In times of war and when there is a threat to our nation, your rights can be restricted. The freedom of speech can be ‘quieted’ if you have plans to tell the general public something that might evoke chaos. The government restricts the rights of individuals to protect the greater good. In recent years since the terrible events on 9/11, people view this period as desperate times. Of course nobody wants to see another horrible situation like that, so the government has taken certain measures. The security at airports will use racial profiling in hopes of stopping a terrorist. If a passenger looks of Middle Eastern ethnicity, then they will most likely have a difficult time boarding a plane because they might ‘look’ like a terrorist. They will have the most possibility of having to go through a ‘random’ luggage check. At time these baggage checks can be somewhat humiliating and degrading. However, the general public might view this new precaution as needed change. It is alright to use racial profiling if it means saving thousands of lives. However, some of these Middle Eastern looking people are as much American as you and I. If you are born in America, then that’s makes you American and qualifies you full citizenship. Should these individuals be treated differently? I understand that stricter security is a necessity, but does that mean that a group of people should be classified as the ‘highest threat’ and then treated as such. How would you feel if you were the object of this ridicule? Maybe this form of racial profiling is needed to keep us safe. Or is America just being a little racist?
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Airport security
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2 comments:
This is an interesting twist on the points made in your blog. I actually flew to Florida this weekend so I spent a couple hours in an airport going through all of this security. My experience was not a bad one. I got through security without a problem. At times it does seem a little excessive. I had to get rid of all my liquids, the water that I just bought had to go in the trash can. Then before going through the metals detectors, I felt like I had to undress. I had to take off my jacket, my belt and my shoes. I had to take everything out of my pockets, take off my watch and sunglasses. I also had to pull my laptop out of its bag to pass through security. So, once I was dressed again and gathered all my belongings I was able to head to my gate. I am not complaining about the process, just letting you now how some of the processes work. Although I got through security with out a problem others around me did not. A few passengers where flying out of the country and were put through a different process than I was. There were searched by guards and also had their luggage passed through metal detectors as well as hand checked. I no not know why the extra precaution was necessary but those two men were the only ones that I witnessed go through this process. Although this may not have been racial profiling, I do believe that some passengers are treated differently than others. I do not think that passengers should be forced to go through extra security measures just because they look differently. There should be reason beyond appearance that calls for extra security measures. Also, I don’t think that labeling one “race” over another will better protect America from future terrorist. To begin with, What defines a “race?”
Thanks for your insight ncrunner. I myself have never flown on an airplane yet and I appreciate the vivid details of some of the precautions that you had to endure. Yes, the procedures can seem a little excessive, but by no means am I saying that this is the wrong way to go about things. If our security calls for a little extra precautions, then that is fine with me. I simply want those in charge to take the same drastic measures to search every citizen. You witnessed firsthand that sometimes people are treated differently because of the fact that they may 'look' like a security risk. I agree with you that there should be reasons besides appearance to take extra security measures. Your question, "What defines a 'race'," is something that I am still trying to find the answer for. Who has the power to classify a group of people as a certain race? Why is there a need to separate individuals in the first place? These are all questions that I am asking.
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