If I understand Asra Nomani right, she thinks its okay to profile Muslims because, in her view, a lot of terrorists are Muslims.
Here is Ms. Nomani in her own words:
Profiling doesn’t have to be about discrimination, persecution, or harassment. As my debating partner, conservative columnist Deroy Murdock put it: “We are not arguing that the TSA should send anyone named Mohammad to be waterboarded somewhere between the first-class lounge and the Pizza Hut.”
And let me make sure I understand this correctly - it's okay to profile someone on the basis of his race or religion so long as he isn't tortured? Okay, so maybe that was hyperbole by Ms. Nomani but what she's saying is that Muslims should accept profiling as long as they aren't physically harmed. Is that right? Or is she saying that folks can't eat Pizza Hut food in the first-class lounge? I don't get it.
If profiling is lawful, then why don't we allow our police departments to use it when fighting all sorts of crimes?
Would Ms. Nomani also argue in favor of profiling all young black men - politely of course and without waterboarding them - as they enter public spaces like a movie theater or a public park to check for weapons? What about random frisks of all young black male pedestrians in inner-city neighborhoods? Again, it would be without rendition or torture so is it kosher?
Umm, I don't think so. I don't think even my man Juan Williams would go here and we know how nervous he gets when he sees Muslims on airplanes.
I don't think Ms. Nomani is the "Uncle Tom" she's portrayed as in some parts of the American Muslim community, but I do think that this was a particularly weak argument. I wish Ms. Nomani would use her talents and the public stage she's given to articulate more thoughtful ideas. This one failed miserably.

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