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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
RACIAL PROFILING TO FIGHT TERRORISM?
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:57:10 PM)
acial profiling has come to represent the most fearsome form of institutionalized racism. For minority Americans what could be scarier than the prospect of being subject to systematic discrimination by powerful law enforcement agencies capable of invading every sphere of one's life? For Asian Americans the dangers of racial profiling are amply illustrated by the World War II internment of Japanese Americans and the more recent Wen Ho Lee case.
The September 11 terrorist attack suggests a scenario in which racial profiling might not only be acceptable but necessary. Fact is, every terrorist linked to the plot was an Arab male. One wonders if the horrible tragedy that took thousands of innocent lives and plunged our economy into crisis could have been averted had our intelligence, law enforcement and security agencies been given a freer hand to subject airline passengers to intensive searches and background checks on the basis of nationality or ethnicity.
Rational Americans may question whether it is even possible to conduct a workable campaign against terrorist attacks on American soil without intensive resort to racial profiling in airports, at border crossings and hotels. After all, terrorists are fighting a holy war premised strictly on religion and nationality. Despite the obvious dangers of racial profiling, it seems reckless to suggest that the United States can fight terrorists in a race-neutral fashion. Why subject every American to the same levels of delay and discomfort when only a small percentage fit the profile of potential terrorists? On the other hand, are we ready to undermine the constitutional and moral high ground on which our society is built?
The newly declared war against terrorism may well be the ultimate test of our sincerity in rejecting racial profiling. Is it time to rethink our position?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
Racial profiling is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. And people in this country are dumb enough to believe racial profiling is going to stop an attack...no way...9 out of 10 brown people in this country are either Latino are Asian Indian Hindus. It won't work ever. That's like say if all 19 of the highjackers were Vietnamese Buddhists...there are millions of East Asians who are not Buddhist but Christian, Shinto, Tao...no one in this country can tell the difference between anybody, the only color they see is white.
bringittogther
Thursday, June 06, 2002 at 14:40:30 (PDT)
Racial profiling is a policy created of ignorance. There is no clear definition of race or any credible scientific uniform disparity between humans called "race". Vision is simply the quickest and most instinctive determination of difference, so therefore there is a propensity to give more value to classification based on visible characteristics, even when it fails to be as pragmatic as other potential organizational methods.
--Come on think... think...
johnboy
jakethesnake@wwf.com
Thursday, June 06, 2002 at 13:10:42 (PDT)
Well here's a positive aspect to racial profiling on the airlines. Asian are now sueing these airlines companies for millions. Get rich quick...just get kick off an airplane.
Only in American...litigation the true equalizer in our society.
http://asia.cnn.com/2002/LAW/06/05/airlines.asia/index.html
Unfortunately, I mostly fly charter these days. If I was kicked out of first class by some pansy ass white person, it be another million in my bank and some unfortunate white person would be looking for a new job.
This has nothing to do about life being fair. It's about how to turn a disadvantage to your advantage.
AC Dropout
Wednesday, June 05, 2002 at 06:44:21 (PDT)
"Unfortunately that is true in this country."
Agreed. That is why even as the FBI and CIA were bungling New York City cops were looking for another Louima or Diallo to beat up as the Middle Eastern gangs were sizing up the World Trade Center.
"But, so as not to inconviniece a few, all must be at risk?"
Profiling put the New Yorkers at risk and led to September 11.
"Perks? yup they have some but I don't begrudge them too much - they built the country and let me in."
Learn your American history. Why did we fight Civil War? This may give you an insight into who built the country.
"Anyway, who said life's fair?"
Life is not fair. Had the NY City cops had not been looking for more blacks or Hispanics to beat up, they might have caught some thugs trying to size up the World Trade Center while living in New Jersey...and prevented the September 11 massacre, and perhaps saved all their compatriots as well.
My suggestion to the NY City cops and the ignorant New York homeboy is to continue profiling blacks and hispanics and not learn any lesson from your stupidity.
Historian
Tuesday, June 04, 2002 at 12:52:22 (PDT)
"Unfortunately that is true in this country. But, so as not to inconviniece a few, all must be at risk?
You do not lower the risk by targeting people of color. The people who committed atrocities in this country are either whites or belong to a group at least half of whom look white (Middle Eastern origin). If someone who looks like our CNN anchorwoman who is of Middle Eastern origin ties a bomb to her waste, and you let her go, and stop and harass a South Asian Hindu or a black person...we would all be in serious trouble. That is what happened on September 11...and that is what happened with the mail box bomber. Bigotry and racial profiling does not help the cause of anti-terrorism. If the US had not learnt that lesson by now, it would never learn.
Perks? yup they have some but I don't begrudge them too much - they built the country and let me in."
No. They (the whites) stole the country from the Indians, built it on the backs of the blacks (at least in the south) and let you in. You need to get out of New York and learn some American history. Do you remember that there was something called slavery in the US South.
Anti-Profiler
Tuesday, June 04, 2002 at 12:45:40 (PDT)
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