Misunderstanding

After a lot of wavering and side changing, I've decided to go with the "regretable misunderstanding" interpretation of Gatesgate. Two quite probably conscientious individuals were going about their respective business and the intersections of their world lines led to an understandable but regretable...

The officer's duties led him to challenging a guy in his own home, something most of us would find quite disrespectful. The homeowner's pique, perhaps compounded by fatique, his own sense of self importance, and his position as head of a department one of whose functions is nursing a sense of racial grievance, lost his temper, made baseless accusations, and generally mouthed off to a policeman, in public, before neighbors and fellow policeman. The understandably incensed policeman took the easy way out and busted him.

Was the arrest justified? No way! Were Gates accusations or behavior just, fair, or appropriate? No way! Given the media circus surrounding the event, can either afford to apologize? Not really. What they can do is sit down, admit that they wish things had gone better and that each other's reactions were the result of unfortunate events rather than malice. If they get a beer at the White House as part of the deal, so much the better.

If one of them shows up with a big chip on his shoulder, then screw him - he had his chance and blew it.

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