Last week the LA Times revealed an awesome plan that would keep America safe from terrorists. The police department was planning on creating a database of all the Muslims living in the Los Angeles area. The LAPD planned on using census data and "other demographic information" to locate Muslim communities and then "reach out" to them. It is being called a "Muslim mapping" program, just for a little extra creepy flair.

We are seeking to identify at-risk communities. We are looking for communities and enclaves based on risk factors that are likely to become isolated�We want to know where the Pakistanis, Iranians and Chechens are so we can reach out to those communities.

Great fucking idea! Maybe after we can start a "Jewish mapping" program. I don't think anyone would have a problem with that, would they? What? Does that bring up some odd memories or something? Where's everybody going? Hello?

People were obviously upset, particularly the people who were going to be "mapped." But they did not stand alone in their outrage.

I was shocked and horrified to read of the Los Angeles Police Department's antiterrorism bureau program to map Muslim communities. The debate over security versus individual rights that was popularized in the wake of the USA Patriot Act and invoked in this case is, in my view, the wrong debate. Targeting identity communities to protect society from those minority subgroups that seek to do harm _ as opposed to creating strategies to address criminal behavior _ is both morally repugnant and strategically misinformed.

I actually feel a little weird right now, because I have a colorful Los Angeles Muslim map on my wall. I use it to find falafels. (I get very bummed out when the Muslim community is Indonesian because they do not make falafels.)

Yesterday, after listening to a week of protest, the LAPD decided to kill the mapping plan.

The reversal comes after a week of protests from Muslim groups and civil libertarians, who equated the mapping with religious profiling. Others questioned whether it was possible for the LAPD to accurately map the city's far-flung Muslim community.

Oh, you mean because the law bars the US Census Bureau from asking people about their religion? Yeah, that might be a bit of a problem. But the LAPD said they will still "reach out" to the Muslim Community.

Hey, thanks for getting around to that. It's only 2007, no need to go too fast, I guess. Muslim leaders are pleased that they won't be "mapped" and said they will work with the police - as long as the mapping idea does not return. And I'm sure the police will have tremendous success convincing Los Angeles Muslims that they are there to help after this fiasco.

The ACLU on Wednesday filed a public records request for details of the mapping project.

Good idea. Not that I'm suspicious of the LAPD, they have an awesome history as humanitarians, but they could try to start this up again under another name or secretly. Get all the information you can, ACLU, because it's creepy.

Mary Grady, the LAPD's public information director, said that it made sense to remove the mapping element from the plan. "The whole purpose of this initiative was to bring together the department with the Muslim community. The word 'mapping' gave the impression it was about profiling when it was not."

Right, it was just about finding out where people of a certain religion live, making a map of it and then keeping an eye on those people. Nothing weird about that.

lucidtrips

I'm lost

March 2007

NOV 16, 2007 09:20 AM

If they do that I think a US wide mapping program for any right wing christians who attend Jesus camp is the only fair thing to do.

BRussu

Brunswick, OH

April 2004

NOV 16, 2007 09:26 AM

Plan A: Muslim Mapping - SCRAPPED

Plan B: Black Armbands - Open for discussion

Plan C: Replace Amtrack Passenger car's with Cattle cars, destination, the Arizona Desert. - On the drawing board.

helica

I'm lost

November 2007

NOV 16, 2007 09:27 AM

I'm disgusted how can they justify even suggesting this? We should make a map of all the people who come up with this racist bull.

bambam0084

Dallas, TX

October 2007

NOV 16, 2007 09:29 AM

This is pretty much the greatest Idea since AIDS....

bendingunit23

Victoria, BC

April 2005

NOV 16, 2007 09:30 AM

oh yeah that plan sounds nothing like hitler and the Jewish and gypsies.

scylis

Seattle, WA

November 2004

NOV 16, 2007 09:33 AM

BRussu said:
Plan A: Muslim Mapping - SCRAPPED

Plan B: Black Armbands - Open for discussion

Plan C: Replace Amtrack Passenger car's with Cattle cars, destination, the Arizona Desert. - On the drawing board.

i don't think the next logical step should be called Plan D, but "The Solution To End All Solutions That Will Solve All Our Problems" is a little long-winded. hmm...

fountainofdreams

Mokena, IL

January 2005

NOV 16, 2007 09:38 AM

scylis said:

i don't think the next logical step should be called Plan D, but "The Solution To End All Solutions That Will Solve All Our Problems" is a little long-winded. hmm...

We should research some German terms here, to more easily define this program.

Yea, that'd be great.

Snowy

United Kingdom

February 2007

NOV 16, 2007 09:39 AM

bambam0084 said:
This is pretty much the greatest Idea since AIDS....

Oh, how I lol'd at that

Ferretbite

Mexico

September 2006

NOV 16, 2007 09:53 AM

Yup, Alice Cooper mentioned they should also label illegal immigrants somehow, you know, make them wear something that identifies them, for security reasons, iI wonder if the good people on the LAPD were listening to that show?

Zarth

Seattle, WA

December 2004

NOV 16, 2007 10:03 AM

Ferretbite said:
Yup, Alice Cooper mentioned they should also label illegal immigrants somehow, you know, make them wear something that identifies them, for security reasons, iI wonder if the good people on the LAPD were listening to that show?

Goddamnit. Another over-the-hill rockstar I've just lost all respect for. Tripe like this actually interferes with my ability to enjoy their music. I know it shouldn't, but it does.