I have to say that I agree with the basic theme of this thread - as I see it, "Racial Profiling" has become a catch phrase, and it gets used inappropriately. If people are committing a crime and are observed by the police, the police have an obligation to do something, and race has nothing to do with it.
Lets not forget, though, where the phrase came from - for example, the notorious case (and far from the only one) of a black woman who was stopped on the freeway, searched and found to be carrying a large sum of cash. The police then said it "must" be drug money and confiscated the money and the car. The woman was, in fact, fairly well off and was carrying the cash for legitimate reasons. She never was charged with any traffic violation. Why was she stopped? Because she "fit the profile" of someone involved with drugs. By the way, the last I heard, she still had not gotten her money returned, though they did return her car.
My point is, while the words "racial profiling" might get bandied about when they don't apply, the term was invented by the police themselves, and the concept has been used to deal unfairly with people who were NOT seen committing crimes. So, by all means lets deal reasonably with crime, but lets not get to the point where every person of color is automatically assumed to be a criminal. I own a nice car - I'd like to feel that I can drive it around without the assumption that I stole it or bought it by selling crack. If I'm seen breaking a law, stop me - otherwise, leave me alone.
- Yoj
