I just heard about a matter great importance to the nation, to the world, nay, to the entire universe! Ladies and gentlemen I must ask you to take your seats and those with weak hearts please put your affairs in order because you will not survive the shock. It seems that officers of the Capitol Police did not recognize… wait. I have to look up her name again. Sorry! How embarrassing! Here it is, the officers of the Capitol Police did not recognize Rep (what’s her name) McKinnie(sp)!
RACIAL PROFILING ALERT RACIAL PROFILING ALERT! Danger Wilt Chamberlain, Danger!
Ok, maybe I’m poking fun. Maybe this nice, calm, sensible representaative from Georgia was completely justified in ignoring the command to stop from a duly appointed officer of the law. Maybe she was also justified in punching, slapping, biting or otherwise assaulting said officer for his "inappropriate touching" of her person but moreover because of his failure to recognize her by face as being one of only 14 African American congresswomen. I can not completely disregarding the possibility that the entire Capitol Police department, a department that holds higher standards in it’s employee selection process than your average security force or police department, is a group of neo-nazis, white-power, KKKloset racists. It could happen, especially in an era in which we see so much racial hatred and violence on Capital Hill. Why, just the other day there was that cross burning at the National Library. Those librarians and their hate-speech are always stirring up trouble. It’s possible, just unlikely.
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I’m in favor of never counting your chickens before their hatched. To know the real scoop we’ll just have to wait for the tape that the Police have to be released as evidence. While I do not count the chickens I have no problem with examining the eggs.
We have all heard the call from Rep. Cynthia McKinney of “RACIAL PROFILING” and that is a very alarming thing to hear. There is an importance and urgency that one might equate with danger. Some examples are street signs like those that read ‘DIP’ or “STOP”, and when someone shouts “Heads Up!” or “Halt in the name of the Law”. The problem is that there are other alarming phrases that are dangerous in a different way. “The sky is falling!” and “WOLF!” come readily to mind. Rather than warn of danger they, whether intentionally or not, distract from real dangers and leave people open to more serious peril.
In the story of Chicken Little (the real one, not the Disney version) the 'hero' was convinced that he was in terrible peril. His cries of insane panic and unsubstantiated accusations against "the Sky" led all of the avian citizens of the agricultural commune to a very fowl end in the belly of one Foxy Loxy.
Imagine that the officer involved in the 'scuffle' is suspended or loses his job. Not because he acted against the guidelines he was given or failed in his responsibilities to stop anyone who tries to circumvent the security measures established by the House. He would be punished for completing the letter of his duty because of motives real or imagined. How will his co-workers respond to this turn of events. Let us say that you are a Capital Police officer put in charge of the front door’s metal detector. You have a family and a mortgage. Someone who looks even remotely like the good congresswoman from Georgia goes zipping past the checkpoint, talking on her cell-phone. She has no pin that designates her as a member of congress, but she looks to be in quite the hurry. How confident are you going to be that calling her over or trying to subdue her if she resists will not get you fired. Not only fired but have your credibility destroyed so badly that you can only find a job as a bouncer or mall security. Are you going to put your livelihood on the line to be noble and pray to whatever diety you worship that this lady actually has a bomb? The only protection you might have is that your minority status trumps hers. ("She might be african american but I'm a blind Latino woman with a rare skin disorder! 4 of a kind beats a full house. HA!") Some of us might make the risk for the greater good and leave ourselves open to accusations of racism but many people will agree that it is far too great a risk.
I'm sure some would say I'm being extreme in my analysis of the situation, that my hypothesis is assuming a great deal. I mean, where do I get off making those parallells. I have two words to answer that. Malpractise Insurance. The same thing happens in medicine. There are quack doctors out there but the sharp increase in lawsuits filed against doctors has made the cost of healthcare skyrocket and decreased the number of people willing to learn how to save lives. That's what I fear for Capitol Hill, that the security will become diminished and FoxyLoxy or the Wolf will come on in and devour our precious representatives.
I hope that everyone remembers the the good congresswoman for her allegations that the Bush adminstration knew of the 9/11 attacks ahead of time and did not stop them. This is the same woman who wants her face, or body build (should she get plastic surgery), or aura of congressionalism (should she get plastic surgery AND a tummy-tuck) memorized by every member of the Capital Police and to be allowed to wander in and out without any presentation of ID whatsoever. Where is the concern for National or even personal security? It is no wonder that so few of her fellow partymembers are gathering under a banner that is usually the call to arms for so many. For a party attempting to push a stronger stance on national security, this cause is tantamount to political suicide.
The statement that she has been singled out every time she hasn't worn her pin may be true but frankly I am glad they are doing their jobs. Patrick McHenry (Rep, NC), a young buck at 30 years old, told CNN that he is checked everytime he arrives without his pin. It is standard proceedure. It is my opinion that all people regardless of Congressional status should go through the metal detector. Congress already enjoys a perk that could be potentially hazardous to security. I say rescind it. Make them all equal, that way no one is "singled out."
And finally, the comment about being one of 14 African American congresswomen and they should know her face; they outnumber the Hispanics and you don't see Hispanics demanding that the Capitol Police increase their practices with the "ethnic female congresspersons" flashcards.
