TSA Accused of Racial Profiling During Airport 'Chat-Downs': Is Racial Profiling OK?

You're the 2nd person I've seen to post that link. It's WAY too long to read right now. Care to sum up?

Replace all the TSA agents with "people of color" (isn't white a color?), or an Hispanic, (do they have to speak English?), or people directly tied to the Middle East (no matter what they believe) and we will solve the racial profiling issue, and the ACLU will be happy, as well as the liberal media. To hell with the majority!

Majority of what? White people make up 1/4th of the world's population. You drank the Kool Aid, huh? You do the math.

Given that the article is referring to the TSA, I think the rest of us figured out that the question is referring to them and, therefore, limited to the US. "Do the math" indeed. (And I'll betcha that if old dark-haired white guys were common terrorism suspects in Europe, every country over there would have zero qualms about pulling me aside for special screening).

In actuality, they should! You are just as likely to hijack as a black man, in fact moreso according to actual reports of past highjackings. That is the point! This is only a racist bunch of BS, as most things are in the US, and most people don't even recognize how racist they are because they never actually do research, perhaps because it is too much to read, and that folks, is the American way! Reading is fundamental. But they took that ad off of TV . . . wonder why? An uninformed populace is far, far easier to deceive and lead astray, and make fearful. Hmmmmm . . .

Also, you have 8 people, 2 of them (1/4th) are black, 6 of them (3/4ths) are white. There are oh let's say 50 places to live. Can those 2 black people be a majority in any of those 50 places, let alone several of those 50 places? Food for thought!

Rich, unfortunately I do know the numbers and the majority, I was referring to the people of the other color that work everyday to support the real "majority", who, by the way, have way more rights then both you and I.

I see.

We are not in a Race War. If we were I would say, this is a crazy question, of course. Unfortunately we are in a war with a corrupted branch of Islam and it would be crazy if we didn't take that into account.

In a perfect world I would not say profiling is proper, but in today's world, I say if "it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, well you know the rest.

Sometimes needed.

In some cases racial profiling is necessary. I used to get upset with racial profiling when I was young because it seemed the police and store owners always targeted young Black Men. After enough young Black men targeted me (stealing my car, breaking into my home, stealing my wallet, etc.) I began to understand because in order for me to stop these things from happening to me I myself had to start racial profiling my own people. Never once was it a white that committed these offenses against me,

You must understand that offenders use racial profiling to pick their target many times also.

I refuse to allow offenders to hide behind "you're racial profiling me". If you are innocent, go through the simple process so that we all can remain as safe as possible. Let the DAMN TSAs do their job to help keep us safe while we're miles in the air, is that a much to ask for?

Wow!

In this case yes

No, and it does not work. Terrorist groups will simply seek out followers in the community of people they seek to harm. In our case they will find disillusioned young men and women in our impoverished cities and turn them into weapons. They will not be so bold as to even do it themselves. Race does not determine ideology anymore than sex determines sexuality preference.

Tell tale sign of a moron...Anyone who uses the word "infidel". That includes the 72 virgin idiots and the muricah' crowd.

No it's not ok but every one should be all treated the same what ever your color..

Whether we like it not its still being done on a daily basis, everywhere. Be it at work, on the street, in a store, subways, buses, etc. The TSA definitely need to put more efforts in training their agents. This is not a derrogatory comment nor intended to offend anyone, but notice how white older men with a badge often look down on hispanics and blacks.

To a degree, yes. But is it racial profiling or just profiling. Once passing through customs, the agent asked me some probing questions while maintaining good eye contact. Was this because he was profiling me or just doing his job. And, while we are at it, another question. The politically correct definition of profiling is ALL white person's treatment of ALL people of color. Is that not correct? People of color are never guilty of profiling . . . . . And, are not we "infidels" targeted for removal?

How many bouncing red headed 10 year olds have blown themselves up in the last few hundred years? Many little 90 year ladies in wheel chairs have taken the Jihadi plunge, right?

