Sorry Crystal, as much as we like to think it's possible, you cannot fully "forget about someone's race or religion". It's impossible. We are who we are.
For eg, it is RETARDED not to be able to focus in on a certain group of people who are prone to terrorist acts simply because it isn't politically correct.
For eg: according to the TPSB, the majority of violent crimes in Toronto are committed by african americans. If we cannot include race in any type of focus, or attention, then how can we ever hope to stop crime? If the majority of crimes are committed by african americans then the police should focus their attention on that group, find out why they commit the crimes and then take steps to change or eradicate the reasons.
And you have to admit, they're doing a pretty good job of NOT committing racial profiling when they body search 85 yr old white great grandmothers in wheelchairs and make blond haired 5 yr old girls take off their shoes.
Now you may say: HECK they were a FAMILY with KIDS....but I bet you forget about the car bombing that happened in Iraq early last year where the soldiers let a car through a checkpoint because they had two kids in the back seat? Well, they used the kids to cover the bomb that killed 45 in a market.
Sorry, but if it is people of middle eastern heritage that are committing acts of terrorism then we should pay particular attention to middle easter peoples.
Now you may say that is wrong, but don't forget millions of WHITE people are not even allowed into the US because 20 yrs ago they were arrested and convicted of a crime.
Frankly, I'd rather the airlines and TSA etc be overly sensitive to comments than not. I'd rather them risk a pissed off family and react to every comment than pull back and miss a comment and have a plane go down.
I fully believe the needs of the many or majority vastly outweigh the needs of the few or the one.
Here's a reverse example: You have 4 african american friends. You go to a club and they meet another group (who happen to be african american) they say to each other "hey my _iggers, what's going on"? You say "hey my _iggers, what's going on"? and I bet you get bitch slapped or get a severe dressing down. Sorry, but some people can say some things and others can't. It's just the way it is......