All of that being said, I really admire the push for recognition, by those in Congress with some sense, for the Capitol Police for doing their jobs because when it comes down to it that is exactly what was done. Someone without a 'Congressional pin' walked around the metaldetector checkpoint and was stopped. She was not beaten after submitting no resistance, she was not stripped searched in the plain view of hundreds of bystanders and she was not called racially derogatory names. The Capital Police did it's job. To punish people for protecting and helping others is one of the best ways to weaken our resolve and our defenses. We should not let it happen. Say no to racial profiling but say yes to people doing their jobs. Say yes to kindness and cultural understanding but say no to special treatment and oversensitivity.
I’m in favor of never counting your chickens before their hatched. To know the real scoop we’ll just have to wait for the tape that the Police have to be released as evidence. While I do not count the chickens I have no problem with examining the eggs.
We have all heard the call from Rep. Cynthia McKinney of “RACIAL PROFILING” and that is a very alarming thing to hear. There is an importance and urgency that one might equate with danger. Some examples are street signs like those that read ‘DIP’ or “STOP”, and when someone shouts “Heads Up!” or “Halt in the name of the Law”. The problem is that there are other alarming phrases that are dangerous in a different way. “The sky is falling!” and “WOLF!” come readily to mind. Rather than warn of danger they, whether intentionally or not, distract from real dangers and leave people open to more serious peril.
In the story of Chicken Little (the real one, not the Disney version) the 'hero' was convinced that he was in terrible peril. His cries of insane panic and unsubstantiated accusations against "the Sky" led all of the avian citizens of the agricultural commune to a very fowl end in the belly of one Foxy Loxy.
Imagine that the officer involved in the 'scuffle' is suspended or loses his job. Not because he acted against the guidelines he was given or failed in his responsibilities to stop anyone who tries to circumvent the security measures established by the House. He would be punished for completing the letter of his duty because of motives real or imagined. How will his co-workers respond to this turn of events. Let us say that you are a Capital Police officer put in charge of the front door’s metal detector. You have a family and a mortgage. Someone who looks even remotely like the good congresswoman from Georgia goes zipping past the checkpoint, talking on her cell-phone. She has no pin that designates her as a member of congress, but she looks to be in quite the hurry. How confident are you going to be that calling her over or trying to subdue her if she resists will not get you fired. Not only fired but have your credibility destroyed so badly that you can only find a job as a bouncer or mall security. Are you going to put your livelihood on the line to be noble and pray to whatever diety you worship that this lady actually has a bomb? The only protection you might have is that your minority status trumps hers. ("She might be african american but I'm a blind Latino woman with a rare skin disorder! 4 of a kind beats a full house. HA!") Some of us might make the risk for the greater good and leave ourselves open to accusations of racism but many people will agree that it is far too great a risk.
I'm sure some would say I'm being extreme in my analysis of the situation, that my hypothesis is assuming a great deal. I mean, where do I get off making those parallells. I have two words to answer that. Malpractise Insurance. The same thing happens in medicine. There are quack doctors out there but the sharp increase in lawsuits filed against doctors has made the cost of healthcare skyrocket and decreased the number of people willing to learn how to save lives. That's what I fear for Capitol Hill, that the security will become diminished and FoxyLoxy or the Wolf will come on in and devour our precious representatives.
I hope that everyone remembers the the good congresswoman for her allegations that the Bush adminstration knew of the 9/11 attacks ahead of time and did not stop them. This is the same woman who wants her face, or body build (should she get plastic surgery), or aura of congressionalism (should she get plastic surgery AND a tummy-tuck) memorized by every member of the Capital Police and to be allowed to wander in and out without any presentation of ID whatsoever. Where is the concern for National or even personal security? It is no wonder that so few of her fellow partymembers are gathering under a banner that is usually the call to arms for so many. For a party attempting to push a stronger stance on national security, this cause is tantamount to political suicide.
The statement that she has been singled out every time she hasn't worn her pin may be true but frankly I am glad they are doing their jobs. Patrick McHenry (Rep, NC), a young buck at 30 years old, told CNN that he is checked everytime he arrives without his pin. It is standard proceedure. It is my opinion that all people regardless of Congressional status should go through the metal detector. Congress already enjoys a perk that could be potentially hazardous to security. I say rescind it. Make them all equal, that way no one is "singled out."
And finally, the comment about being one of 14 African American congresswomen and they should know her face; they outnumber the Hispanics and you don't see Hispanics demanding that the Capitol Police increase their practices with the "ethnic female congresspersons" flashcards.
All of that being said, I really admire the push for recognition, by those in Congress with some sense, for the Capitol Police for doing their jobs because when it comes down to it that is exactly what was done. Someone without a 'Congressional pin' walked around the metaldetector checkpoint and was stopped. She was not beaten after submitting no resistance, she was not stripped searched in the plain view of hundreds of bystanders and she was not called racially derogatory names. The Capital Police did it's job. To punish people for protecting and helping others is one of the best ways to weaken our resolve and our defenses. We should not let it happen. Say no to racial profiling but say yes to people doing their jobs. Say yes to kindness and cultural understanding but say no to special treatment and oversensitivity.