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Will All Muslims Please Send Us Their Whereabouts.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 16 2007 9:00 AM

Submitted by FearTheReaper. Edited By FearTheReaper.

TAGS: LAPD, Muslim Mapping

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.

50 Comments

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Ascanius

South Royalton, VT

October 2006

NOV 17, 2007 08:22 AM

Oh, c'mon guys. They're trying to protect the Muslims. If they can't make a map, how are they going to round up only those Muslims that are talking about engaging in hateful behavior. It's really not based on religion.

defaultx

I'm lost

February 2006

NOV 17, 2007 01:26 PM

this thread needs more alice cooper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGrGqHf-wJA&feature=related

mingol

Singapore

July 2005

NOV 17, 2007 01:50 PM

azrael7 said:
It really isn't a bad idea considering Islam has been the problem child of religious faiths. SInce the beginning of creation and still today the world over no other religion causes as much devestation than Islam. In Darfur black muslims and trying to erradicate black africans. I think we should deport all mulims and never allow any to return to the USA, but then again since i was actualy in combat and lost many friends in Iraq I don't expect anyone here to understand.

Please don't cite being a veteran as a justification for your being a bigoted asshole, because most veterans aren't.

And I thought the Alice Cooper interview that Zarth posted was revolting. Jesus.

SockPuppet

I'm lost

July 2006

NOV 17, 2007 04:23 PM

bald_eagle said:

Ascanius said:
Oh, c'mon guys. They're trying to protect the Muslims. If they can't make a map, how are they going to round up only those Muslims that are talking about engaging in hateful behavior. It's really not based on religion.

Yeah, just like when we forced Americans of Japanese heritage into internment camps during WWII. That was for their protection, too.

Well, duh... no minority could possibly be worried by that. Obvious, really.

azrael7

Bay Saint Louis, MS

December 2005

NOV 17, 2007 08:23 PM

well to mingol im not a bigot, just man enough to stand up for those i care about. and most vets do hate muslims, go talk to a few and see. and its kinda cute how ppl are brave enough to attack others online but cower in person, blogs are an expression of freedom, you know the thing our vets fight for, so instead of insulting others on here just express your opinoin and move along. you just sound like a coward this way, besides your not even in the USA so you dont matter.

mamet

Charleston, SC

March 2005

NOV 17, 2007 08:40 PM

azrael7 said:
well to mingol im not a bigot, just man enough to stand up for those i care about. and most vets do hate muslims, go talk to a few and see. and its kinda cute how ppl are brave enough to attack others online but cower in person, blogs are an expression of freedom, you know the thing our vets fight for, so instead of insulting others on here just express your opinoin and move along. you just sound like a coward this way, besides your not even in the USA so you dont matter.

Categorically hating all Muslims makes you a bigot. There's just no way around that.

And it is completely antithetical to advocate tracking and/or deporting all Muslims from the country and to then bring up "freedom." What the hell do you think that word means?

FearTheReaper

NEWSWIRE

I'm lost

NOV 17, 2007 08:46 PM

Jesus, you are quite the embarrassment as a soldier who fights for our country.

Based on your words you define bigot. And you'd know people who say shit online wouldn't say it to your face because....you run into so many people from message boards?

And you are not fighting for our freedom. You are fighting for oil and profits. You are nothing more than a corporate tool, who may give his life for a worthless cause. I understand that you may need to convince yourself that you are fighting for some lofty cause, but the sad truth is that you are not. And your brazen stupidity has allowed me to feel quite comfortable telling you so.

And I am in the USA, so I guess I do matter. Now, go get us our oil and Haliburton their profits.

Tinyhobo

Boulder City, NV

December 2006

NOV 17, 2007 08:57 PM

You are a bigot. Bottom line.

"You don't matter" What arrogance.

MrStitches

Sag Harbor, NY

November 2003

NOV 17, 2007 09:03 PM

You know, you're right. We should deport all christians. How else will we stop abortion clinic bombings?

RudieCantFail

Intercourse, PA

January 2006

NOV 17, 2007 09:06 PM

You, sir, make me sick.

Please stop touting your service in the Armed Forces, because everytime you mention it in the same breath as your hate speech, you do a dishonor to all men and women in uniform.

Rafi

Santa Monica, CA

January 2003

NOV 17, 2007 09:32 PM

azrael7 said:
well to mingol im not a bigot, just man enough to stand up for those i care about.

Sorry, dude, but advocating that all American Muslims should be deported makes you a bigot, whether you like that label or not. Deal with it.

and its kinda cute how ppl are brave enough to attack others online but cower in person, blogs are an expression of freedom, you know the thing our vets fight for, so instead of insulting others on here just express your opinoin and move along. you just sound like a coward this way

It's absurd and sad that you think that "insulting others" is somehow less honorable or courageous than advancing the opinion that an entire, largely peaceful religious minority of American citizens comprising hundreds of thousands be forcefully deported illegally. It's exponentially sadder that you seem to hold the misguided opinion that freedom of expression entails that once a person expresses a bigoted opinion, it frees them from the inconvenience of anyone else calling them out on their prejudiced inanity.

besides your not even in the USA so you dont matter.

I'm not personally acquainted with mingol, but I believe he is in the US armed services stationed overseas, making your already sub-imbecilic post that much more moronic.

It's additionally disgusting how eager you seem to be to use the crutch of US military to justify your bigotry. Talk all you like about the "silent majority" that supports you, about how this person or that doesn't matter because he isn't in the US or in this particular service - the truth is that you, azrael7 are the biggest embarrassment to the armed forces around these parts. Neither your high horse nor your anecdotally drawn racism can change any of that.

ElizaTheTroll

Australia

January 2006

NOV 17, 2007 10:15 PM

Zarth said:

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.

I love his argument for the war with Iraq. If Bush started bombing everyone who secretly thought that Americans had it coming to them, he'd have a lot to do.