This Is Just Sad, Words Really Do Hurt
By roberten
@roberten (3128)
United States
July 30, 2009 2:02pm CST
Our nation has been divided over the controversial arrest involving Boston Police officer Justin Barrett and Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. This is the lates chapter of that fiasco:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/US/Story?id=8209937&page=1
Up to now, I didn't really feel too passionately about the situation and chalked it up to an unfortunate misunderstanding; but now I feel a sense of shame before the world. This whole situation has gotten blown out of proportion. How do we recover from this stripe of shame concerning these two, supposedly, men acting out like children before the whole world? What have we learned about ourselves as individuals? What have we taught our children? And, finally, will we ever grow up?
The whole situation is just SAD and proves that our words can hurt. Do you use words to hurt others? If so, do you ever feel ashamed?
1 person likes this
1 response
@nadine1373 (244)
• Jamaica
30 Jul 09
It is unfortunate to say the least that simple things like these that could have been avoided by two respected adult have turned out to be an embarrassing, teachable moment that now has our beloved President involved and another beloved police responding to it in his own way, which seems shaped to box a bread out of his (the police who sent e-mail)mouth.
It is time the world come to an honest understanding that people are different where ever you go, and circumstances too, and that just as the neighbour tried to be a neighbour, by calling the police both me could have acted as neighbours by respecting each other irrespective of colour, culture, or environment.
I hope nothing like this ever happens again, in Jamaica we would call that mix up and blender.
@roberten (3128)
• United States
30 Jul 09
I suppose this is an excellent example of why you should get to know your neighbors. If the caller had known who the professor was maybe she could have offered to help him rather than call the police. I can hear my mother in one ear saying: "No man is an island." and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the other saying: "It takes a village to raise a child." I sincerely hope that we get better at respecting others; I want us to be a better people.
