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GOLDSEA |
ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
RACIAL PROFILING TO FIGHT TERRORISM?
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:57:08 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.]
NYhomeboy:
Hey man, thanks for your post. That was really cool of you.
"It seems unbelievable that only a few decades ago that there were lynchings and persecutions of blacks, Chinese labors and the Japanese internees."
Perhaps if people read about and understood American history better we'd stop fighting and look for some common ground. We keep perpetuating separatist beliefs because racism in America offers something for every race at certain points. We tend to play on each others fears and team up with another ethnic group in order to enjoy when it's someone else's turn to be discrimminated against.
Example: It's acceptable to pick on Asians whenever US/China/Taiwan tensions heat up. Bullshit like boycotting Chinese restaurants and "sending them back to where they belong" when "they" are actually American born citizens of Asian descent.
"I am telling you that on a person to person level – racism can be overcome - even with the most ardent white racist skin head"
I'm gonna agree with you to some degree, yet hold some reservation. Working in corporate America, you see alot of racism. Yes, there are equal employment, affirmative action and civil rights laws on the books to protect minorities to some degree, but it's still difficult to deal with the kind of racism that affects your job status, salary increases and performance appraisals. I'm convinced that some people are just evil. They want racism to survive in order for them to remain in power.
NYhomeboy, enjoy your holiday.
Geoff DB
GeoffDB02@aol.com
Thursday, July 04, 2002 at 01:03:11 (PDT)
"I remember that when I was living in Ohio, that I had heard that some fundamental-christian (vast majority are WASPish extractions) pastors had debated in the past whether Blacks had souls!"
They still do...go to Dillard or Cumming, GA. I actually heard a sermon from a "mainstream" church in Cumming, not long ago through the internet.
"Even amongst themselves the white discriminate each other based on which side of tracks they are from."
That is why we have never had an Italian or East European American President.
"Even amongst themselves the white discriminate each other based on which side of tracks they are from. I mean that on an individual level don¡¯t we initially categorize/discriminate people we meet by their looks, their height; clothing; manner of speech; behaviorism?"
Depends on the profession. If you hire engineers based on looks you are sure to be sued out of your last penny.
"racism can be overcome - even with the most ardent white racist skin head – provided of course your first encounter isn¡¯t at the wrong end of a bat."
I will let you do it!
"I also think that many whites suffer from inferiority complex or are threatened by the new comers and manifest their fears via discriminatory behaviors."
If I cannot do simple arithmetic without using calculators, I would too.
"As person of color (marked man) in a white dominated society, the colored man does have a disadvantage but much of it can be ameliorated with diligent individual efforts.'
Not true....unless of course the proportion of whites (or whoever is in the majority) falls. There is a lot of Anti-white racism in Hawaii...and ditto for Washington DC. What we need is a fewer blacks in DC and more blacks or Hispanics in Texas. In fact, if I were a Hispanic in NY or Illinois, I would consider moving to Texas...I would have more say.
"Having lived most of my adult years in NYC I have not your southern experience. But on the other hand, if you concede/accept that the whites in this country at least ¡°are born with an upper hand¡±, but take the attitude that you will that extra step, that you will pay that extra price, and without bitching - then I believe you¡¯ll find the field to begin tilt in your favor or at least level it."
What you are saying is true, but under only one cumstance, with the possible exception of Vermont and Maine (where whites tend to be progressive)......whites would not have an upperhand if they are also a minority...I see that here in Arlington, VA racism and racist incidents have dramatically declined since 1979...and the reason is simple...whites are a minority like the rest of us. When they were a majority racism was the way of life here. And by the way out in Texas, a black man is ahead of the white man in the Texas Senate race.....in a traditionally racist state....why? because the whites are becoming a minority. The black man may not win this year, but it is an indicator of what racist whites in Texas can expect once they become a minority like the rest of us...and by the way....America would be really respected abroad after whites in this country become a minority like the rest of us! And this day can be advanced if we do away with the immigration diversity lottery which favors whites and increase the quota for skilled immigrants which tend to favor the Asians.
Historian
Wednesday, July 03, 2002 at 12:09:12 (PDT)
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