What is the problem with profiling? Actually HOW

[nadinbrzezinski]

it is done by US Police Agencies, which is not what profiling is ABROAD... and why we will need a new word for it when, if ever, we move from security theater to well security.

I was profiled the other day when I few from Mexico City. How do I know? It is standard operating procedure.

Alas they were not looking at my race... white... or national origin, US... they were looking at BEHAVIOR.

Yes the race, and national origin play a role, but... the next to last time I travelled they MADE ME OPEN my bag BEFORE it was checked... this would never happen in the US by the way.

Why?

When I got to the ticket agent I was sweating profusely... (damn changing of age) and fit a PROFILE. So what if I were white and American? So I took out my keys, opened the bag, and they did do a physical check... they did use a dog, and swab it for explosives. In other words, they did their damn job to keep the flight safe.

This time, well my body behaved... but you can count on it I WAS profiled.

Of course they also did other stuff TSA ain't gonna do. Out of my view, they checked bags that went into the belly of the plane using both drug and bomb dogs...

They also started observing me and my husband BEFORE the taxi entered the main grounds to the terminal... that is what outside perimeters are.

We had to go through the theater REQUIRED by our government, but that theater is not the main body of the security at that airport. Alas doing that HERE... will mean changing procedures, and mostly attitudes. Oh and it wil require the kind of yes, lets use the term you don't like, profiling, that many here will feel invaded about. I must say, having a person actually making sure I am who I claim I am not just once, but several times, is a small sacrifice I am willing to make. But a patdown... on 95 year olds, with no other probable cause than they are on a wheelchair, is just stupid. By the way, if you are nervous that an 95 year old can take a bomb on board a plane... (and indeed it could happen)... that is what bomb dogs and bomb sniffers are for... but those cost money and are not as profitable to the security apparatus, and unless you come from cultures were dogs are considered dirty... far less scary as well.

I know some folks will defend TSA regardless. The nature of this is that to some fear is such that yes, all they do to keep you "safe" is best. Some of us just point and laugh. The holes are so damn large that if a terrarist wanted to breach security, it be child's play. Hell, they do not need to breach it to do damage to be honest, again child's play.