If anyone has doubted the power of the police in American society, today their power was front and center. President Obama was asked a question about the unjust arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. during a prime-time news conference earlier this week and commented that he thought the police had acted stupidly in arresting a man in his own home for no cause other than that the officer did not like his behavior and that race could have played a factor.
The city of Cambridge, Mass. dropped the disorderly conduct against Gates and apologized to him, though the police officer and the police department refused to do so and held their own conference in response to Obama. The police chief said it is “disgraceful” that Obama is president and demanded that he apologize for maligning the Cambridge police department; the police have the right to arrest anyone in their own home if they so choose!
Well, today, Obama apologized in a news conference. This issue pinpointed two of the touchiest issues in American society: race and police power. The media storm showed how childish they are when it comes to race issues and how utterly devoid of thought they are when it comes to the police. No suprises there. Christians, however, need to speak the truth and stand up to the police.
