Getbig.com: American Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure
Getbig Main Boards => Politics and Political Issues Board => Topic started by: Dos Equis on July 30, 2009, 11:19:02 AM
-
Calling the man a "banana-eating jungle monkey" was "a poor choice of words"? Ya think? lol . . .
Boston mayor wants officer fired for e-mail about Harvard scholar
Bloomberg News
BOSTON — Boston Mayor Thomas Menino wants to fire a Boston police officer and National Guard captain accused of sending an e-mail containing a racial slur about Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates, a spokeswoman said.
Officer Justin Barrett, 36, was suspended two days ago by the police department pending a termination hearing for sending out an e-mail that Elaine Driscoll, a police spokeswoman, said contained "racially charged language." The National Guard also suspended him.
"There is no room in the police department for this type of behavior," Dot Joyce, a spokeswoman for the mayor, said by phone today. "The mayor commends the police commissioner for taking swift and decisive action."
Barrett told WCVB-TV last night that he is "not a racist" and didn't mean to offend anyone. He said the expression he used in his e-mail was "a poor choice of words."
Barrett allegedly referred to Gates, director of the Harvard's W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African & African American Research, as a "banana-eating jungle monkey" whom he would have sprayed in the face with pepper spray, according to the Boston Herald.
Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said he apologized to Gates yesterday on behalf of the department.
Gates has been at the center of a controversy about race since he was arrested on July 16 by Cambridge police Sergeant James Crowley and charged with disorderly conduct. Police responding to the report of a break- in arrested Gates at his home. Prosecutors dropped the charge.
Boston police haven't released a copy of the e-mail.
The National Guard became aware of the e-mail on July 23 and suspended Barrett from duty after a preliminary investigation on July 25, according to a statement on the Guard's Web site.
"The Massachusetts National Guard does not and will not tolerate racially insensitive language," according to the statement. "The language contained in the e-mail violates policies of the Massachusetts National Guard and what it stands for."
Davis said he found out on July 28 that Barrett admitted writing the e-mail, and then suspended the officer and began the process to fire him.
"Police Commissioner Davis moved immediately to strip the officer of his badge and gun and proceeded toward a termination hearing," Driscoll, the spokeswoman, said.
Police officials became aware of the e-mail separately from the Guard when a lieutenant heard about it from officers who had seen it and reported it to his captain, Davis said at a televised press conference today. He said the department is investigating who on the force may have seen the e-mail.
"There is no indication it was widely distributed," Davis said. "This type of venomous rhetoric is severely damaging; we will not allow the unacceptable actions of one member to define who we are."
Police are also investigating how Barrett dealt with the community, Davis said. He said he is encouraged because officers were shocked by the e-mail and it was reported promptly.
He said he doesn't believe there is widespread racism in the Boston police department.
Cambridge Union Baptist Church pastor Jeffrey Brown, another speaker at the press conference, said he hopes police look at whether officers supported or rejected the e-mail when they saw it.
The church began more than 100 years ago as a place of worship for freed slaves and free blacks in the Boston area, according to its Web site.
The Boston Police Patrolmen's Association denounced Barrett's comments in a letter released last night and signed by Thomas Nee, the union's president.
"While the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association has a duty to assure that the contractual and due process rights of each and every member are protected, we strongly denounce these statements as being offensive and hurtful," the letter said.
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090730/BREAKING/90730019/Boston+mayor+wants+officer+fired+for+e-mail+about+Harvard+scholar
-
And yet the Obama justice department dropped any charges against the black panthers who threatened white voters by weilding weapons and screaming "now you will know what its like to be rulled by the black man cracker".Something seems wrong.
-
Gates' behavior invites racist responses.
This officer's email is inappropriate and IMO, there should be a penalty...because he is an officer of the law. However, these liberation theologist ultra-liberal blacks who won't move on from the past ensight hateful feelings among many people. We shouldn't give these assh-les a platform to preach on. Now this idiot Gates is going to release a book, pathetic how our system works.
-
Way to try and defend it shoot, i bet you'd be one of those good 'ol folks who thought blacks should be lynched cause gosh darn it they insight hateful responses!
-
Way to try and defend it shoot, i bet you'd be one of those good 'ol folks who thought blacks should be lynched cause gosh darn it they insight hateful responses!
how many people were fired for emails about Bush?