Life has no value to a terrorist, they would kill anyone, they would strap a bomb on a baby, child, and elder. Children are used as drug mules all the time because they are least likely to be questioned. While some one is getting profiled the suspect can attack.

This report is BS. I fly 2 times a week, and sometimes into logan airport. I film TSA regularly using sunglasses camcorder. I have seen that they do racially profile but for the wrong reason. I have video. I have Video in Baltimore where they patted down only white people for over 1/2 hour because they are less likely to be complainer. Was only white people flying out? NO! About 60% were white. So who are we looking for? Who has attacked our country? Extreme Muslims. Not all middle eastern decent. Should we check small children and grandmas? NO! They have never taken a plane over. We should profile, for the people who might be terrorists and not abuse ALL people looking for only 1% of the people.

I should be more shocked to see how even this poll result is but I'm not. Not from the prejudice I've seen on this site. Really lets down all the decent people here.

Perhaps "all the decent people here" need to start using their heads instead of their hearts.

Prejudice is a two way street . . . . . .

Don't know if I'd say "decent" because I'm sure there is intent to be decent, but there sure are a lot of really uninformed folks on this site.

I contend that one man's racial profiling is another man's common sense. It is looks like a duck, walks like a duck,......If 99.9% of illegal aliens are of Hispanic extraction why should we waste time an resources looking for blue eyed blonde people crossing the border illegally. Same goes for Muslims. Can anyone tell me of any blue eyed blondes flying planes into buildings, bombing buildings, cars, and buses, or blowing themselves up? Profiling yesterday, profiling today, profiling forever!

Hmm, wasn't there someone else who championed blue-eyed blondes..? Now who was that again... Whoever it was, I'm sure he didn't bring about any bombings... Oh wait... :/

Not into buildings, but the Germans and the Swedes did some stuff. Go find it for yourself. Tired of doing research for people who don't actually read anything but what they think they already know!

No. There is no specific profile for a terrorist. The most beneficial approach is to pay attention. Judgement is the most important asset any officer or agent of any organization has at their disposal. If race were the only motive for action in this day and age the jobs of these groups would be a lot easier.

Can't help but say yes. If there is a certain demographic notorious for certain crimes, it makes sense to profile. It's worth it when it saves 150 people from being blown up in a plane.

Of coourse on a counter point, how many plane events has the TSA prevented or averted? NONE.

Check the history and see if black men or women are prominent in that "demographic notorious for certain crimes" or how many Australians, Germans and Swedes have hijacked. Are they "notorious" too?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Where did I say "black men or women" in my post? Nowhere.

Uhhhh, Mr. Touchy . . . wasn't that part of the subject of the post? What did you read? And then who were you calling "notorious for certain crimes", which indicates that perhaps you needed to read that link, hence my posting it.

TSA agents at Boston's Logan airport are being investigated over claims of racial profiling of "Middle Easterners, Hispanics and blacks." According to USA Today, "the chat-down program at Boston and Detroit airports is at the fore of TSA's effort to focus security on the riskiest passengers, rather than treating all travelers the same."

Should we start profiling little kids and old people for drugs, explosives, and weapons instead?

There are plenty of Middle Eastern jihads out there who would love to strap a bomb to their chest and jump in a crowd of "American infidels" and kill several people. Blacks make up 13% of the population, but commit a much higher percentage of crimes, so it makes sense to be wary of suspicious behavior. I'm not saying profile every black, Hispanic, and Middle Eastern passenger; just profile those who seem to be suspicious. If a white male is seen acting suspicious, then they should investigate. What's worse? Racial profiling or another 9/11? America needs to stop being a politically correct pussy and stand up to facts. And don't call me Mr. Touchy.

Did you actually look at the link to see who actually hijacks planes? If not, we really don't have anything to talk about, as you seem to prefer to stay in your world of "what you have decided" to be true, instead of what is.

It just makes sense.

Whatever it takes to keep us safe! Even though I thought it was silly to frisk my 88 year old mother including removing her shoes before boarding a plane to Ireland!
I prefer to error on the side of caution!