Does Racial Profiling Still Exist in America?

Recently, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., a Harvard University professor, was arrested at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts and charged with disorderly conduct. Gates, who is African-American, had just returned from a trip to China. As the front door of his home would not open, Gates entered through his back door. He could not however, open the front door even from the inside. Gates went back outside, and with help from his driver, forced the front door open.

In a subsequent release of the recorded 911 call, the caller can be heard reporting a possible burglary, stating in part, “they had to use their shoulder to try and barge in, and they got in”. The caller also stated at one point that she noticed “two suitcases” and was “not sure if these are two individuals who live there”.

What happened next is in question. According to the police report, Officer Crowley arrived on the scene and asked Gates to step outside, and he refused. The report also states that Gates initially refused to provide ID and that he accused the officers of racial bias. Gates’ version is much different. According to him, when he went inside to get his ID, the officer followed him inside without permission. Gates says he provided both his license and his Harvard ID, identifying him as residing there. Gates says he repeatedly asked the officer for his name and badge number, but the officer did not provide it. Gates said the officer asked him to step outside, where he was subsequently arrested for disorderly conduct.

The charges against Gates have already been dropped, but the firestorm of controversy still remains heated. Officer Crowley has publicly stated he will not apologize for his actions. In a recent interview, President Obama said he did not know “what role race played” in the incident, but that “the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof they were in their own home”.

My question to you this week is “Do you think the police officer’s conduct was wrong? Why or why not? Do you think the police still use racial profiling?” Answers are due no later than Monday, August 3rd, 2009.

What's Love Got to Do With It?

This week we started a discussion on same sex marriage.
Same sex couples have practically no rights or protections under the law.

Take what happens when someone in a same-sex couple gets sick or injured. The Human Rights Campaign reports that the Family Medical Leave Act, a federal law granting 12 weeks of unpaid leave to allow someone to care for a spouse, does not apply to same sex couples. Depending on the state, hospitals may or may not allow someone to visit their same-sex partner when visits are limited to "family" only. Oftentimes, same-sex partners are not allowed to make decisions regarding their partners medical decisions, even if they have obtained power of attorney. If someone in a same-sex couple dies without a will, their partner may not have a right to inherit property. Same-sex partners may also not be eligible for bereavement leave from their job.

My question to you this week is "How would you resolve the issue of same-sex couples having rights when it comes to their partner's medical decisions? What rights should they have, if any? Do you think those decisions should be left up to the same-sex partner or the person's 'family'?" Answers are due no later than Monday, July 27th, 2009

Are you proud to be an American?

This week we started our study of the Constitution and the freedoms that make us uniquely American. You can order your own free copy of the United States Constitution from: http://www.constitutionfacts.com/index.cfm?section=bookstore&page=freeCopy.cfm

There are things about America that I don't like; paying taxes, crooked politicians and corporate greed. However, despite those things, I am still proud to be an American. I am proud to live in a diverse country where we can participate in our own political process. I am proud that we have the freedom to practice our own religion and speak our mind. Each quarter as we review the Constitution, I am reminded of all the freedoms that we have which I tend to take for granted.

So my question to you this week is, "Are you proud to be American? If so, why? If no, why not?" Answers are due no later than Monday, July 20th, 2009.