-
how many people were fired for emails about Bush?
How many people in a public position were caught sending e-mails regarding Bush's skin color?
-
How many people in a public position were caught sending e-mails regarding Bush's skin color?
You had people on television calling him a racist idiot EVERY single day.There was no need to email,it was there on tv,newspapers,magazines.
-
You had people on television calling him a racist idiot EVERY single day.There was no need to email,it was there on tv,newspapers,magazines.
Which people and what positions did they hold? Were they commentators or policeman?
-
Which people and what positions did they hold? Were they commentators or policeman?
Keith Olberman did it on a nightly basis.Madoow[who is OLberman in drag]did it as well.The mayor of New Orleans wanted to buiild a chocolate city.Maxine Waters said Bush was racist many times.
-
>Barrett told WCVB-TV last night that he is "not a racist" and didn't mean to offend anyone.
Does anyone ever admit to being a racist? Even Klansmen deny they are racists. ::)
Having said that, the officer should receive a tongue lashing but he should not be fired. It is not reasonable to fire anyone for holding a belief, attitude, or sentiment. Similarly, communicating that sentiment to someone else who wants to hear it via a private email is not a crime. Unless and until the officer does something more explicit—like act out his racist attitudes on an innocent public or coworkers he should not be fired.
-
>Barrett told WCVB-TV last night that he is "not a racist" and didn't mean to offend anyone.
Does anyone ever admit to being a racist? Even Klansmen deny they are racists. ::)
Having said that, the officer should receive a tongue lashing but he should not fired. It is not reasonable to fire anyone for holding a belief, attitude, or sentiment. Similarly, communicating that sentiment to someone else who wants to hear it via a private email is not a crime. Unless and until the officer does something more explicit—like act out his racist attitudes on an innocent public or coworkers he should not be fired.
I trust open racists far more than closet racists. At least they are honest about it.
-
I trust open racists far more than closet racists. At least they are honest about it.
Haha i knew just knew you were a racist sympathizer figures you would dislike obama.
-
Nope, hate racist shit kc, but I truely believe people like Gates incite hate in his followers and incite hateful responces. Gates does nothing but set back race relations. But these are predicted responces to hateful people like him, I say it without emotion, its a matter of fact. The officer needs to be reprimanded for his email, as I clearly stated in my 1st email.
None of my black buddies are anything like Gates. He's a fucking upity prick that is obsessed with his own race and the past wrongs of this country.
kc, that was unfair.
-
Haha i knew just knew you were a racist sympathizer figures you would dislike obama.
How do you equate the two?
I said trust, I did not say agree with. At least I know where I stand with a person. I have friends from the DR who are openly hostile to whites. It does not bother me and I prefer the speak openly to me as opposed to when my back is turned.
Liberal whites are more racist than anyone else yet lie to your face about how "tolerant" they are while curing you in private. Is that what you want?
-
I trust open racists far more than closet racists. At least they are honest about it.
I don’t care for either.
It’s like the Taliban or evangelicals; people are free to hold any attitudes or beliefs they want (even bigoted ones) as long as they do not act them out in ways that impact the lives and livelihoods of others. When you try to deny equal treatment under the law to people or start flying planes into buildings based on your personal beliefs then we have a problem.
-
Keith Olberman did it on a nightly basis.Madoow[who is OLberman in drag]did it as well.The mayor of New Orleans wanted to buiild a chocolate city.Maxine Waters said Bush was racist many times.
True, but I prefer someone who is open and honest about their beliefs to a coward who placates people and has certain views in private.
-
Ur gonna fire this guy? Has anybody been killed, harmed, raped, disadvantaged economically? Give hima reprimand and move the fuck out.
-
he carries a gun and the ability to arrest people.
fire him.
-
Hey 240...why don't we fire u for saying something stupid. Maybe we can take away ur house and guns and kick ur family out in the street. Gimme a break.
-
An officer of the law can't write shit like that without a penalty. They have a responsibility to treat people equally.
We have to stop putting Gates on a pedistal though. Just because he is a professor doesn't mean he isn't an angry radical. He needs to be called on it and the public needs to speak out against people like him.
-
Haha i knew just knew you were a racist sympathizer figures you would dislike obama.
