Crash course for D.C. cop

Washington police inspector Andy Solberg, who made a racially insensitive remark at a Georgetown community meeting, was ordered yesterday to prepare a lesson plan for the police academy based on Crash, the "best picture" that people love to love and love to hate. The comment came after a white British citizen was killed (allegedly by four black suspects) in the ritziest section of D.C.

The inspector's insensitive remark? "This is not a racial thing to say black people are unusual in Georgetown. This is a fact of life."

The first substantial scene in Crash? Two affluent white folks curtail their suspicion but are carjacked anyway by two streetwise black men in a ritzy section of Los Angeles.

I hope Solberg watches the whole movie, in other words. Perhaps Matt Dillon will teach him a thing or two. In all seriousness, I think it's good that D.C. police are not only aware that Crash exists, but also assigning it as homework. Sure, the movie is derided for leaning on and (in some cases) reinforcing racial stereotypes. But talking about this stuff is good, right? I'd love to sit in on his lesson plan, especially if he gets it wrong:

"Good morning cadets. A few lessons I learned from Crash. Never trust your Hispanic locksmith. Never let your Iranian daughter buy your bullets. And never disregard anything Tony Danza says."

Next post: Meryl, and The Devil Wears Prada, and why there is no chance in hell she will be nominated for a best actress Oscar.