Profiling, good or bad? Profiling has become a hot concern ever since the investigations into New Jersey state troopers for profiling. While at first glance it seems inappropriate and unfair, it does serve a useful purpose. During the New Jersey investigations, a black minister, with homey logic, explained, "When you're going fishing, you go to a pond where you know there are some fish." Makes sense to me.
If profiling is done with sinister motives, most would agree it is inappropriate. Like so many other human actions, the motive behind the act must justify the act. In the case of terror threats, which are difficult to detect and when detected require urgent action to save lives, some otherwise unacceptable action must be taken. Those who are profiled but innocent of any wrongdoing or affiliated with terror threats, are themselves benefiting from the profiling. Their safety and that of their families is also protected by the profiling. If there were other ways to protect the population from the horrors of terrorism, it would be used. In the absence of better ways to ferret out killers, profiling should be standard. I'm certain that if some other group were responsible for all or most terror activity, those now being profiled would want them profiled. That's the way it works.
I believe that much of the objections to profiling is the way it is conducted. If those profiled are treated properly and not made to feel like criminals, objections would be minimal. The problem arises when some over zealous profiler abuses people.
If you are one of those who believe profiling is not a legitimate tool to protect us from terror under any circumstances, offer an alternative that would be as effective. If you have none, remember, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
If profiling is done with sinister motives, most would agree it is inappropriate. Like so many other human actions, the motive behind the act must justify the act. In the case of terror threats, which are difficult to detect and when detected require urgent action to save lives, some otherwise unacceptable action must be taken. Those who are profiled but innocent of any wrongdoing or affiliated with terror threats, are themselves benefiting from the profiling. Their safety and that of their families is also protected by the profiling. If there were other ways to protect the population from the horrors of terrorism, it would be used. In the absence of better ways to ferret out killers, profiling should be standard. I'm certain that if some other group were responsible for all or most terror activity, those now being profiled would want them profiled. That's the way it works.
I believe that much of the objections to profiling is the way it is conducted. If those profiled are treated properly and not made to feel like criminals, objections would be minimal. The problem arises when some over zealous profiler abuses people.
If you are one of those who believe profiling is not a legitimate tool to protect us from terror under any circumstances, offer an alternative that would be as effective. If you have none, remember, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
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