Recently the use of ethnic profiling by law enforcement and other government agencies has come under fire in the United States.  But is it wrong?  We are often given the example of sending Japanese-Americans to internment camps during the Second World War, as if that were a bad thing. 

We should take notice if a car load of young black men are driving around in the white side of town at night.  After all, the domestic help usually goes home by five.  What possible business could they have on the white side of town?  Truly, how many white folk have black friends?  And if they do, how many of them would want their black “friends” to come over to their homes where their neighbors could see them?  And similarly, what would a white person be doing over on the black side of town, other than buying drugs?  And that’s illegal, too.  But especially, we should take notice of those people whose descendants – maybe even their relatives back home – openly hate the United States.

Unfortunately, common sense seems to have taken a vacation.  Why should airport security search your grandmother’s shoes while letting a young, Arabic-looking man walk on through unnoticed?  Are we so afraid of offending the sensibilities of minorities that we ignore the safety of the majority?

Obviously, those of Arabic descent who are dressed in their traditional costumes stand out, and rightly so.  But what about those people who are only part Arabic?  Should we trust somebody any less if he is half Arabic?  A fourth?  An eighth?  What percent does it take to push the trigger on a bomb?

Everyone should know their ethnic identity.  I know mine, and I’m proud to say that I am half English, one quarter Dutch, and one quarter Irish, give or take.  If, however, someone claims not to know their ethnic identity, then it is more than likely that they’re just not wanting to admit that they come from a less than desirable country, like Iraq, Dubai, or France. 

Therefore, I propose that we set up an Office of Ethnic Identity, to verify everyone’s country or countries of origin.  And further, I propose that everybody be required to carry a national identification card that contains that information.  This card would be indispensable to the various law enforcement agencies.  Along with ethnic identity, it would contain such information as name, social security number, and permanent address, as well as religion, voting affiliation, and sexual preference.  Because these are things we need to know.

These cards would be indispensable should our country ever need to set up internment camps again.  And it’s truly no different than having our young men register for the draft.  It doesn’t mean we’re actually going to do it.  It can be argued that we don’t need to know if someone’s relatives are from, say, Canada.  However, it may only be a matter of time before we’re at war with Canada.  What then?

This would make America a safer place for everybody, and it would speed up the lines at the airports.  We could even have special flights just for those of lesser bloodlines.  After all, who would care if a terrorist blew up an airplane full of terrorists? 

These cards need not be a permanent thing.  Eventually we will develop the technology to imprint this information on permanent computer chips that can be injected into the bloodstream and read with satellite scanners.

We can understand why innocent people would not want to be falsely accused; however, these people need to understand what is at stake.  And besides, if you are truly innocent, then you should have nothing to worry about.