Profiling or Security? Take yer pick

That's brutal Susy. I would ask that woman, what do you want more another WTC attack or a 2-3 hour wait? I think a lot of other countries have tighter security than we do. I remember going through security at DeGaulle airport in France and I thought they were quite severe! It never occured to me at the time that N. American airports were lax...

Everyone here makes good points. I think that what we have to remember is that although these searches, etc. are a valid precaution, they can be used incorrectly. In the article, flight attendants are being groped during searches. Don't you think the flight attendants are being searched JUST for the opportunity for some loser to grope them? I do!

Doesn't it seem to you that there is a difference between "racial profiling" and harassment? If some OTHER short, fat redheaded caucasian woman has committed a robbery (say a jewelry store), and I'm pulled over and searched, that's inconvenient for me, but it's understandable, don't you think? It would be a waste of time for them to be searching tall, willowy longhaired blondes. That's my point.

On the other hand, if someone somewhere has developed a hatred for short, fat, redheaded caucasian women and I can't ever drive anywhere without being pulled over, searched, called bad names, inconvenienced and generally mal-treated, I think that's something else entirely. And I think we all know that this has indeed happened and carries on happening today (not about the short fat redheaded caucausians, however).

So if the people in charge are looking FOR someing specific, I think that it's reasonable to look AT people who resemble that specific description. I don't agree that it's okay to search Everybody who meets that description in every possible situation; BUT if the person meets the description AND is doing something that COULD be harmful then that's more of a reason to look. So if there's a rash of jewelry store robberies by short, fat, redheaded caucasian women, and I'm entering a jewelry store, I'd have to expect to be getting the fish-eye. Not to have my car pulled over and be searched at every intersection, but I think being the subject of more attention at the jewelry store is reasonable.

Other than that, no.

Just my opinion.

Love

Dennie

P.S. There's something I've never understood about airport security in the US. In Europe, if you check a bag and then don't get on the airplane, the airplane won't leave until they've taken your bag off. Why don't they do that here? I used to be net buddies with a guy high-up in the FAA in Chicago and he said that blah blah blah, too much work, blah blah blah, expensive, blah blah blah time......

Seems like a reasonable thing to me, though!

Love

Dennie

Dennie, you rang a bell with your comment on baggage. My friend and I flew from London to San Antonio, and he missed the connection in Houston. I remember being shocked to see his bags on the carousel, which, as you say, would never have happened in Europe, and that was in 1994!

I was searched before a flight and I am a red headed, green eyed, dumpy old nurse....and you know....i was glad...it made me feel safe....so if you have nothing to hide get in line behind me and take your old smelly tennis shoes off for that poor guy to look through and quit yur b....ing. We complain and complain about racial profiling and and all the other foes in this land until finally we have tied the hands of those that protect us and we end up with situations like 9/11. We just do not learn do we? Remember we are all AMERICAN and we must all do whatever needs to be done to keep all AMERICANS safe. If you are a dark AMERICAN of arab descent and you get searched just remember to feel great that your country is trying to protect you from those that would harm you. It was not just 'white' Americans killed 9/11.

Good point, Traumajunkee!!

From one red headed, green-eyed dumpy old nurse to another!!

Love

Dennie