racial profiling screening on airlines

 

Scanning the news this morning to get the latest,I heard a few of the pro/con guests on different shows and two of them got my attention. Shouting
their views at each other was a bit distracting from getting the most out of it, but the gist of it was about
racial profiling.

In this instance about targeting muslims getting on planes,since they seem to be the only  ones that  are consitently creating terror and havoc by using planes  as in 9/11,or in mass terror as in the plot that was foiled in the UK  last week.

This is a complex situation we are facing ,and there is legitimate questions on both sides. It is a time for calm dialogue to explore all aspects and not the kind of quick emotinal biased words that come from ones own agenda. Uncontrolled shouting and anger isn't going to help anything.

We certainly  should put more effort into how we screen passengers, and it is reasonable to be suspicious of Arabic type people. As sad as that fact is, it is more sad to use political correctness and allow a possible catastrophe like that which was planned, and foiled, thank God, and all who were alert enough to stop it.

It is established fact that Al Qaeda has been recruiting non-arabic people for this very reason. The story of the non arabic family from the UK who was going to use their baby for carry on explosives is frightening.

So what is the answer? As I write this, a plane from the UK landed in Boston Mass. instead of continuing to Washington , because of  a woman who was found to have items that were restricted and should have been
found when screened at Heathrow Airport. The whole story isn't in yet,but they are now saying the report so far is not accurate,she was just claustrophobic. So this will be an all day media puzzle of just what went down!

So we can see how unsettling and confusing things are at present,not only concern over being blown to bits, but the terrorists are also achieving  disruption  without having to do much of anything except plant suspicion  in our heads.

So once again the question, what are we going to do about it? I'm not in any position to tell anyone how to run the show. But I do have an opinion that I feel it's my right to give.

First of all the public should know (if they aren't all fools) that authorities can't keep everyone safe, all the time.It just isn't possible. If you choose to travel by air you should be prepared for anything. No one can keep us totally safe from terrorists . Somewhere someone will be successful with their plan. That's just a plain fact.
The terrorists know this and just keep planning for their next attempt.

So if you must use the airlines, keep in mind that you are at risk. Also, help yourself by knowing and following all of the do's and dont's especially about what luggage you can take on board. You should also know the waiting time and all the rest of the setbacks in air travel is not something that whining about will help It's best to prepare your attitude for the experience and be as calm as you can, and most especially face the truth.

As for the screening, I think we need to be extra careful with the Arab population and if that bothers other people, that's too bad. I doubt the Arab population would protest if, say (Italians for example) were  using terror on aeroplanes and therefore being screened more carefully than others. It is foolish to deny truth just because some politically correct people object to it!

It all comes down to using reason. We can't expect to have our nation, and its leaders continuously held to ridicule by the media, fostering  confusion and chaos by voicing their own opinions according to their own agenda,which thereby distorts the truth of any given situation they report.

It is up to us to sift out truth by finding several sources of news and views of others we rely upon for accuracy.
Not just to believe any reporter who happens to be speaking at the time.

We are in the most  precarious time  our world has ever faced. It's like fighting a world of shadows, never knowing who is coming at you. With terrorists there is no army or homeland to attack. Just people using any method they can devise to attack us and other people the world over, who have different views than theirs.

It is time to use common sense, to try to seek peace and harmony wherever it can be found, and to spread it among ourselves. But also,to  be realistic and speak truth. We know who the enemy is and all peace loving people must unite  shed our differences, and to defend ourselves against the terrorists as best we can.


etw-2006