It took less than a day for the arrest of Henry Louis Gates to become racial lore. When one of America's most prominent black intellectuals winds up in handcuffs, it's not just another episode of profiling — it's a signpost on the nation's bumpy road to equality.

The news was parsed and Tweeted, rued and debated. This was, after all Henry "Skip" Gates: Summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Yale. MacArthur "genius grant" recipient. Acclaimed historian, Harvard professor and PBS documentarian. One of Time magazine's "25 Most Influential Americans" in 1997. Holder of 50 honorary degrees.

If this man can be taken away by police officers from the porch of his own home, what does it say about the treatment that average blacks can expect in 2009?

Earl Graves Jr., CEO of the company that publishes Black Enterprise magazine, was once stopped by police during his train commute to work, dressed in a suit and tie.

"My case took place back in 1995, and here we are 14 years later dealing with the same madness," he said Tuesday. "Barack Obama being the president has meant absolutely nothing to white law enforcement officers. Zero. So I have zero confidence that (Gates' case) will lead to any change whatsoever."

The 58-year-old professor had returned from a trip to China last Thursday afternoon and found the front door of his Cambridge, Mass., home stuck shut. Gates entered the back door, forced open the front door with help from a car service driver, and was on the phone with the Harvard leasing company when a white police sergeant arrived.

Gates and the sergeant gave differing accounts of what happened next. But for many people, that doesn't matter.

They don't care that Gates was charged not with breaking and entering, but with disorderly conduct after repeatedly demanding the sergeant's name and badge number. It doesn't matter whether Gates was yelling, or accused Sgt. James Crowley of being racist, or that all charges were dropped Tuesday.

All they see is pure, naked racial profiling.

"Under any account ... all of it is totally uncalled for," said Graves.

"It never would have happened — imagine a white professor, a distinguished white professor at Harvard, walking around with a cane, going into his own house, being harassed or stopped by the police. It would never happen."

Racial profiling became a national issue in the 1990s, when highway police on major drug delivery routes were accused of stopping drivers simply for being black. Lawsuits were filed, studies were commissioned, data was analyzed. "It is wrong, and we will end it in America," President George W. Bush said in 2001.

Yet for every study that concluded police disproportionately stop, search and arrest minorities, another expert came to a different conclusion. "That's always going to be the case," Greg Ridgeway, who has a Ph.D in statistics and studies racial profiling for the RAND research group, said on Monday. "You're never going to be able to (statistically) prove racial profiling. ... There's always a plausible explanation."

Federal legislation to ban racial profiling has languished since being introduced in 2007 by a dozen Democratic senators, including then-Sen. Barack Obama.

U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., said that was partly because "when you look at statistics, and you're trying to prove the extent, the information comes back that there's not nearly as much (profiling) as we continue to experience."

But Davis has no doubt that profiling is real: He says he was stopped while driving in Chicago in 2007 for no reason other than the fact he is black. Police gave him a ticket for swerving over the center line; a judge said the ticket didn't make sense and dismissed it.

"Trying to reach this balance of equity, equal treatment, equal protection under the law, equal understanding, equal opportunity, is something that we will always be confronted with. We may as well be prepared for it," he said.

Amid the indignation over Gates' case, a few people pointed out that he may have violated the cardinal rule of avoiding arrest: Do not antagonize the cops.

The police report said that Gates yelled at the officer, refused to calm down and behaved in a "tumultuous" manner. Gates said he simply asked for the officer's identification, followed him into his porch when the information was not forthcoming, and was arrested for no reason. But something about being asked to prove that you live in your own home clearly struck a nerve — both for Gates and his defenders.

"You feel violated, embarrassed, not sure what is taking place, especially when you haven't done anything," said Graves of his own experience, when police made him face the wall and frisked him in Grand Central Station in New York City. "You feel shocked, then you realize what's happening, and then you feel it's a violation of everything you stand for."

And that this should happen to "Skip" Gates — the unblemished embodiment of President Obama's recent admonition to black America not to search for handouts or favors, but to "seize our own future, each and every day" — shook many people to the core.

Wrote Lawrence Bobo, Gates' Harvard colleague, who picked his friend up from jail: "Ain't nothing post-racial about the United States of America."

___

Jesse Washington covers race and ethnicity for The Associated Press.

I was a very happy man. My wonderful girlfriend

and I had been dating for over a year, and so we

decided to get married. There was only one

little thing bothering me...It was her beautiful

younger sister.



My prospective sister-in-law was twenty-two, wore very

tight miniskirts, and generally was bra-less. She

would regularly bend down when she was near

me, and I always got more than a nice view.. It had to

be deliberate. Because she never did it when she was

near anyone else.



