Racial profiling of arabs is wrong



Once again the cry has gone out in local media that this practice is being conducted by the TSA and that the practice is wrong.

I understand your feelings, but let's consider the following facts:

First, It was young Arab men that participated in the heinous acts of 9/11. Secondly, the heinous acts of 9/11 is why we now have the TSA. Thirdly, in order to save time and money - your target those MOST LIKELY to target you. And finally, racial (or ethnic), age, income, and gender based profiling are already being conducted everywhere already - and no one ever complained. It's simply considered 'good business'. Think I'm kidding?

Tell me, when was the last time you turned on a local Urban Hip-Hop radio station and heard some Rock and Roll, or perhaps Country and Western? When was the last time you turned on the Television and tuned in to Univision for some good ole comedy about four white middle-class un-employed youngsters who, although cannot keep jobs, appear to be able to keep their Greenwich Village apartments? When was the last time....

Well you get the picture. Profiling goes on every single day. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen. In every sense, businesses have been doing this and it's considered good business. Now, people are being inconvenienced - and this is what we as Americans cannot stand. And we can stand it even less when the inconvenience is directed at a particular group. That group rises up and screams foul.

Now I am in no way saying that people in America, who appear to be from the Middle East, are all terrorists. But does it really make sense to screen 80 year old grandmothers and one year old babies as possible terrorists? No. Not really.

But don't get too weary, dear reader, the TSA has seen the error of their ways and is now in the process of creating new and improved methods to eliminate those who need not be screened. These processes will streamline your whole airport experience. And what is this new and amazing process that is going to save so much time and money? What is this magical method of de-screening?

Quite simply, the TSA has decided NOT to screen any Congressman, Senator or high ranking Judge.

So there you have it. Our government at it's best devising ways to help each and every one of us get through the airport lines faster. Well, each and everyone of us that is a Congressman, Senator or high ranking Judge.

Now, I'm not saying this isn't simply a brilliant idea. But the last time I checked there were only a couple hundred people in our nation that fell into this category. And, last time I checked, most of them traveled through a single airport. So really - this isn't helping much.

Finally, I don't know who's brilliant idea this really was - but I seem to recall that one Edward "Ted" Kennedy (Dem. Massachusetts Senator) is on the "No Fly" list and that he has been stopped a couple of times at airports. Supposedly the Senator, who has the misfortune of using the name Ted, has the same name as suspected terrorist T. Kennedy. According to newspaper reports of 2004, it took the Senator and his staff three weeks to get his name removed from the "No Fly" list.

Now is it me? Or does that statement sound strange. First, his name is Edward Kennedy and he goes by Ted. Why not just use your real name Edward? Secondly, instead of fixing the problem - the TSA apparently REMOVED the suspected terrorists name from the list? Great, thanks. So, I'm guessing now that suspected terrorist T. Kennedy can breeze right on through the TSA checkpoints because he has a name similar to an Massachusetts Senator.

Great going.

Posted: Wed - August 3, 2005 at 07:44 PM   If this blog entry was of use to you, why not show your appreciation by donating to support the site? Just click on the MAKE A DONATION button on the right hand side of the page! It's all handled by PAYPAL.
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