Justin Barret, a captain for the National Guard, was suspended last Friday after an email of his “leaked” to The Boston Globe. And when I say leaked, I mean he inexplicably sent it, himself, to the newspaper. In the email, Barrett gave a short rant about the recent Henry Gates controversy (i.e. Gates-Gate) calling the Harvard professor and eminent scholar, “a jungle monkey.” Oh wait, hold on, “a banana-eating jungle monkey.” Nice. He went on to say, “For if I was the officer he verbally assaulted like a … jungle monkey, I would have sprayed him in the face with OC [pepper spray] deserving of his belligerent non-compliance.” Classy stuff.
Very soon after, word got out – I wonder how? OH YEAH, he sent the email to The Boston Globe! – Barret got suspended, and the media stormed in looking for a response. And the 36-year-old guardsmen came to please. Talking to WCVB-TV he said, “I did not mean to offend anyone. The words were being used to characterize behavior, not describe anyone.” Uh huh. He then went on to say, “I didn’t mean it in a racist way. I treat everyone with dignity and respect.” Yep, yep, go on. “People are making it about race. It is not about race.” I wonder, how anyone got that impression?
Needless to say, his argument was none to convincing. And the Boston Mayor, Tom Menino agrees. In fact, he wants Barret fired, and fast. Talking to reporters Menino said, “He’s gone. G-o-n-e. I don’t care, it’s like cancer. You don’t keep those cancers around.” Sayonara dude.
Comments
Jose
July 30th, 2009 - 11:17:42 AM
jeez ... not about race? ya don't say
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tyrone cracklins
July 30th, 2009 - 3:06:02 PM
you jungle monkeys !! really, is this a big deal?..if this is a firing offense, not a case where he is sent for retraining- will not the Boston govt have to now fire every official in a public service capacity who EVER can be determined to have used a racial slur... BASICALLY THAT INCLUDES ALL OF US..
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fan
July 30th, 2009 - 8:20:31 PM
When president Bush was in office, they were many time people called him "monkey", what is this has to do with race? At least we should give Justin Barret a chance to re-cvarlibate his words more carefully, even if he stand by his point and it is in his portfolio. Why can the nation's president can openly wave racial card in front of the whole nation, without losing his job and pay, and try to get away without apologizing, why are we so harsh on average citizen for no reason?
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Anniebess
August 2nd, 2009 - 10:27:08 AM
Re: Fan's post. Listen dude, why do you equate President Obama's attempts to address race with the invective Justin Barrett so freely used in his now infamous e-mail? You don't comprehend the difference? Really? Are you dim? In your words... "why are we so harsh on average citizen for no reason?" Let me get this straight - in your world "average citizens" call black academics and writers "banana eating jungle monkeys"? I think if an officer of the peace feels it's his right to spew racially charged insults around, let him eat the bitter consequences. You are right about one thing, soon-to-be-ex-Officer Barrett should get a chance to 're-calibrate' his words. (I assume you meant re-calibrate since you mangled that word pretty good.) Final note, the President admits he should not have said the Cambridge police "acted stupidly" by arresting Prof. Gates in his own home. Perhaps he shouldn't have uttered the words - but he was doggone right about the unwarranted police action!
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Mark
August 5th, 2009 - 4:38:17 AM
Jungle Monkey? Let me see, being Caucasian myself I find this offensive and in my minds eyes this Justin Barrett is "DONE" in layman terms Should be "FIRED!" People placed in positions to protect the people should in no way cause any pain, grief, or concern whether or not they'll do their duty when needed.
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Sharky
June 7th, 2010 - 12:43:38 PM
Under the UCMJ, Captain Justin Barret's comments can qualify for "conduct unbecoming of a commissioned officer." Depending on how much pressure his chain-of-command gets, Captain Barret could face official charges. Unfortunately, racism in the USA has not be eliminated but instead driven under ground as indicated by this incident. As long as we suppress freedom of speech we will not know the true state of our social regression.
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