Racial Profiling

Williams argues that racial profiling unacceptable, and that it resolves nothing. She states that our helplessness in times of fear and chaos prevents us from making rational and right decisions. A nation that values liberty and rights has forgotten all its values and foundations overnight due to fear. Americans were willing to embrace racial profiling and some even torture, for the protection and the prevention of more terrorist acts that may strike us.

William explains that there is no way to tell a person's thoughts; we are not mind readers. She claims that racial profiling is nothing but guess work. Many have been arrested and many people's rights have been violated in the name of protecting the country. The very freedom that set the foundation of our country has been stripped away with the Patriot Act. She also argues that prevention of terrorism acts such as the events of September 11 is nearly impossible.

I agree with Williams that racial profiling can resolve very little. Racial profiling not only takes away the rights of people who are most likely law abiding citizens, but it degrades and scars many innocent people. However, if we were to find some sort of justification in this wrong-doing, we are all only human. Human beings cannot always act with reason, especially in a time of such crisis. There was national fear; the unexpected attack alarmed and spread horror with a frightening speed. I am not implying that this justifies racial profiling, but it is the best excuse for the actions and decisions American have made. The magnitude of the horrendous event and the fear that it has installed throughout the nation is the only excuse for people to act the way they do, if that can even be used as an excuse.

As Williams has stated, there is little way of preventing secret attacks. There is little way of knowing who is really innocent and who is secretly planning against us. I think that because there is so little we can do to prevent secret attacks, racial profiling was just a speck of hope, or at least one way of believing that we are not completely vulnerable. It may be seen as America's way of holding on to the slightest chance of prevention. However, as Williams argued, it is merely a guessing game. Racial profiling will do more damage than good, for it is almost completely ineffective. From all those people that it can scar, how many can they possibly weed out, if any. It is wrong not only because it is guess work, but for the same reasons we stand against prejudice, stereotypes, and racism.