I think that the problem is that we SHOULD be looking at profiling. Not racial profiling, but rather, behaviour profiling. For example, if your only profiling basis was men paying for a one-way ticket in cash, and with no luggage, for a transcon flight, the Sept. 11 tragedy could have been stopped. Whether caucasian or middle-eastern, that behaviour should have been a tip-off. After all, if we limit ourselves to racial minorities, we could let an airline-equivalent of Timothy McVeigh slip through the cracks. Mike Gammon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Givens" <jgivens@comcast.net> To: <AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU> Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 5:06 PM Subject: Re: If Baha and I lost.... > On 12 Aug 2002 at 16:53, Nick Laflamme wrote: > > > Suppose the TSA accepts the simple-minded premise that ethnic and religious > > profiling should be used to screen airline passengers. > > As much as it goes against everything of which this country was founded and as > repugnant as the thought is, one cannot deny that there are many many people of a > dangerous warped philosophy that share in overwhelming numbers several obvious > physical characteristics. This cannot be denied. Couple the obvious commonality in > certain traits with the degree of hatred and possible death and destruction that can > be caused, it is very easy to be led along this path of profiling for security measures. > It is quite conceivable, when looked at in the global perspective, that the very > quality of life we enjoy, if not our existence as a free democratic nation, is in grave > peril. > > Like it or not, agree with it or not, this cannot be denied. > > Look at from another perspective: My 4 year old has chicken pox. What was my first > thought? Smallpox. > > Who, even 1 year ago, would have thought that? > _____________________________________________ > > mailto:jgivens@comcast.net > > A random MP quote: > "Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?"