Obama doesnt suck because of his race.He sucks because of his policies,from the stimulous,to cap and trade,to health care,to card check.HE SUCKS!!!!!
Now,we can discuss what a little racist he is and how EVERY friend he has is either a racist or radical,but thats just ANOTHER reason to hate him,not THE reason.
Lastly,we can fire the cop if you want.When we will fire Maxine Waters for her MANY racist statements?
-
Hey 240...why don't we fire u for saying something stupid. Maybe we can take away ur house and guns and kick ur family out in the street. Gimme a break.
being a cop = higher code of ethics
when i was a teacher, if i made a racist joke or stripped with chippendales on weekend, I could lose my job.
are you okay if cops attend KKK rallies on the weekend? Of couse not. now we have a gray area where racist jokes are okay but attending racist meetings are not. Hey, what if black cops want to be black panthers on their days off. is that okay?
people with extra power have extra responsibility not to show racial bias. At the very least, demote him and take away his gun for a year and make him attend a year of racial sensitivity courses.
-
With the info presented, I'd suspend the cop without pay for a period of time.
-
being a cop = higher code of ethics
when i was a teacher, if i made a racist joke or stripped with chippendales on weekend, I could lose my job.
are you okay if cops attend KKK rallies on the weekend? Of couse not. now we have a gray area where racist jokes are okay but attending racist meetings are not. Hey, what if black cops want to be black panthers on their days off. is that okay?
people with extra power have extra responsibility not to show racial bias. At the very least, demote him and take away his gun for a year and make him attend a year of racial sensitivity courses.
I’m not sure I agree. People say the same thing about teachers, ministers, etc. I often wonder what this “higher standard” is that people always refer to. I think being a cop means following the law and doing your job. I do not think sending a racist private email to a friend who is receptive to that kind of language is cause to fire someone. Why is someone else reading his email anyway? Unless and until the officer discriminates against members of the public or his fellow officers why fire him? You can not fire people for what is in their heart.
btw, I think teachers should be free to act in porn or dance at Chippendales.
I am OK with a policeman who attends a KKK rally when he is off duty—as long as he does his job without bias or discrimination while in uniform (however unlikely that may be). It is not just to fire someone in anticipation of what you think they might do because you happen to know they hold bigoted attitudes.
-
How come the gay guy has the only rational and valid post on this subject. I'd have an issue with a cop at a KKK rally, but he makes a good point.
-
How come the gay guy has the only rational and valid post on this subject.
x2
-
when i taught in lee county, fl, they showed us a list of actions for which we could be fired.
They did a whole 'ethics' thing. it was BS. But some made sense. I don't want a guy who performs as a porn star during summer breaks teaching kindergarten in september. I don't want a chick arrested ten times for crack cocaine purchases teaching pre-school.
-
when i taught in lee county, fl, they showed us a list of actions for which we could be fired.
They did a whole 'ethics' thing. it was BS. But some made sense. I don't want a guy who performs as a porn star during summer breaks teaching kindergarten in september. I don't want a chick arrested ten times for crack cocaine purchases teaching pre-school.
240, then you better move out of Florida... ;D
-
when i taught in lee county, fl, they showed us a list of actions for which we could be fired.
They did a whole 'ethics' thing. it was BS. But some made sense. I don't want a guy who performs as a porn star during summer breaks teaching kindergarten in september. I don't want a chick arrested ten times for crack cocaine purchases teaching pre-school.
You disappoint me . . . and your rational self (I know he is deep in there somewhere). :-[
First, you call their ethics rules “BS” then you ape the rhetoric of the people who peddle the BS.
The guy who makes porn in the summer might be a very effective kindergarten teacher in September. What he does on his own time is none of your business so long as he conducts himself appropriately at work. Our society does not pay teachers enough $$ to tell them what they can and cannot do when school is not in session. Making movies—even porn movies--is perfectly legal.
Barring someone with a (certain kind of) criminal record is a reasonable restriction for a school district to impose, but conflating that with legal behavior that some people may not like is simply daft. The very parents who would move to fire this teacher/actor are the same parents who watch his movies.
Should we fire teachers who smoke? Or drink (too much)? What examples are the children in kindergarten more likely to know about via Mr. Smith’s example? Smoking, drinking, or acting in adult films? If Mr. Smith smokes he likely smells of smoke and every child in his class knows it.
