The problem with special interest groups
I originally started this post to comment on the protests taking place of the dragging death of a young man in Paris, Texas. Two of his friends were originally charged with the death. However, a truck driver later came along and admitted he could have ran over the young man, and it appears that is probably what happened. The prosecutor finally dismissed the case; normally that would be the end of the story. The problem in this case was that the two young men were white, and the victim was black. Never ones to let facts stand in their way, the special interest groups claimed racial prejudice. The end result was the protests, which of course brought ought the Klan and their like.
No sooner was the ink dry on that story than news broke of the arrest of Professor Gates at his home. Since he was black and the officer was white the claims of prejudice were sure to follow - never mind that at least one of the officers was also black. I'm not going to enter the discussion on that issue; others are taking care of that. I think it's clear that both Prof. Gates and Off. Crowley could have better decisions.
I'm the first to admit racial prejudice still exists in America; it's most apparent in the criminal justice system, and I've seen hundreds of examples. However, just because it exists doesn't mean every decision is racially motivated. Most specail interest groups have a knee jerk reaction, and never attempt to find out the true facts. Unfortunately, I think they hurt the very cause they are trying to advance.
People have almost become immune from such attacks - and expect them. The result is that when there is a legitimate complaint it is often ignored - remember the boy who cried wolf? There's also an unintended consequence; people (i.e. prosecutors) are especially cautious when there is the possbility of such claims. The result is often a type of reverse discrimination. I'm guessing the prosecutor in the Paris case knew the repurcussions when he made the decision to dismiss; which means he probably had no doubts.
We've come along on racial issues in my lifetime. We still have a ways to go. My fear is that as long as groups on either side arbitrarily react to every possible we will never get there.
