Profiling at Airports
This past weekend I took my parents to the airport after they came to visit. Since I live in Las Vegas and it is a fairly large airport (a little bit bigger than Will Rogers!) you have to be there at least two hours before your flight. I know all airports require this but in larger airports it’s a necessity. My family is fine with it in fact most people I know are fine with it. My family is also okay when we are pulled to the side and screened, even though I am active duty, and my stepdad and brother-in-law are both retired military. But is this necessary? What if there was a way to screen people on the likelihood of a terrorist act being committed. There is, it’s called profiling. Gasp! Yes the white guy just said that.
In Israel people can board an aircraft with tubes and bottles brought from home and the reason is profiling (HAARETZ.com). As I stated earlier most people don’t mind the security measures. However I am always amazed when TSA pulls aside the little old lady or crippled man wearing his WWII veteran hat just to keep things fair. Why does everything have to be fair? Why can’t it just be right? I suppose the word “right” is subjective.
I hate that there is a need for profiling but there is. No, not all Muslims are terrorists. Should people pay for the sins of their brothers? I say yes. However I understand the ramifications that come with profiling and it could never been done as it should be, with tact and taste.
I hope I didn’t offend anyone that is not my intention. I hate that I feel this way. I was not raised that way. I feel that it is our duty to protect people if possible. I know Richard Reid was a white Muslim and profiling likely would not have caught him, it is true some will slip through the cracks. Because some may slip through should we not try?
A funny thing happened after writing this. Before I posted it I decided to talk to some co-workers about profiling. I changed my opinion about profiling. Well kind of. The only way I would be for it is if there was an effective non-intrusive way. There never will be an effective way to do that so TSA will just have to keep pulling little old ladies over to the side and hope that deters anyone who might attempt a heinous act.
Works Cited
Pfeffer, Anshel. “In Israel, Racial Profiling Doesn't Warrant Debate, or Apologies” HAARETZ 01 Aug. 2010. Web. 31 Mar. 2010
“Terrorist attacks in the U.S. or against Americans.” Inforplease.com. Information Please Database, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2011
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ReplyDeleteBrad, I agree that profiling can be a touchy subject. I also agree that sometimes it seems ridiculous the people that get pulled aside to be checked out more thoroughly in the airport security areas and some of the people that are not pulled aside to be checked more thoroughly!
ReplyDeleteI recently had a strange experience at an airport here in the states while going through the screening process. Everyone went through the line, pulled off shoes, jackets, belts, jewelry, etc. and put all belongings on the conveyor line to be x-rayed. I did exactly the same as everyone else. I then went through the x-ray machine. The worker told me to put my hands above my head and not to smile. I did exactly as he said. He then commented on the fact that I had a straight face and did not smile. I said that it was because I was doing what he told me to do! After that, they pulled me aside and said they were going to frisk me. They asked if I wanted to go somewhere private. I said, "no, not really!". They then did a VERY COMPLETE pat down and even went so far as to swab my hands for chemical traces I assume. I was amazed that I had to go through all of that AFTER getting the full body x-ray and following instructions! At my next layover, no one said a word to me! Craziness!!!
I saw some people breeze through the line that I personally would have pulled aside. Is it fair to those muslims that are peaceful people to be profiled? No, of course it's not. But, who's fault is that? It is the fault of all the muslims that decided it was their duty to be terrorists in the name of ALL muslim people! Just my thoughts.
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