights and detain you. A police officer walks with that extra 'swagger' because he/she knows that unless they commit an especially egregious abuse of power, more often than not they will get away with 'teaching' a perp a lesson. Especially if they feel their power has been threaten or questioned. Even if the charges are later dropped, or a civilian complaint is filed, the officer will likely never suffer any real consequence for choosing to arrest someone without a valid legal reason.

Now I know that an individual under arrest is not entirely stripped of all of his/her rights, but let us be frank here - once a police officer places an individual under arrest, psychologically, you are no longer free. You are, for all intents and purposes, a peace of property, to be carted away, inventoried and held until THEY see fit. Yes we have laws in this country which entitle all to a fair and expedient trial, but anyone who has ever been arrested can most certainly attest to the overwhelming sense of powerlessness inflicted by such an ordeal.

In the Skip Gates case, we have a classic example of a police officer who felt a need to 'teach' a man a lesson. When Professor Gates refused to submit completely to Sgt. Crowley's authority, the officer made a decision to demonstrate the full extent of his power and show Gates who's really in charge. This is especially obvious when you read the police report and Crowley's own words, where the officer emphasis the 'tumultuous' behavior of Gates. The fact the officer did not follow MA law (disorderly conduct requires the behavior to take place in a public place - and that behavior to be distressing to the public, neither of which were present in this incident) are signs that what was at issue here was the fact that a civilian did not show the police officer respect. That despite having proven his legal right to be in the home, and thus relieving the officer of any legal obligation/authority to be at his property, what was most important or relevant was his lack of respect for the uniform. Read the report yourself, I found officer Figueroa's version especially troubling, as he seemed to simply copy Crowley's version, without, again, providing specifics.

The feedback this story has received has been especially troubling. Although race most certainly played an issue (anyone who thinks that if Gate's were a white male this would have played out the same way is delusional), race was secondary. Apparently we as a society have accepted the behavior of Sgt. Crowley and those like him as the standard, as most comments seemed to side with the officer on blind faith alone. This is a major problem - police officers are first and foremost public servants, entrusted with tremendous power. How are we to hold them accountable if we are not allowed to question their actions, and whenever we do, we are instantly reminded of how they risk their lives to shame us to silence. Are police officers heroes, are they woefully compensated for what they offer to society, are they under appreciated? Absolutely! --- but they aren't infallible.

Police officers and other law enforcement officers should be celebrated for the role they play in society. They should be educated, trained and well compensated for their sacrifice so that when these types of situations occur, when they act outside of the power entrusted to them, we aren't beaten back with the "they risk their lives" argument and instead we can wholeheartedly demand better behavior. What happened to Professor Gates happens everyday, thousands of times, all around this country, and its time it stops.

Hair Cuts

I've always fantasized about cutting my hair. Growing up in a Puerto Rican family, and not having the idolized straight or almost straight hair had contributed to my fear of being creative with my hair, as most women are. All through high school I wore it tied up, much to long and well, never really did anything with it, afraid of it becoming a frizzy mess. It wasn't until I was 19 that I realized I, in fact, had awesome hair. Playfully curly, thick, with natural highlights... and for a long time I relished in my new found appreciation for the curls I once despised.

But the fantasy of cutting my hair off never left me. Wanting to avoid becoming the stereotypical lesbian, I put the idea to the back of my mind, but it always crept forward... especially during those hot, muggy summer days. Each time it did, each time I seriously considered it, those same fears, fears of looking bad, of looking ugly came to the surface. I did not have the right face, I wasn't pretty enough, my hair is too curly, too thick, all of these excuses I have touted at one point or another. They helped ward off the idea, temporally.

Well last week I said f___K it. My hair is gone and I have a short hair cut. The change was immediate. I have been told I look softer, I have been told I look younger, I have been told I look good... but what has stuck with me the most has been what I have experienced since my "liberation" - I feel ready, more confident to take risks. I overcame a long childhood fear, and I am happy and content with my decision - it doesn't look bad, it doesn't look awesome, but I am free from those constant worries that plagued me throughout the years. I'm even considering going shorter. Such a small change, such a temporary condition has inspired me to think about the larger things in life. Moving to another state, rising up to the challenges before me, hell, I'm even thinking about going shorter.... after all, it is only hair and it will grow back.