|
|
Racial Profiling
Racial profiling has been an issue for as long as racial tensions and prejudice have existed, but it was brought to center stage following the terrorist attacks of 9/11. After the destruction of the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, anti Middle Eastern sentiment became more prevalent and some individuals even lost their lives for being of Middle Eastern descent. Another consequence of terrorism was the tightening of airport security, which went so far as to forbid the transportation of liquids and to require passengers to take off their shoes for examination. Unfortunately this also led to the unofficial procedure of detaining passengers who looked like they were from the Middle East.
The controversy of racial profiling stems from the fact that people are unable to reconcile safety with equality and dignity. A common racial profiling phenomenon entails police officers forcing drivers to pull over solely based on their racial identity and appearance. While crime rates tend to be higher in minority races, i�s unfair to assume that every member of those races participates in criminal activity. It�s strikingly similar to the practice of stopping people who are from the Middle East or suspected of being from the Middle East from passing through security simply because of the way they look. Supporters of racial profiling contend that the terrorists are from the Middle East and for the safety of our country, it�s imperative to examine every Middle Easterner. It�s better to be safe than sorry. Should we risk the lives of Americans just so we won�t hurt some people�s feelings? On the other side, opponents of racial profiling insist that it�s a violation of rights and only serves to perpetuate prejudice. It�s unfair that innocent people be subjected to detainment when they have nothing in common with terrorists besides their ancestry. Is it right to open the door to treating people based on how they look and not who they are?
Prejudice against the Middle East has generally decreased as years pass and Americans move on with their lives, but racial profiling isn�t necessarily a thing of the past. It contributes to a self fulfilling prophecy in which the victims of prejudice act as expected, reinforcing those beliefs. If society assumes that an individual is a criminal because of their race, society will alienate them and in turn, they will feel alienated and alienate society back. The only way to break this cycle is to end alienation itself, but the question is how?
Summary
It�s unfair that innocent people be subjected to detainment when they have nothing in common with terrorists besides their ancestry. Is it right to open the door to treating people based on how they look and not who they are? Prejudice against the Middle East has generally decreased as years pass and Americans move on with their lives, but racial profiling isn�t necessarily a thing of the past.
Related Articles
Race And Ethnic Relations
Related Sites
|
|
|
|