Terrorism and Racism

[shad2007]

I no longer completely hate the city of New York. While the vile Yankees, loud and stupid Yankees fans, pushy people, and constant smell of urine still receive their fair share of my loathing, elected officials in the Big Apple have gained a little respect. Okay, so not all of them, but two in particular: state Assemblyman Dov Hikind and City

Comments

In Defense, Part One

[shad2007]

Okay, I respect your opinion, and I know that you do hold your opinions rather strongly. I'm glad that you were at least able to provide some evidence to back up your thoughts too. Most people can't even supply that dignity in their response. However, I want to point out some inaccuracies in your comments, and hopefully help you and everyone else understand my point better. As is always the case, I couldn't supply every reason I support the policy, but thanks to your heads-up help, I can now try to add some more reasons. But first, to correct the problems with what you wrote. I'll try to go in order.

-It's true that I've personally never been a victim of racial profiling. However, I've also never had an abortion, but yet I am allowed to have an opinion on that. I've never fought in the army, but I have thoughts on war. And even still, I'm not really "agreeing" with racial profiling. I only support this type of idea because the situation is a matter, literally, of life-and-death. If some people get upset but everyone is safer in the end, then that pragmatic approach is worth it to me. Admittedly I'm not in the group being singled out, and I can't imagine my response if I was. But that's not my position in life so I'm not going to pretend. My position is a white, middle-class American. So that's the group of people that I am most concerned with. Not saying I hate any other group, but just the same way that you associate most with black people, I associate with white people. And that's certainly not a point of contention, or at least shouldn't be.

-The idea of profiling suspected terrorists does not mean that every Arab-looking person is automatically picked out of lines and embarrassed in front of everyone by being inquisitioned. Terrorists seem to have a certain profile, from what the experts have written. Nervousness, excessive cologne (that's what they say), one-way tickets...all these things help complete the profile of a terrorist. And until these characteristics change, they are safe to look out for in future suspects. I definitely would not support the searching of a Middle Eastern grandmother any more than a white grandmother. But a dangerous looking white guy deserves as much suspicion as a Middle Eastern guy. But if you start searching white guys, you're gonna have to end up searching the majority of people in the country, and since white people perpetrated a very small minority of past terrorist actions, that plan is impractical, and simply the brainchild of PC-bullshitters.

-Don't accuse America of "raising and harboring" terrorists. That in an unfair description. Crazy people like the Unabomber are certainly not harbored by America. We don't hide them or refuse extradition after they commit atrocities. Likewise, we don't avoid punishing them after they commit crimes. America is in no way similar to Syria, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and a dozen other countries which are physically liable for harboring terrorism. Terrorist camps in Syria are known about by the CIA. You think the Syrians don't know about them? Bull shit. These governments hate America, so they allow all these terrorist assholes to collect their lowlife kind and train new recruits inside their own borders, because it wouldn't be "right" for America to attack these camps without the countries' permission, even though we know they are used strictly for hate. I know you're not ignorant, so you should be able to understand this point.

-Over the past twenty years, far too many acts of terrorism have been committed by young Arab men to ignore. To claim that they don't deserve special attention because it is demeaning is ignoring history. Obviously it doesn't mesh with the liberal tradition, but for me, safety is my #1 concern. If some people didn't act up, they wouldn't ruin it for the rest of their group.

-The innocent man in London shouldn't have run from police during such a time of heightened national panic. If he cooperated, the truth would have come out. And saying that "he fit the profile so they wouldn't have let him go free in court" is bull. That's just showing a lack of faith in the civilized judicial system.

In Defense, Part Two

[shad2007]

-As for the Jewish thing, I can't argue that most of us look white, and therefore can avoid some profiling, some of the time. It's obviously harder for a minority whose skin is colored to do the same. But there are still characteristics that make it tougher to avoid such profiling. Jews have big noses, that seems to be widely known. Last names like Goldman, Steinbaum and Freedman don't give it away either. Why do you think so many actors and entertainers have had to change their names to get into the business? Just looking white doesn't always solve everyone's problems, you know. Jews have had it plenty tough in the past, we just managed to overcome our obstacles, work hard and perservere. Mostly because we didn't complain and just put our heads down and worked. So don't tell me that being Jewish doesn't result in singling out. Quite frankly, that's a load of crap.

But I really am glad that you got the balls to be honest and call me out on shit I say. That's better than most people.

So let me clarify my position a little. I support profiling because it is practical, and it is necessary. The time for acting politically correct has passed and we must actually do something to protect ourselves before another 9/11 or worse occurs. We haven't seen another big terrorist act in America since the Patriot Act was passed, and the terrorists haven't given up on us, of course. I sense a direct correlation. Cry about civil liberties if you want, but my life hasn't been affected by it, and I'm pretty goddamn sure yours hasn't. I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority of our acquaintances haven't had their library records searched or anything of that nature either.

If just about all of the major terrorist actions of the past twenty years hadn't been committed by young Arab men, there would be no logical reason to support this policy. I am not counting abortion clinics as major actions. However, just about all of the major terrorist actions of the past twenty years HAVE been committed by young Arab men. So excuse the fuck outta me for trying to be logical and practical and attempt to stop those who appear to be doing all of the doing. If Arab-looking people aren't acting suspicious, they won't be targeted. But police and safety officials should not have to be afraid of looking racist simply because 8 out of 12 of their searches are Arabs. I just want people to be able to do their jobs, and if this is what it takes, then so be it. Let the fundamentalists explain to their fellow Arabs why they are being singled out. It's their fault, not mine. And I'm not going to feel unsafe going on a plane, train or boat just because some bleeding-hearts don't want to hurt peoples' feelings by singling them out. That's just life my friends.