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Published Letters: 4
Very thoughtful piece. It's going to be between people and their consciences in the privacy of the voting booth when many final decisions will be made. If people get themselves to the polls in the first place.
Enjoyed the piece, especially the phrase "the woman who launched a thousand talk shows" and the line from "Wonderful Town." ("Why, Oh Why, Oh Why, Oh -- Why did I ever leave Ohio?")
What "Phantom" and Professor Gates don't seem to realize is that black or not, the only way to address a policeman is "Officer" or "Sir" or "Here's my driver's license." Or in Professor Gates' case: "Thank you very much for coming to check on the situation." You make no sudden moves. You don't raise your voice. That is how I behave and how everyone I know behaves and that's how I would tell my teenaged sons to behave. You actually DO want an officer to come if a neighbor reports forced entry into your home. So help the officer do his job effectively and efficiently by being polite and sensible. I think Professor Gates was just tired after a long flight.
On this subject read a great book by University of Chicago political scientist J. Eric Oliver. It's called FAT POLITICS: The Real Story Behind America's Obesity Epidemic. Published by Oxford University Press.
