Sunday, November 7, 2010

Direct Government in Airports

Recently new body imaging scanners have been added to many airports. These are used to completely scan travelers prior to flights. Even with this new technology, three national Sikh advocacy and civil rights organizations have said that turbans will still be searched and consider this "racial profiling." According to the T.S.A. (Transportation Security Administration) and the Department of Homeland Security, the scanners cannot see through the multiple layers of fabric in the turban. Thus, these organizations are using direct government to allow security officials the jurisdiction to conduct extra searches. While some may cry "racial profiling", I feel that a turban is the same as a small, unchecked bag. This is necessary and fair for everyone to be safe.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/us/07turban.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

2 comments:

  1. While the argument for racial profiling can be made in this situation, the real issue at hand is public safety. Given the progressive technology use by T.S.A, certain adaptations must be made to the way airport security is conducted. Turbans create a problem for the body image scanners, and all other materials, baggage, or clothing that does so is a means for a personal search.

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  2. I also agree that personal safety is definitely the most important issue. Any clothing item or personal baggage should be allowed to be searched at any time in order to prevent danger and maintain safety. Searching a turban is no more racial profiling than searching a woman's purse is "gender profiling." People want to feel safe in airports and on airplanes, so the greatest standards of safety should be practiced and that includes searching turbans if need be.

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