Racial profiling in NYC transit security: Should Muslims wear crescent moons on lapels?
Two NYC politicians recently urged NYPD to begin racial profiling of those using the NYC Transit system in order to catch possible terrorists.
(Aug 3, 2005 10:40 am US/Eastern)(1010 WINS) (NEW YORK)
The city began examining passengers' bags on subways and buses after the second bomb attack in London two weeks ago. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and Mayor Michael Bloomberg have said several times that officers will not racially profile. But over the weekend, state Assemblyman Dov Hikind said police should be focusing on those who fit the "terrorist profile.'' "They all look a certain way,'' said Hikind, a Democrat from Brooklyn. "It's all very nice to be politically correct here, but we're talking about terrorism.'' And on Tuesday, City Councilman James Oddo, a Republican from Staten Island, said that his emotions relating to the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attack by Middle Eastern men in hijacked airplanes caused him to publicly declare his support for Hikind's statements. "The reality is that there is a group of people who want to kill us and destroy our way of life,'' he said. "Young Arab fundamentalists are the individuals undertaking these acts of terror, and we should keep those facts prominently in our minds and eyes as we attempt to secure our populace.'' Oddo commended Hikind for "rushing headlong against the strong undertow of political correctness.'' Hikind said he planned to introduce legislation allowing police to racially profile, and Oddo said he intended to introduce a resolution in the City Council supporting the measure.
Do all Arab terrorists look alike? Judging from the attacks that occured in London, the answer is no. At least three had dark skin and were from African nations and Jamaica. In addition, their ages ranged from early twenties to mid-thirties. I might add that some Islamic terrorists may appear "Jewish." What this means, I don't know, but I dare say that Arabs and Jews come from the same part of the world. If a terrorist wanted to avoid looking "Arab," why wouldn't they just shave their beard and moustache, dress in the dark suits of Hassdic Jewish men, and carry a briefcase full of explosives and nails?
If such a Trojan horse strategy worked, would Assemblyman Hikind mind if the NYPD started targeting just Jewish-looking men?
For that matter, why not target all Italian-looking men for suspicion of being in the Mafia? Terrorism is awful, but so is organized crime. How much damage is inflicted on the economy by mob-run construction companies, drug running, and illegal gambling?
Targeting a whole community sounds tempting and simple. But in the end, it isn't the best way to stop terrorism. After all, after the U.S. Government locked up all the Japanese-Americans during WWII, the Japanese Empire still killed thousands on G.I.s in the Pacific. Ironically, young kids in the concentration camps enlisted in the military to fight in Europe. The real problem is that our intelligence agencies aren't good enough to locate the real terrorists.
That leaves simple minded blowhards like Dov Hikind come up with policies that do nothing but punish people just for looking like an Arab. I mean, should Arabs walk with crescent moons pinned on their clothing? Will that make the police efforts to check their bags simplier? Why not just make it a law that all Arabs should report daily to their local precincts?
Dov Hikind. Dumbass.
(Aug 3, 2005 10:40 am US/Eastern)(1010 WINS) (NEW YORK)
The city began examining passengers' bags on subways and buses after the second bomb attack in London two weeks ago. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and Mayor Michael Bloomberg have said several times that officers will not racially profile. But over the weekend, state Assemblyman Dov Hikind said police should be focusing on those who fit the "terrorist profile.'' "They all look a certain way,'' said Hikind, a Democrat from Brooklyn. "It's all very nice to be politically correct here, but we're talking about terrorism.'' And on Tuesday, City Councilman James Oddo, a Republican from Staten Island, said that his emotions relating to the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attack by Middle Eastern men in hijacked airplanes caused him to publicly declare his support for Hikind's statements. "The reality is that there is a group of people who want to kill us and destroy our way of life,'' he said. "Young Arab fundamentalists are the individuals undertaking these acts of terror, and we should keep those facts prominently in our minds and eyes as we attempt to secure our populace.'' Oddo commended Hikind for "rushing headlong against the strong undertow of political correctness.'' Hikind said he planned to introduce legislation allowing police to racially profile, and Oddo said he intended to introduce a resolution in the City Council supporting the measure.
Do all Arab terrorists look alike? Judging from the attacks that occured in London, the answer is no. At least three had dark skin and were from African nations and Jamaica. In addition, their ages ranged from early twenties to mid-thirties. I might add that some Islamic terrorists may appear "Jewish." What this means, I don't know, but I dare say that Arabs and Jews come from the same part of the world. If a terrorist wanted to avoid looking "Arab," why wouldn't they just shave their beard and moustache, dress in the dark suits of Hassdic Jewish men, and carry a briefcase full of explosives and nails?
If such a Trojan horse strategy worked, would Assemblyman Hikind mind if the NYPD started targeting just Jewish-looking men?
For that matter, why not target all Italian-looking men for suspicion of being in the Mafia? Terrorism is awful, but so is organized crime. How much damage is inflicted on the economy by mob-run construction companies, drug running, and illegal gambling?
Targeting a whole community sounds tempting and simple. But in the end, it isn't the best way to stop terrorism. After all, after the U.S. Government locked up all the Japanese-Americans during WWII, the Japanese Empire still killed thousands on G.I.s in the Pacific. Ironically, young kids in the concentration camps enlisted in the military to fight in Europe. The real problem is that our intelligence agencies aren't good enough to locate the real terrorists.
That leaves simple minded blowhards like Dov Hikind come up with policies that do nothing but punish people just for looking like an Arab. I mean, should Arabs walk with crescent moons pinned on their clothing? Will that make the police efforts to check their bags simplier? Why not just make it a law that all Arabs should report daily to their local precincts?
Dov Hikind. Dumbass.
posted by Alan at 9:33 AM
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