Free Republic

I have been fingerprinted and racially profiled. As we wrestle with ways to prevent another September 11, I remember both incidents well. I was fingerprinted when I lived in Japan. As a foreigner living there, I had to make my way to the police station to get my gaijin (foreigner) card. I filled out a form, had my picture taken and was fingerprinted. One of the fingerprints appeared on the card and very occasionally I had to show the card to police, but only very occasionally. "Don't lose it," I was warned, "and make sure you hand it back in...

LOOK FOR TERRORIST, NOT WEAPONS Folks, an Israeli expert on the airline security subject said that the basic difference between the way Israelis and Americans screen passengers is that the Israelis look for terrorists, and the Americans look for weapons. He said we're focusing on the wrong thing - but that means we have to look for Muslim-Arab men, and once you start doing that, then all sorts of grief descends upon you as a racial profiler. You've heard stories about nuns being pulled out of lines while waiting to go through a metal detector because there's "suspicion" she might...

Posted on Wed, Apr. 03, 2002 Financial companies to discuss how to use consumer databases to profile terrorists WASHINGTON (AP) - Top financial companies are working to figure out how to use public and private consumer databases to catch possible terrorists and whether the information banks are up to the task. The group, holding its first organizational meeting today, will explore how to use credit reports, marketing databases and other information for domestic security. ``We have to think about how to use information to create profiles about what a bad guy might look like,'' said Marty Abrams of the Center...

It would be a great help if more FReepers would fill out their profile page. Come on now; some of you have been here for years and have not so much as a state flag flying. You don't need to tell your life story, but at least a state or national flag would help. For instance, I know there's more Wisconsin FReepers out there than are on the WI location page. How can anyone alert you to the upcoming (state) FReeper event UNLESS your screen name is on the (state) page?