Automatic Respect?

A while back, Preznit Obama held a "Beer Summit" between a white cop and the black Harvard prof that he arrested at his home. There's been some sort of report just issued with an analysis of the event. One conclusion struck me as odd;

The report suggests that Crowley could have more clearly explained what he was doing and why he was doing it, especially after being shown Gates' license and university ID. For his part, Gates could have used a more respectful tone to address the officer.

Essentially, the report criticizes both parties and legitimizes the arrest of a man for being "disrespectful".

Got that?

The cop was investigatingng a possible burglary at the home.. the man showed the cop his identification showing who he was and that it was his own home.. and the cop arrested him for for being "disrespectful".. and now this report legitimizes that by blaming the victim for not showing due deference to the cop.

Being disrespectful is not a crime.

What a terrific example of the horrors of the American justice system. You have a Constitutional right to be an asshole. You can give a cop the middle finger and tell him to go fuck himself. That's not illegal... but in the US, it might just get you busted, or busted up.. because the cops think respect should come from simply wearing a badge.

Fuck that.