Christopher Hitchens with another take on Gates-gate.
For my part, I have tried to make my point of view clear about this incident. Police do occasionally overreact when provoked (unless you think rude driving and flipping the bird deserved my being stopped at gunpoint). But I also don’t think we should decide a police officer is racist because his department may have that reputation.
In other words, I actually doubt Crowley acted as he did toward Gates because Gates is black. I think Crowley arrested Gates because Gates was acting like an asshole.
I just don’t happen to think you should be arrested for acting like an asshole. It’s our god-given right, especially in our own home.