-
the rules, as they explain them, exlude a TON fun things. I played in a band and was told if I get photog'd doing shots with lots of girls (as was the practice back then) by the local press, I could lose my job. They made a big deal about it at the college for all of us new teachers.
Today, teachers have myspace and facebook, and local principals have made a HUGE deal about what the teachers are putting on them. Says it could result in them being disciplined or even terminated, ala the professional ethics expectation.
Maybe it wouldn't be as bad if the teacher did porn... but Ft myers beach just fired a city manage because his WIFE used to be a porn star. Maybe i'm just bitter i had to tone it down back then with the band at night.
-
Assuming this relates to public schools, I agree teachers should be able to do whatever they want, legally, on their on their own time, provided it doesn't interfere with their positions as role models for their students.
-
Nope, hate racist shit kc, but I truely believe people like Gates incite hate in his followers and incite hateful responces. Gates does nothing but set back race relations. But these are predicted responces to hateful people like him, I say it without emotion, its a matter of fact. The officer needs to be reprimanded for his email, as I clearly stated in my 1st email.
None of my black buddies are anything like Gates. He's a fucking upity prick that is obsessed with his own race and the past wrongs of this country.
kc, that was unfair.
I understand the attitude you're trying to decribe, ...I just find it interesting your choice of words. That particular adjective is only used in reference to Black people. I've never once seen or heard a white person described as uppity. Why is it?
-
how many people were fired for emails about Bush?
how many racist e-mails about Bush were there? Don't remember that happening...
-
And yet the Obama justice department dropped any charges against the black panthers who threatened white voters by weilding weapons and screaming "now you will know what its like to be rulled by the black man cracker".Something seems wrong.
Fucking savages are lucky they didn't try any shit like that where I voted.... >:(
-
Fucking savages are lucky they didn't try any shit like that where I voted.... >:(
Exactly. What kind of pushover assclowns let them get away with it?
-
I understand the attitude you're trying to decribe, ...I just find it interesting your choice of words. That particular adjective is only used in reference to Black people. I've never once seen or heard a white person described as uppity. Why is it?
So what?The term redneck is only applied to whites,yet I see many blacks that seem to be rednecks to me.Look up youtube and look up Alabama leprechaun and see what I mean.
-
Thanks Jag, I was disappointed in kc's interpretation of my post. I'm not the guy to use the comeback "but I have black friends"...hahaha. (But in reality, I'm in a part-time R&B band and the only white dude!).
Not sure about the lingo up in Canada but we use upity to describe a lot of nose in the air rich people around here. Common enough to say "that upity bitch...", referring to a stuck up girl who thinks her shit don't stink. As always, I don't mean to offend in these debates.
-
I understand the attitude you're trying to decribe, ...I just find it interesting your choice of words. That particular adjective is only used in reference to Black people. I've never once seen or heard a white person described as uppity. Why is it?
It depends. Where I'm from, "Uppity" is a general term for a stuck up jackass. I realize the common terminology associated with it, but it isn't true everywhere.
-
So what?The term redneck is only applied to whites,yet I see many blacks that seem to be rednecks to me.Look up youtube and look up Alabama leprechaun and see what I mean.
I have never heard Alabama leprecaun.
If I have to google it, wouldn't it stand to reason it is an obscure and uncommon term? ::)
-
Thanks Jag, I was disappointed in kc's interpretation of my post. I'm not the guy to use the comeback "but I have black friends"...hahaha. (But in reality, I'm in a part-time R&B band and the only white dude!).
Not sure about the lingo up in Canada but we use upity to describe a lot of nose in the air rich people around here. Common enough to say "that upity bitch...", referring to a stuck up girl who thinks her shit don't stink. As always, I don't mean to offend in these debates.
It depends. Where I'm from, "Uppity" is a general term for a stuck up jackass. I realize the common terminology associated with it, but it isn't true everywhere.
Gentlemen, don't get me wrong, ...I understand the meaning of the word, and I understand the attitude it refers to. What I'm saying, is that, as my observation, that adjective has only ever been applied to Blacks. Whites who display the very same attitude being disparaged are referred to as "stuck up", but when Blacks are being described, the term "uppity" is used. I'm simply making an observation. You decide what meaning or significance it has... if any.
-