Americans Support Racial Profiling

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'm dark. I'm male. I used to be in my 20s until recently, lol. I fly quite a bit. I've driven across the US-Canada border quite a bit.

I believe I've been profiled many times. More times than I can count.

With one exception, every time I believe I've been profiled, the officers were (IMO) thorough yet completely professional and courteous.

With one exception, I've never "felt like a criminal".

The VJ poll is now 32-9-5

Do you object to being lumped together with those who are?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

With one exception, I've never "felt like a criminal".

Do you object to being lumped together with those who are?

'Lumped together' sounds like we're all being stuck into a big barn together or something. Not how it happens at all. It either comes in the form of additional questioning by the nice TSA man, or in one case at a land border crossing, they had me take a seat in an office while they searched my car. In either case, I was not lumped together with anyone.

So, no.. I do not object. I object when they're a$$holes about it, but for the most part they are nice people just doing their jobs

[Traviesa 0]

Whatever-I got special selected for the extra special searches on two of my recent flights and it wasn't a surprise to me-I looked different from most of the people travelling on the flight (I was white and everyone else was Mexican). I had to have both of my bags searched plus hold my arms out to the sides and all that and I never felt like a criminal. Because I knew I wasn't. Nobody can make you feel like something you're not. And I was expecting it, so it didn't bother me. Was I profiled? Probably, being the lone white girl, but whatever! In the name of security, for the sake of everyone's lives on that plane, they can check me and they can check all of us if they want-I would rather be safe than sorry!

[Jenn! 918]

So, no.. I do not object. I object when they're a$$holes about it, but for the most part they are nice people just doing their jobs

I have no problem with people doing their jobs either. But should it be anyone's job to look for people who are not white? Could you imagine if that was your job description?

[bhajishah 4]

OYE PEdroh!!

My step brother is white, his name is Andre, he is american citizen, has an executive jobcame here from IRan when he was 16

where would he fit in

[Traviesa 0]

I guess it comes down to the question of why are some people determined to play the victim and get offended? A couple of us already have said that these things have happened to us and we weren't bothered by it...is it so hard to accept that someone might actually not be bothered by it?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

With one exception, I've never "felt like a criminal".

Do you object to being lumped together with those who are?

'Lumped together' sounds like we're all being stuck into a big barn together or something. Not how it happens at all. It either comes in the form of additional questioning by the nice TSA man, or in one case at a land border crossing, they had me take a seat in an office while they searched my car. In either case, I was not lumped together with anyone.

So, no.. I do not object. I object when they're a$$holes about it, but for the most part they are nice people just doing their jobs

OK going back to the other example - would you object if everytime you go out in your car and pass a police officer, you are pulled over questioned and searched?

Just seems to me there's an aspect to this of "guilty till proven innocent" and it you object to the policy that it must mean you have something to hide.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

So, no.. I do not object. I object when they're a$$holes about it, but for the most part they are nice people just doing their jobs

I have no problem with people doing their jobs either. But should it be anyone's job to look for people who are not white? Could you imagine if that was your job description?

Appearance is one factor in an overall criminal profile. It is a factor, but never the only factor.

My sister is female (obviously) but besides that she is also dark and young. Like me. She never gets profiled. Ever.

It isn't just about appearance. There are other factors that make up the overall profile. I'm guessing male is one. Age is probably another.

OK going back to the other example - would you object if everytime you go out in your car and pass a police officer, you are pulled over questioned and searched?

Is there a rash of car thefts going on in the area? Is it common knowledge that an Indian gang is trying to invade the turf of a Latino gang in the area? Is it common knowledge that the Indian gang members are young, Indian and mostly male?

If yes, then no.. I wouldn't object. The profile is the profile.

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

One of the folks arrested as part of the foiled jet bombing plot the other week was actually a caucasian male, as was the so called 'shoe bomber'. Would racial profiling have 'detected' these people? I'm not sure…If the powers that be call it what it is, namely religious profiling, I'm sure the public debate would shift enormously.

From my own experience I did find it a little bit odd flying out here in 2004, to see a middle-aged irish couple stopped and having their bags rifled through while a mid 20's white guy travelling alone could apparently walk straight through unchallenged, carrying two black bags.

irish people are not white?

[Jenn! 918]

I guess it comes down to the question of why are some people determined to play the victim and get offended? A couple of us already have said that these things have happened to us and we weren't bothered by it...is it so hard to accept that someone might actually not be bothered by it?

Well, is it hard to accept that someone IS bothered by it? I sure do believe that people can make you feel like something you're not.

Sure, I know most people would think that I have a chip on my shoulder, overreacting, uber-sensitive, what have you. That doesn't justify treating people differently because of the color of their skin. Where does it stop? Wouldn't it just be safer to put all Arabs in internment camps?

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

It surprises me that for having such a diverse crowd here on VJ, the percentage of votes "for" is higher here than the national.

easy, because they are white americans that will never be profiled. As someone stated in the poll, people that are for is because they've never been profiled, they don't know what it feels. As someone who has been profiled before for stupid reason, I'm against it. Unfortunately the non-minorities think its fair, but they've never been in a minority shoes.. and I don't think they intend to be simpathetic with them

middle aged white guys never get profiled? you've never seen a hunt for a serial killer eh?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Where does it stop? Wouldn't it just be safer to put all Arabs in internment camps?

Obviously you have to draw the line somewhere and reasonable people can differ on precisely where.

middle aged white guys never get profiled? you've never seen a hunt for a serial killer eh?

Yeah, why are all the sickos who kill people and eat their livers and crazy ####### like that... always middle aged white men who like to fukc children and never had a girlfriend in their lives?

What's up with that?

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

I'm dark. I'm male. I used to be in my 20s until recently, lol. I fly quite a bit. I've driven across the US-Canada border quite a bit.

I believe I've been profiled many times. More times than I can count.

With one exception, every time I believe I've been profiled, the officers were (IMO) thorough yet completely professional and courteous.

With one exception, I've never "felt like a criminal".

The VJ poll is now 32-9-5

Do you object to being lumped together with those who are?

oh btw, when i flew to go pick up my car when it arrived from germany in 2002, i was "selected" for having my bag totally taken apart and checked. so much for racial profiling eh?

[Jenn! 918]

Where does it stop? Wouldn't it just be safer to put all Arabs in internment camps?

Obviously you have to draw the line somewhere and reasonable people can differ on precisely where.

Fear turns reasonable people into unreasonable people. If we start a precedent, when the going really gets tough, the groundwork will be there to do "what's really necessary".

[Traviesa 0]

I guess it comes down to the question of why are some people determined to play the victim and get offended? A couple of us already have said that these things have happened to us and we weren't bothered by it...is it so hard to accept that someone might actually not be bothered by it?

Well, is it hard to accept that someone IS bothered by it? I sure do believe that people can make you feel like something you're not.

Sure, I know most people would think that I have a chip on my shoulder, overreacting, uber-sensitive, what have you. That doesn't justify treating people differently because of the color of their skin. Where does it stop? Wouldn't it just be safer to put all Arabs in internment camps?

No, that's taking it wayyy too far. I do, however, think that there should be many more security measures taken for people boarding planes. To be honest, I would be happy if EVERYONE were searched in such great detail. I don't know if that would ever be a possibility, probably not time-wise, but I know I would feel a lot safer flying. In the meantime, I don't mind if I'm singled out for a search-as far as I'm concerned, that's just going along with my civic responsibility, and I hope that other people could feel the same way, rather than get all up in arms about it. Just let the person see your bags, hold out your arms, and be on your way. Be happy that they do check people-maybe, like they did in London, they'll stop the bad guys from getting on your plane.