Suspicious ? Or "just" discrimination ?

Question

Hmm, let's put it this way : suppose you looked like an Arab, how would you feel when you're systematically double checked at the Immigration desk ? I quiet often travel accross the English Channel (whether by ferry, Channel Shuttle, Eurostar or just fly...) I always experience the fact that my European Union passport (or ID) are bouble checked although the informations showed on the sreen match with the holder. Having travelled hundreds of times accross the Channel or around the world, I do know that deep checks are processed towards people of Arabic ethnicities whether they come from North Africa or The Middle East... Moreover, these people undergo totally unjustified police checks on the road, no matter if they're driving or just walking, most of time as normal as enjoying themselves... OK, Britain is more respectful of freedom although it's sadly increasing these checks.. But in France or Belgium it's much more different and very embarrassing at the end. Enough ! Please...

Answer 1

I have been to Europe and had to go thru a massive search - as a blonde with green eyes yet. Upon entry into the United States I have had to go thru such.

I think some people take it more personal than others.

Think of it this way - if people that had been making threats towards you all had blonde hair and green eyes - wouldn't you want those type of people double checked? *I* would - and I have both of those attributes!

Answer 2

First of all, let's put things right and call a cat a cat. To answer you question mate, i'd say yeah, it's both suspicion AND discrimination.

Suspicion coz Arabs are quiet related to terrorism by the mass media , despite it's not the "reality". 99% are good whereas 1% aren't, like any other ethnic group. As for an example, it's not because you're a yank that you're good : many terrorists were white Americans or from other Western countries.

Terrorism is a Western tactic invention, since the crusades up to nowadays ; wasn't France the first country that hijacked an air plane, on behalf of its own government ?
Let's say that nowadays, terrorism can be used by any one in the world although it's blamable.

It's also discrimination coz these checks concern mostly and mainly people from a specific group. Arabs should not be the only ones to suffer double checks and sometime humiliation. This is why you can call it discrimination and i do know what you mean. I can imagine how you would feel when you see "white" people queueing in front of you proceeding out almost without being checked at the immigration, and when it gets to your turn, you're checked and questioned for 20 minutes or more. It's just a shame.

Everyone, no matter where they came from should be treated equally. There are certainly other ways to track and find terrorists where they are...

Answer 3

Think about this, during WWII, they had the Japanese Internment camps in the US. The real japanese americans that didn't want to harm the country, went with it. They knew that if they interned one spy, it could help the country and it was worth it. Is it right to do it? I'm not sure, but innocent people shouldn't have anything to worry about. Searching doesn't take that long, it's happend to me every time I travel.

Wouldn't you rather you're flight be delayed five minutes than die because they let a terrorist on the plane?

Answer 4

It's something that every race has to undergo sometime in history: discrimination. Unfortunately for you, right now there is a lot of profiling and stereotyping towards Arabs in traveling manners. Don't feel bad though, since I am a victim of this also (I am Hispanic) and here in the U.S. I get pulled over by the police a lot because they think I am an illegal immigrant. Sometimes I can tell they don't want to believe me when I show them my license. Eastern Europeans who immigrate to Western nations also face a lot of discrimination. Just try to do your best and set an example of who you really are, and ignore all the stupid people who try to lump you into one category.

Answer 5

Not to worry! technology is advancing very quickly, and soon face and voice recognition software, and safe particle ray systems will render everyone equal in being safe and secure. Retina scans from across the room, further reduction of what is acceptable to carry on public and private transportation systems will make for a problem free environment. You don't have anything to hide, do you? Of course not.

Answer 6

I am blonde and fair and I've gone through pat downs on 'random checks' at airports 3 times, once when I was with my family. I wonder how much of this is racial profiling and how much is sensitivity of the people being searched?

Answer 7

If I looked like some people that were terrorists then I would expect to be checked and double checked. That's what is required. If the terrorists were mostly blue eyed blonde's then I would expect to be double checked. Its not discrimination its a fact of life . Id want to be checked and everyone else check that fit the profile checked too. Id rather be safe and inconvenienced, that dead .

Answer 8

I feel much less sorry for you than I do for the 70 year old white lady with arthritis who gets pulled aside and searched, simply because she was the n-th person to come through. They really do that.

Actually, I think the Western Eurpean countries and the US have gone out of their way to make things as easy as possible for people from the Mideast. Consider yourself lucky, because if most of us normal Americans were in charge we would worry about security, not your feelings. Toughen up, get over it.

Answer 9

well when some random guys can just up and crash planes into buildings in the name of their god...well you gotta expect more security....its a shame that you got caught up in it as collateral damage you are not the only one ...but wouldn't it be so much scarier if they didn't properly screen people at all

Answer 10

Welcome to the " suspiciously brown" club........ we are currently considering Hispanics for induction as well. But once you are in the club, you cannot subject other members to the discrimination you suffered. This particular rule will prove difficult for many to follow.