Recently after the September 11th atacks, a certain airline wouldn't let 3 men board their plane in the name of safety. These men did nothing other than being Arab and Americans. Some people have responded by saying it was justified in its actions because they need to protect the people on board the plane.
I have to say that no, that airline was not justified in keeping those 3 men, who did absolutely nothing wrong, from boarding the plane. To excuse the airline is to just create a new 21st century form of racism. To blacklist 3 men, just because they happen to belong to the same race as 19 other men is just plain wrong. What about Timothy McVeigh? Are we blacklisting and running scared of all white, blond, Americans because of his actions? Of course not! And likewise, it is wrong and hypocritical to treat millions of peaceful people in the same manner just because of the actions of 19.
We live in a country that has a Constitution that guarantees its citizens certain civil rights. It was created because a group of people were being discriminated against in their former home country. It was created in the belief that all men (and women) are created equal. Now is not the time to ignore the Constitution of the US, and give up some of our civil rights for a little perceived temporary safety. Not 225 years ago, not 58 years ago, not now, not ever. Not for white blond European Americans, not for Japanese Americans, and not for Arab Americans either.
Let's not be divided and turn on our own citizens, which is what others would love to see. Now is the time for we Americans to unite and stand up for our freedom and civil rights and defend those rights from those that seek to take them away.
Remember, it was Benjamin Franklin in 1755 who said, "Those who would
give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety,
deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
-- M. Scott Reynolds (c) 2001