Gates/Crowley Is NOT About Racism

With their coverage of the Gates/Crowley incident, the myopic corporate media is fighting the last war, not the next one. In this instance, America’s history of ethnic profiling and Police mistreatment of minorities is not the troubling issue. I do not believe that Sergeant Crowley is a racist or that his treatment of Professor Gates is a product of racism.

This unfortunate event is a symptom of a new affliction permeating Law Enforcement; the impetus for Crowley’s actions was Authoritarian Machismo.

Since 9/11, our law enforcement departments have become more and more authoritarian. In his training, Serpent Crowley learned to regard every perpetrator, regardless of race color creed or national origin, as a potential enemy of the State. Police officers see themselves as front line foot soldiers in the struggle to protect the Fatherland.

Professor Gates was upset and rightly so. Who wouldn’t be? He is in his own home and confronted as if he were a criminal; even after he proves his identity. Did he shout at Crowley? Yes. Did he accuse Crowley of racism? Probably, but unless he pulled a gun, knife or other weapon and physically threatened Sergeant Crowley, Professor Gates did not break the law.

Even after Crowley notifies dispatch that Gates is the resident, the incident continues. At that time, Crowley should have said: “There has been a misunderstanding and I’m sorry for inconvenience. If you would like to file a report with my supervisors, here is my badge number and contact information”. Crowley should have defused the situation by backing down and leaving. He did not. Why not?

Professor Gates may have said something that insulted Crowley’s manhood and challenged his position. No pumped up alpha male would tuck his tail between his legs and skulk off. Ever fiber of his being, every element of his training, every aspect of his psyche required that Sergeant Crowley confront the threat to his authority.

The bottom line, Sergeant Crowley did what he did because he had too much testosterone coursing through his system.

And because he could.