Profiling is Bad, but...

“Six Muslim men removed from a plane last fall after being accused of suspicious behavior are suing the airline and threatening to sue the passengers who complained…” (from MSNBC.com).

While I have a great deal of empathy for these gentlemen, I also have to say I’m sorry, but we aren't fighting Swedish terrorists, or Caribbean terrorists, or Japanese terrorists – we’re fighting Arab terrorists. While it’s a shame that Muslims should have to be profiled, people shouldn’t be put in a position of fearing a lawsuit because they have legitimate concerns about someone on a flight. Let’s not forget the fact that you only get one chance on a plane; once it’s in the air, if there’s a bomb or hijacking, your options are pretty limited.

While I deplore racism of any kind, we have to realize by necessity there is going to be some profiling going on here because the terrorists come, in the large majority, from one particular ethnic group. If I had been on that flight I might very well have been one of the passengers to speak up. That is what these gentlemen appear not to understand in this case.

Muslims should be taking more care when they travel; it’s only common sense, something seemingly lacking in this ‘war on terror’ with all sides. Muslims must realize that certain behaviors (like chanting “God is great” in Arabic or changing seats) will draw concern from people. It is up to the Muslim community to educate the rest of us about their religion if they feel they are being profiled for things that are, in fact, innocent. It seems to me that Muslims have somewhat isolated themselves from the rest of the population. Again, while I can understand it to a degree, from an outsider’s perspective it makes them look worse rather than making them look better.

In any event, people were only protecting themselves in this case and the lawsuit is specious and should be dropped.