UnclStevel
TMF Expert
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2001
- Messages
- 583
- Points
- 0
On a recent trip to California, a friend and myself discussed U.S. airport security, common sense, and airport screening procedures. She insisted that the rights of the individual came before all else, and that "racial profiling" was morally wrong, un-American, and just lead to further divisions among the many different people who live here. She could see no logical reason for profiling people other than to be racist. I, on the other hand, argued that profiling was an obvious move, and common sense. We ended our debate, her feeling that I was a heartless racist, and I feeling that she was an idealist hippie. 
The following email is one that was forwarded to me by a friend. I'm curious to see what your reaction is to this:
------------
To ensure we Americans never offend anyone --
particularly fanatics intent on killing us -- airport screeners
are not allowed to profile people. They will, however,
continue to perform random searches of 80-year-old women, little
kids, airline pilots with proper identification, Secret
Service agents who are members of the President's security
detail, and 85-year old Congressmen with metal hips.
Let's pause a moment and take the following test...
In 1972, 11 Israeli athletes were killed at the
Munich Olympics by:
(a) Grandma Moses;
(b) The night cleaning crew at Rockefeller Center;
(c) Invaders from Mars; or
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages
of 17 and 40.
In 1979, the U.S. embassy in Iran was taken over by:
(a) Norwegians from the Lichen Herbarium of the
University of Oslo;
(b) Elvis;
(c) A tour bus full of 80-year-old women; or
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages
of 17 and 40.
In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was
blown up by:
(a) A pizza delivery boy;
(b) Crazed feminists complaining that having to
throw a grenade
beyond its own burst radius in basic training was an
unfair
and sexist job requirement;
(c) Geraldo Rivera making up for a slow news day; or
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages
of 17 and 40.
In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
(a) Luca Brazzi, for not being given a part in
'Godfather 2';
(b) The Tooth Fairy;
(c) Butch and Sundance, who had a few sticks of
dynamite left over
from their train mission; or,
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages
of 17 and 40.
In 1993, the World Trade Center was bombed by:
(a) The entire cast of 'Cats';
(b) Martha Stewart;
(c) Cheese-crazed tourists from Wisconsin; or
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages
of 17 and 40.
In 1998, the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania
were bombed by:
(a) Mr. Rogers;
(b) Hillary, to distract attention from Wild Bill's
women problems;
(c) The World Wrestling Federation to promote its
next villain:
'Mustapha the Merciless'; or
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages
of 17 and 40.
On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked and
destroyed by:
(a) Bugs Bunny, Wile E. Coyote, Daffy Duck, and
Elmer Fudd.
(b) The US Supreme Court,
(c) Barney; or
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages
of 17 and 40.
Hmmm...nope, ain't no patterns here. Darned if I
know why we should ever even think about profiling.
---------------------
What do you think?
Steve
The following email is one that was forwarded to me by a friend. I'm curious to see what your reaction is to this:------------
To ensure we Americans never offend anyone --
particularly fanatics intent on killing us -- airport screeners
are not allowed to profile people. They will, however,
continue to perform random searches of 80-year-old women, little
kids, airline pilots with proper identification, Secret
Service agents who are members of the President's security
detail, and 85-year old Congressmen with metal hips.
Let's pause a moment and take the following test...
In 1972, 11 Israeli athletes were killed at the
Munich Olympics by:
(a) Grandma Moses;
(b) The night cleaning crew at Rockefeller Center;
(c) Invaders from Mars; or
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages
of 17 and 40.
In 1979, the U.S. embassy in Iran was taken over by:
(a) Norwegians from the Lichen Herbarium of the
University of Oslo;
(b) Elvis;
(c) A tour bus full of 80-year-old women; or
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages
of 17 and 40.
In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was
blown up by:
(a) A pizza delivery boy;
(b) Crazed feminists complaining that having to
throw a grenade
beyond its own burst radius in basic training was an
unfair
and sexist job requirement;
(c) Geraldo Rivera making up for a slow news day; or
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages
of 17 and 40.
In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
(a) Luca Brazzi, for not being given a part in
'Godfather 2';
(b) The Tooth Fairy;
(c) Butch and Sundance, who had a few sticks of
dynamite left over
from their train mission; or,
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages
of 17 and 40.
In 1993, the World Trade Center was bombed by:
(a) The entire cast of 'Cats';
(b) Martha Stewart;
(c) Cheese-crazed tourists from Wisconsin; or
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages
of 17 and 40.
In 1998, the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania
were bombed by:
(a) Mr. Rogers;
(b) Hillary, to distract attention from Wild Bill's
women problems;
(c) The World Wrestling Federation to promote its
next villain:
'Mustapha the Merciless'; or
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages
of 17 and 40.
On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked and
destroyed by:
(a) Bugs Bunny, Wile E. Coyote, Daffy Duck, and
Elmer Fudd.
(b) The US Supreme Court,
(c) Barney; or
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages
of 17 and 40.
Hmmm...nope, ain't no patterns here. Darned if I
know why we should ever even think about profiling.
---------------------
What do you think?
Steve
