Close Topic Options

Racial Profiling

Racial profiling has become more prevalent as terrorism becomes more wide spread, unfortunately, most times it becomes the minority that are targeted and can lead to abuse. Generally do you think racial profiling for ANY reason is okay? An example of this... if it is more likely that an Asian will pass a memory test over a caucasian and therefore a scholarship is awarded in favor to the Asian.

Profiling Racial

Racial profiling is a two edged sword. In the last 3+ decades, all of the terrorist acts in the world have been performed by Muslims (Islamists), almost all of whom have been swarthy, middle-eastern men. Thus, people have become naturally suspicious of such men.

However, this certainly does attack the civil rights and liberty of swarthy, bearded men. And any attack against liberty is wrong.

I certainly don't have a solution.

Racial Profiling History & Civil Business Politics

I don't see this as racial profiling. If they pass the test they should get the scholarship. I don't think they should get the scholarship without taking the test.

Racial profiling is a very difficult issue. It happens even when it isn't discussed as a valid tactic. Certainly a young black male is much more likely to be stopped and questioned for walking through a wealthy neighborhood than a caucasion women would for example. This has nothing to do directly with terrorism but is based upon the same theory.

If you are in law enforcement and your years of experience tell you that it is significantly more likely that a crime occurring in that neighborhood will be committed by a black male or an hispanic male, or whatever, then how can you not allow that to affect your decisions? It is not fair, but I understand how it happens.

I can only imagine though how frustrating it must be to be looked upon with suspician for no other reason than the color of your skin or your religious affiliation. As Nighthawk has already said, what good choice do we have? If a Muslim boards and plane and flies it into a building someone will be screaming that they should have been checked out more carefully because as a Muslim they were a greater threat. If a Muslim boards a plane and is checked out more carefully than someone else and they do not fly a plane into a building someone will scream because they were profiled.

Profiling Racial

In reading what Neo stated... he did not say anything about a test being taken... 'if it is more likely that an Asian will pass a memory test over a caucasian and therefore a scholarship is awarded in favor to the Asian' as opposed to... 'An Asian and a Caucasian take a test...'. I believe what is intended is that someone presumes that if the Asian were to actually take the test it would be more likely that the Asian will pass so on those grounds the scholarship is automatically awarded to the Asian. This is very similar to racial profiling which works on the assumed position that a person of a certain race has a higher percentage chance of being a treat or in other words... if a blonde guy with blue eyes was in a room and an arab guy was sitting next to him and there was an interrogation to take place then working on the basis of racial profiling will equal arab = likely treat. In my opinion of course.

Profiling Racial

Thank you for clarifying what Neo meant. I do not think racial profiling is acceptable in the case you outlined, but that doesn't mean it is never acceptable. In a case where there is another, just as effective means to get what is needed, racial profiling should never be used. In the case where you can give a test, why skip the test? If you do, you will probably give more scholarships to asians and causcasions than you will to hispanics and blacks - at least in the US. This isn't fair. No type of racial profiling is fair. However, there are times when I see little alternative.

If there are good options that don't involve profiling (which really is just a politically correct way of saying stereotyping) then they should always be used instead of racial profiling. However, I think there are times when racial profiling may be the best option available.

Edited: tenaheff on 20th May, 2004 - 3:06pm

Racial Profiling

I agree with this statement. Is never fair but there are situations that it is necessary. I don't think it is necessary for all types of situations, specially with job's applications, I don't see the real need for it.

Racial Profiling

I agree with LDS, it should not be used for job applicants, college applicants, loan applicants. All of these have other methods that can be used and are just as effective. The risk from a mistake are less and you can take your time to do a thorough investigation into the person first. The person provides you with information about them that you can investigate.

When trying to prevent a crime, you don't have that same luxury.

Racial Profiling Politics Business Civil & History

Also it makes things so much complicated, specially if someone is from a mixed race and they do not fit in the category of 'Caucasian, African American, Hispanic or Asian'. I find to be very umcomfortable to fill aplications where they ask my race.