U. N. Corruption branches out into prostituion-enslavement

[sonorakitch]

Voodoo,

I for one am a recent convert to the racial profiling support league. If racial profiling existed in airports on September 10, September 11 wouldn't have happend. A group of men buy a one-way ticket with no baggage and paid cash. Couple that with the nationalities and (I'll bet) suspicious behaviour, and boom, you have reasonable evidence to look deeper. Do you really think a little old lady should be equally treated as a Muslim who smells and wears fatigues? This is not racism...this is practicality. That UK shoebomber fit my above description: suspicious behavior, smelled terrible, and appeared Middle-Eastern. Of course security should search him further! The terrorists, every single one of them, responsible for September 11th was of Middle Eastern decent. And every law abiding middle eastern, if he or she shares a concern for prevention of terrorism, should accept this fact.

By the way, I am white, but I have been a minority in a country which, at the time, did not look too kindly upon whites. I lived in Hong Kong in 1999, during the embassy bombings. I was stared at, hassled, taunted, and even exposed to multiple searches at the HK Airport when I would leave and return. You know what? It never once bothered me; I understood I was a more suspicious character, and I was in their country, and exposed to their rules. And I have no hard feelings about it. There is my credibility.

~Chris

 

[allan]

Sonorakitsch, I understand what you are saying. However, the course they are taking now (searching everyone) is a sound one.

Reasons? If it was made known that only "Middle Eastern looking" people were being searched thoroughly, a Middle Eastern terrorist could easily get around that with a disguise and some good fake ID. He could even buy a two-way ticket and carry luggage too, if that would alleviate him from scrutiny. They didn't do so on the 11th because at that time, there was no percieved threat. Now that there is, wouldn't it behoove a terrorist to change his tactics accordingly? So we MUST search everybody, and take absolutely nothing for granted to let our guard down.

Secondly, just because THIS wave of terrorism came from Middle Easterners doesn't mean that there can't be copycats from other countries, or even our own. Osama's own organization is believed to include some Filipino muslims, Indonesians, and probably Chechens or Bosnians--not really "Middle Eastern looking". Plus you have the potential of action from various other malcontents--types like the Unabomber or McVeigh--who could blend in perfectly with "normal" Americans, because they are in fact native. In the field of terrorism, there is no way of predicting what could happen really. So again, everyone MUST be searched if we are to ensure that no sharp objects (or worse) get aboard airplanes.

Besides, regardless of motive, carrying such objects aboard is a violation of the law--and laws apply to EVERYBODY.

 

[sonorakitch]

allan,

I do agree with you. I have no problem searching everyone. I would just suggest to watch extra close those who are of suspicious character. And unfortunately, middle easterners are of more suspicious character than others (including little old Brooklyn ladies with tan pantyhose and chain-rimmed glasses).

Well said though. I just look at racial profiling with a more practical, and thus positive light. (I mean, I would expect to be searched more than others if I tried to enter a Mosque, and if I were a Muslim of American decent, I would understand).

~Chris

EDIT: Grammer

 

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by sonorakitch
Do you really think a little old lady should be equally treated as a Muslim who smells and wears fatigues?

That's not the question, sonar. The real question is, "Do you think that a Christian who smells and wears fatigues should be equally treated as a Muslim who smells and wears fatigues?" A true believer in racial profiling would say that the answer to that question would be no.