Trust and Consequence

I’ve struggled to pick a side in the conflict between Dr. Louis Gates and the Cambridge Police Department. The media has a nasty habit of hyping up controversial situations like this. They spin the dialog, they often ask questions that make people take sides, and they do a great job of making sure the tension perpetuates. I try my best to not use the conveniently anonymous “they” to assign blame – because it’s a weak and empty approach. In this context, “they” is every pundit, anchor, and reporter who blatantly doesn’t care about resolution, but only the sensationalism of the topic. It’s like the rights to a new reality show just landed in their lap, and they are doing everything they can to trademark it!

My tact has been to listen to all angles to gauge how people are posturing and how they have interpreted the events. I also read the actual police report word for word. In the final analysis, it all leads me to see it as more of the same, and ultimately it will probably be another wasted opportunity. The opportunity I mean is that of “unpacking” the baggage of American racial and structural inequality in a way that people can trust. It also means taking advantage of the trustworthiness of spirit and honesty of these baggage handlers – in this case, Gates and Crowley.

To waste this opportunity would squander the valuable human assets involved in this particular case. Dr. Gates’ life’s work, back-story, and reputation could be leveraged to underscore the legitimacy of the claim that racial profiling persists through all strata of American society. He is a trustworthy spokesperson for THIS side of the story.

Sgt. Crowley, from most accounts so far, is a decent man and a conscientious police officer. His credentials as an instructor on Racial Profiling should mean that he has a healthy sensitivity to the issue. He is a trustworthy spokesperson for THIS side of the story.

The President has also provided a substantive catalyst in two ways. His humanness as a Black man in America, and his blunt charge about how the situation was handled by the law enforcement professional demands national attention. His presence also unsettles the natural inclination to simply let this episode dissipate, or charge it off as an "isolated" incident.

Trust. This is what has been the chronic deficiency of the discussions on this topic. If approached correctly, the likely positive outcome of this conversation would be much bigger than the sum of its parts. However, if Rev. Sharpton gets involved at all, or if Rev. Jackson or President Obama say much more about it, the aura of trust will be lost. I can’t think of any other national figure that would be as polarizing as any of these men.

I’ve deliberately not assumed the guilt or innocence of either party here. All of the facts are not in, and the facts that are available may not truly be what they appear to be. But in the end, does any of that really matter? Regardless of whether Dr. Gates sues, or if Sgt. Crowley gets reprimanded, if the conversation isn’t elevated by these brokers of the public trust, nobody will win. But everybody will lose.

Just One Man’s Opinion.