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Debate Info

20
52
Of Course! Never!
Debate Score:72
Arguments:22
Total Votes:76
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 Of Course! (14)
 
 Never! (8)

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Hellno(17753) pic



Doesn't Racial Profiling Just Make Sense?

profiling

Of Course!

Side Score: 20
VS.

Never!

Side Score: 52
2 points

It helps to make screening for terrorists or criminals more efficient. Terrorists tend to be young middle eastern men, so it only makes sense to screen that demographic more carefully. On this particular topic, I have to agree with the other side on the point that terrorists will usually find ways to exploit the holes and go for less expected persons, in which case security would have to be stepped up across the board. In some cases though, this is next to impossible. Take illegal immigration for example. About 94 % of our illegal aliens are Hispanic, and you can't easily change the appearance of your race, so it does make sense to check the identification of Hispanics every once in a while.

Side: Of course!
Conro(767) Disputed
2 points

"Terrorists tend to be young middle eastern men, so it only makes sense to screen that demographic more carefully."

First of all, I would like to ask your definition of terrorist.

Secondly, it doesn't make more sense to target a specific race or ethnicity for extra screening, mainly because even though terrorists may (or may not) tend to be young middle eastern men, it does not make a young middle eastern man more likely to be a terrorist. That just simply is not how statistics work. One's skin color or ethnicity should not determine the hoops one must jump through.

"so it does make sense to check the identification of Hispanics every once in a while."

Not particularly. It makes sense for immigration officials or officers to check likely areas of illegal activity, i.e. where illegal aliens tend to hang out. An Hispanic person is not more likely to be illegal simply because of their race. Again, it's just not how statistics work.

Side: Never!
Republican2(349) Disputed
2 points

First of all, I would like to ask your definition of terrorist.

car bombers, suicide bombers, people who crash planes into buildings...

Anyone who commits acts of violence to coerce people or destroy them.

Secondly, it doesn't make more sense to target a specific race or ethnicity for extra screening, mainly because even though terrorists may (or may not) tend to be young middle eastern men, it does not make a young middle eastern man more likely to be a terrorist.

Let's suppose all guns just became illegal and it's your job to find out who has them. Lets say I'm a middle aged, white, Republican resident of Texas (who has a 68% of owning a firearm by the way) and my neighbor is black, a Democrat, and a college student (who has a 6% chance of owning a firearm). You can only check one. Who are you going to go after?

Not particularly. It makes sense for immigration officials or officers to check likely areas of illegal activity, i.e. where illegal aliens tend to hang out. A Hispanic person is not more likely to be illegal simply because of their race. Again, it's just not how statistics work.

Hispanics make up the largest portion of illegal immigrants in the United States. Caucasians make up less than one percent of illegal immigrants. Because of this, it really makes no sense to screen everyone in an area of illegal activity. Lets do some math: there are approximately 50 million Hispanics in the United States (not all are necessarily citizens) and there are an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants of Hispanic origin in the United States. 11/50=0.22, which means that on average, 2 of every 10 Hispanics in this country are here illegally. As mentioned previously, the percentage of Caucasian illegals is less than 1 percent, about 0.02%. How does it not make sense to screen Hispanics more heavily?

Side: Of course!
2 points

It makes sense. As of right now, the TSA is patting down little kids.......does that make sense to anyone? A white five year old getting patted down for having milk in his backpack while there is a middle eastern man/woman who could be more of a suspect than the little kid.

Side: Of course!
1 point

I agree... stop the insanity !

Side: Of course!

Makes sense to me.

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Side: Of course!
1 point

Me too.

and...

What the hell is this... You're adding to every post now? LOL

and...

I wasn't the one that down voted you.

Side: Of course!

Just trying to get more allies and/or enemies.

I never gave it a second thought as to who down voted me or why. When you have as many points as I do, it doesn't matter ;)

Side: Of course!
1 point

LEOs use their training and experience to determine if there is something going on. If you were a LEO following two speeding vehicles, one is a brand new truck being driven by a 60 year old well dressed woman and the other an old beat up sedan, full of young men, which on would you pull over? Based on experience, you would probably find more violations, possible drugs, maybe even illegal guns in the old sedan. Is this profiling? Now what if it's a well dressed woman vs young black men? Is this now racial profiling?

Side: Of course!
13 points

I just don't see it. Just because someone may be of middle-eastern descent, that doesn't make them a terrorist.

Side: Nah
11 points

Well said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Side: Never!
clearEn(207) Disputed
0 points

"Just because someone may be of middle-eastern descent, that doesn't make them a terrorist."

That is true, but how many terrorists have been middle-aged white Americans? Why should we search 80-year-old women for bombs when no terrorist have been 80-year-old women?

Why not use statistical math to make our scans more efficient?

Side: Of course!
imrigone(761) Disputed
2 points

"Why not use statistical math to make our scans more efficient?"

Because the statistics could change pretty quickly. Terrorism isn't stagnant, they look for holes in the system and exploit them. If an 80-year-old woman suddenly becomes a perfectly good Trojan horse, they would probably increase their recruitment efforts in that demographic. We'd end up going back to the all inclusive system by necessity, but by then a tragic attack or two has already succeeded.

Side: Never!
Mahollinder(900) Disputed
2 points

That is true, but how many terrorists have been middle-aged white Americans?

As a percentage of the gross: enough to justify profiling them.

Why not use statistical math to make our scans more efficient?

White Americans wouldn't like the outcome.

Side: Never!
10 points

I wonder if we'll ever get past the color of our skin and start being a little more intelligent.

Side: Never!
10 points

We can only wait and see. Let's see what things look like in another 50 or so years.

Side: Never!

Good One.

Side: Never!
denube(1) Disputed
1 point

Most racial profiles are based on perception and experience. If a specific group of "profiled" people want to change the way people think of them, they must change how they are perceived by others. Bill Cosby said it best when he said black males need to step up and take responsebility for their actions. It's a hard road, but until the first step is taken, people will continue to believe based on their perceptions and experiences.

Side: Looking in the wrong place