One day her 'little' sister called and asked me to

come over to check the wedding invitations. She was

alone when I arrived, and she whispered to me that she

had feelings and desires for me that she couldn't

overcome. She told me that she wanted me just once

before I got married and committed my life to her sister.



Well, I was in total shock, and couldn't say a word.



She said, 'I'm going upstairs to my bedroom, and if

you want one last wild fling, just come up and get me.'



I was stunned and frozen in shock as I watched her go

up the stairs. I stood there for a moment, then turned

and made a beeline straight to the front door. I

opened the door, and headed straight towards my car.

Lo and behold, my entire future family was standing

outside, all clapping!



With tears in his eyes, my father-in-law hugged me and

said, 'We are very happy that you have passed our

little test. We couldn't ask for a better

man for our daughter. Welcome to the family.'




And the message is:



















Always keep your condoms in your car!!!

A young couple joined a new church and the pastor told them,
'We require all new member couples to abstain from sex for one whole
month.'
The couple agreed, but after three weeks returned to see the pastor. The
wife was crying and the husband was obviously depressed.
'You are back so soon, is there a problem?' inquired the pastor.

'We did not manage to abstain from sex for the required month,' the
young man replied sadly. 'The first week we managed to abstain through sheer
will power. The second week was terrible and as we began the third week we were
powerless.'

The pastor asked what happened. The young man replied, 'My wife reached for a
can of paint and dropped it. When she bent over to pick it up, I was overcome
with lust and I had my way with her right then and there.

'It was lustful, loud, and passionate. It lasted over an hour and when we
were done we were both drenched in sweat.'

The pastor lowered his head and said sternly, 'You understand this means you
will not be welcome in our church.'

'We understand,' said the young man, hanging his head, 'We're not
welcome at Home Depot either.'

THREE NUNS WERE ATTENDING AN AFL FINAL..

THREE MEN WERE SITTING DIRECTLY BEHIND..

BECAUSE THEIR HABITS WERE PARTIALLY BLOCKING THE VIEW, THE MEN DECIDED TO BADGER THE NUNS HOPING THAT THEY'D GET ANNOYED ENOUGH TO MOVE TO ANOTHER AREA..

IN A VERY LOUD VOICE, THE FIRST GUY SAID, "I THINK I'M GOING TO MOVE TO BRISBANE .. THERE ARE ONLY 100 NUNS LIVING THERE.."




THEN THE SECOND GUY SPOKE UP AND SAID, "I WANT TO GO TO TASMANIA ... THERE ARE ONLY 50 NUNS LIVING THERE.."




THE THIRD GUY SAID, "I WANT TO GO TO NEW ZEALAND ... THERE ARE ONLY 25 NUNS LIVING THERE..."




ONE OF THE NUNS TURNED AROUND, LOOKED AT THE MEN, AND IN A VERY SWEET AND CALM VOICE SAID,











"WHY DON'T YOU GO TO HELL .. THERE AREN'T ANY NUNS THERE!"

MzEm I do DECLARE

Thank you 2KidsMom
And you too MzEm

Just precious

Sweet angel stirring my soul
I will always find time, for my passion you control.

Not having the presence of your amore is torture,
I'm condemned in thick rose gardens pierced by thorns.
My blood is yours, for life is within it's moisture,
Never forgetting the ever lasting commitment sworn.

Shadowed by fears of resistence and rejections
I once again seek for the hopeful expectations.

Drift apart so often we allow our fabled tale to end,
So sin filled to stop the joining of desires willed by
the creators whim.

Little drops of happiness flow with bliss.
Tingle up my spine shows I can't resist.
New kiss, now hey there's the best feeling done right.
It can come morning, afternoon or late night.

No one can predict how it'll go, but hopes are for gentle, passionate & slow.
Help me, my goodness she stole the whole show, heart pounds as I hesitate as though I have somewhere to go.

Now it's racing faster than ever before, dizzy from fantasy filled visions galore.

Hand so softly caresses the back of my neck and again she tempts me with quite more than a peck.

Look only further than open eyes bright child.
Your sparkle can light the way for many souls lost.
Bringing forth more joy as I immerse in the glory you've become.

Unyielding the flesh tingles with such ease, as we engage even the hint of erotic besiege.

Nestle closely to my sweet supple pleasure, when time allows the connection relieves mostly all of our pressures.
Thoughts linger helplessly at times so devilishly clever, who can refuse what she used to polish this tarnished forgotten treasure.

Power tames nothing as fast if not faster than greed!
Accepting the leadership of demons from your past plants that perennial evil seed!

We take very little concern with what our actions may do to others more often than we should.
Quick assessments usually lead to the wrong conclusion as we know this formula rarely is any good.

Guilty of using restless mental pragmatic tactics so I recommend you not come on to strongly.
I’m just cruising through life but not with Kate Hudson in some exclusive only in Hollywood matrimony.

