I have been a fan of Dr. Gates for years, as I’ve seen many of his programs on PBS.

Those who know me, know that my mother is Puerto Rican, yet through the interplay of genetics I resemble my Danish-lineage cousins more than my Puerto Rican cousins.  Working in Florida, with green eyes and only slightly olive skin, weekly I am confronted with racists who do not realize my heritage.  But those remarks are demographic.  Hardly ever do I hear any comments from people my age or younger.  Still, race and bigotry are real.

But in my opinion, that is not what was experienced by Mr. Gates.  Here is a link to the police report.  Read it, and come to your own opinion.  To me, this event is not about the bigotry and racism that unquestionably exist.  Rather, this event is about a man of privilege who used his race and connections, as a means to belittle others.  That is not the kind of honorable action, I would expect from his public persona!

There were witnesses to the event, and the police report indicates Mr. Gates' actions we confrontational and degrading.  The Police are here to protect us.  They give their lives to protect us.  And yes, sometimes they do stupid things.  But I feel Mr. Gates was acting like a bully.  I should congratulate him on demonstrating, not the story of race in America, but privilege in America; with his quote, “You don’t know who you are messing with…I’ll meet your momma outside.”

He's lost a fan, and set back those who experience true discrimination.