(no subject)

[apocalypsos]

A Salon article about that "Terror in the Skies, Again?" thing that's been going around. I didn't read it when I saw the links to it, mostly because nearly everybody's reaction to it that I could see was, "OMG, I'm never getting on a plane again!" and I'm terrified enough of planes as it is.

But now that I've read it, I'm disgusted. Seriously. I mean, I'm a little conspiracy theorist at the best of times, but I don't think I've ever been this paranoid. *eye roll*

Comments

[seferin.livejournal.com]

I know you are going to hate me for this, but I need to play devil's advocate for a moment. I feel the need to better define the position, since the person who wrote this article did a poor job.

My fear on planes is not from dark skinned people, nor is it Muslims. It is people who act in a manner, which is suspicious. One way tickets. Gathering in groups, and signaling each other. I can see this bothering some people.

I have a solution. No, seriously, I do. All inspectors should be black. Think about it. Anyone who has been pulled over for DWB is going to be more sensitive to racial profiling and will not likely profile without a good reason.

Also, the profile should apply to foreigners. Not Americans. Why? Because Muslims in America, I think, are less likely to want to blow people up. They are more likely to enjoy the freedoms we have, and are not willing to lose them. They likely have access to different points of view. You know why? Because the issues we have with radical Islam are less likely to occur here because we are not as tyrannical. Think about it. Here, they can disagree.

I am not scared of Muslims. I don't worry about someone who is dark skinned. I worry about a foreigner with a one-way ticket who is on the plane and speaks with an accent. Someone who needs to carry a lot of bags on the plane, which get lighter, unless they are eating from it.

I will admit to being prejudiced. I think many people are. So when I think back to the Muslim Secret Service agent, who was not allowed to board a plane with his firearm, I do not think it was because he was a Muslim, but perhaps because his paperwork allowing him to do so, was incorrectly filled out, multiple times.

You know the difference between profiling and a profile? A profile is when you have foreigners buying one-way tickets, INTO America. Profiling is saying, “Dark skinned man! Flee!” The terrorists were all foreigners. To me, that means that you should watch foreigners. Not Americans. How do you tell the difference? Accent. Dress. Mannerisms. I am the first to say that we should not be profiling. But what percentage of suicide bombers who attack the West are foreigners from Arabian countries? I think ANYONE who buys a one-way ticket should be looked at. I think ALL bags should be looked at. I think anyone who does not speak with an American accent should be looked at more carefully.

I am willing to admit I am wrong. Please do not insult me while proving me wrong. Just use logic.

Agreed?

[mareklamo.livejournal.com]

I think anyone who does not speak with an American accent should be looked at more carefully.
Well, if your objective is to weed out foreigners, looking at their passports might be more reliable. Not only do some foreigners speak with an American accent, some Americans speak with a foreign accent.

[seferin.livejournal.com]

True. But there are certain mannerisms and accents which might cause issues. In addition, I do not think America has any schools to indocrinate to the degree of those countries.