Anyone Notice Hell is Freezing Over?
Today I'm watching Tucker Carlson on MSNBC. I don't like Tucker Carlson; when I think of him it usually brings the phrase GOP-apologist asshole to mind. In light of the latest almost-terror event (thanks to Great Britain for getting the job done!), my pal Tucker was talking about what garbage it is that we are too politically correct to accurately target potential terror suspects in airport profiling.
Dear God, I agree with Tucker! It may not be politically correct, but we should be targeting those who have proven time and again they are most likely to participate in terrorist plots - young, muslim men. The 80 year old African American woman being targeted is most likely not a terrorist, either is the Asian woman traveling with 2 small children. The Caucasian Jewish senior citizen couple are most likely not a terrorist threat, either is the 40-ish Latino guy traveling with his wife and kids. Yet all these types incur increased airport security scrutiny rather than targeting those who are most likely to do the deed.
If 9/11, the Spanish rail incident, and the London tube event have taught us anything - it's that young, muslim men are more likely to be terrorists than any of the other "types" I've mentioned. Although I am as concerned about discrimination as the next person, profiling to combat terror is necessary - to stop events before they happen; to use our limited security resources with the most efficiency. So in spite of the fact I am a liberal, and support individual human rights to the highest degree, I do think targeted profiling has a legitimate place in effectively fighting terror.
I know this may not be a popular view. And although I never meant this opinion hurt any friends who read my infrequent posts, I feel very strongly about this issue. We live in a dangerous world, I cannot reconcile the value of political correctness with the resulting horror of an executed terror event that could have been avoided if only the terrorist was profiled before the event.
So I agree with Tucker - but I still think he's mostly an asshole.
Dear God, I agree with Tucker! It may not be politically correct, but we should be targeting those who have proven time and again they are most likely to participate in terrorist plots - young, muslim men. The 80 year old African American woman being targeted is most likely not a terrorist, either is the Asian woman traveling with 2 small children. The Caucasian Jewish senior citizen couple are most likely not a terrorist threat, either is the 40-ish Latino guy traveling with his wife and kids. Yet all these types incur increased airport security scrutiny rather than targeting those who are most likely to do the deed.
If 9/11, the Spanish rail incident, and the London tube event have taught us anything - it's that young, muslim men are more likely to be terrorists than any of the other "types" I've mentioned. Although I am as concerned about discrimination as the next person, profiling to combat terror is necessary - to stop events before they happen; to use our limited security resources with the most efficiency. So in spite of the fact I am a liberal, and support individual human rights to the highest degree, I do think targeted profiling has a legitimate place in effectively fighting terror.
I know this may not be a popular view. And although I never meant this opinion hurt any friends who read my infrequent posts, I feel very strongly about this issue. We live in a dangerous world, I cannot reconcile the value of political correctness with the resulting horror of an executed terror event that could have been avoided if only the terrorist was profiled before the event.
So I agree with Tucker - but I still think he's mostly an asshole.