A phony fixation bleeds from my arms blind to pure affection she ignores all my boyish charms.

The real lover in me addresses Miss pretty impressed by the anatomic correctness and suavity.

Since I was a lad I’ve found it best to speak the truth, like they say look in the pudding if you want the proof.

I’ve been seeking for hope from Oakland to lands where folks were speaking words I barely understood.
Nonetheless the chameleon in my soul is international and grants me a pass into any neighborhood.

Yellow is such a great color represents the Sun let me just manifest you look the best I’ve ever seen in that color dress hon.

This must be a test, my intent is to pass with flying colors like a peacock hot trying hard to impress.

I drink in these pages to my life as a graceful joust begins to challenge my heart from two sides in a sensual roust.

Toy soldiers sit lonely in apartments forgotten with walls & floors molded and rotten.
They can still step out into the night with a swagger get you into a false sense of security and pull out a dagger.

Metaphorically heart breaks into little bitty pieces; I contemplate my fate while gaining some new life leases.

The artist paints from imagination and inspiration while bringing passion out for all to indulge.
It’s hardest for me to accept rejection mixed with placation which inexplicably supports emotional revolt.

I’m tugging on fettered restraints in attempt to release the real lover in me on the world’s lonesome populace.
My shackles begin to sever and know that once they’re completely off there will be no stopping this.

to you all

I know that I’m less a man without you, but don’t seem to know how to always conduct myself as a man with you. I have a guilt that will never go away and shame that I will own until my bones turn to dust. You are such a delicate balance of tenderness and POWER; I really know that I don’t deserve you at this point and maybe never did earn your trust.
I can only hope that in the time I have remaining in your presence that my future actions show you the respect everyday you are due.
I have no honor at this point as rotten I have been to you.
You’ve completed me for years now as Mother, Teacher, Lover, and Best friend.
I took this Blessing and trampled on it so, I have no right to complain about anything in the end.
I willingly accept any suggestions you have to help me become the person you once thought of as good.
Has the road we have traveled together for so long had more bumps than scenic woods?

I don’t think it has, but two sides of these memories exist.

I want you to be happy before me and with me and when I’m not happy, its bliss.

I get so excited inside my chest when you come home and I miss you feeling that way about me.
I don’t want to be the bad part of your day anymore and feel you need to be free.
I humbly ask forgiveness for the negativity, disrespect and drama I have added to your life.
With all you have to deal with on a regular basis I should have been supportive not only financially but emotionally during times of strife.
Open up my chest and flush the present façade from where once love was born and bred.
I don’t expect anything from this letter; it’s just an acknowledgement of what’s in my toxic head.

Thank You My Lovely AngelLight

Cheers Princess

Wow!!!

1Love1 Thank You ladies

Verify the justification for a walk back down memory lane.
Shanghai the world to listen and/or read & acknowledge your every cheeky phrase.
Answers come slowly if the questions rendered are shadowed in cryptic riddles.
Dancers numb solely with stiff knees & reflections, and feet blistered, star crazed bitten as skills dwindle.
Given a chance to earn your trust I would always make you first.
This isn't about a quest for lust it's all about quenching loves thirst.
The shame is that some can’t see what’s plainly in front of their face.
I feel the undertow of bigotry guiding the ignorant sounds of hatred their voices make.
It is too common and predictable and they’re so easily convinced.
You can’t believe everything you hear and read in the present or past tense.
Lies are so readily available and we all have been wrongfully accused.
I’ve accepted guilt when it wasn’t mine to own and taken someone else’s abuse.
It happens in relationships between co-workers, lovers, friends and family on a daily basis.
Truths and lies told to us take on some of the most unusual an also familiar faces.
Feeling with your senses scrambled simply stimulates selective reasoning and preludes double- dealing.
Unfocused and unfettered is our right to be as Americans but my hopes are we’re striving to do better.
The right to feel, say, write what you want, stay at home, go to sleep or on a little jaunt.
Stand for this flag or choose to face ridicule and receive jeers at a sporting event.
If the freedom is ours at what cost does it come when individually expressing your right to represent?
Aging has a humbling effect on some who can’t reconcile with choices they’ve made on their life coarse.
Parading false effigies to disguise what’s really inside appearing to be kind and proficient in remorse.
Twiddle for longer than socially accepted and wait for the judgments to rain down in your direction.
It’s incongruously reminiscent of ye old witch burning, those stone throwers yearning for perfection.


R.I.P.
's
Michael Jackson
Farrah Fawcett
Steve McNair

Closed mouths never get fed like the man iam4u said
"GET-R_DONE"!!!!!!!!!!

great write

Yeah Man that's it

TRUE-