AndrewC
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2005
- Messages
- 351
- Reaction score
- 71
- Gender
- Undisclosed
- Political Leaning
- Undisclosed
It seems a bit of a stretch to arrest someone for disorderly conduct in their own home when that person exercises a legal right to verify the badge number of the police officer. Even if Gates was "uppity" about it, there is no law against being a jerk, since that right is protected by the 1st Amendment, especially in the privacy of one's own home.
The presented facts are that when Gates let the police into his home, he did show them a couple of ID cards, license and Harvard ID (he lives in a Harvard house). Case closed. Unless there was a physical assault by Gates there would have been zero reason to arrest him. The case was fully dropped because it had no legal basis to proceed. That is the fact of the matter. Therefore the police officer acted stupidly, by definition, since he had no just cause for arrest.
So Gates isn't responsible for his own actions? He didn't have to behave that way. He could have defused the whole situation by simply acting like an educated, respectable, intellectual. Two wrongs don't make a right! Mr. Gates had a choice. He chose poorly.
Freedom comes with personal responsibility. Mr. Gates was not physically assaulted. He was in no danger. Had he acted in a calm, honorable manner. He would not have been arrested. If he felt he was wronged by the officer. He could have later filed a complaint. His reaction to the situation served no purpose other than to release his own anger and disgust.
I don't feel he should have been arrested. I also know that he did not act in an honorable and intelligent manner. He let his anger get the best of him. He needlessly escalated an already unfortunate situation. As smart as he is supposed to be. I would expect him to understand that.