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What if Rand Paul were Muslim? The white, privileged assumptions behind his Patriot Act “princ
read more:
http://www.salon.com/2015/06/01/wha...ssumptions_behind_his_patriot_act_principles/
What if Rand Paul were Muslim? The white, privileged assumptions behind his Patriot Act “principles”
Paul never had to fight assumptions based on his color or ethnicity. If he had, he'd feel different about bulk data
NAVEED JAMALI
JUN 1, 2015 11:25 AM EDT
I spent three years as a double-agent for the FBI working undercover to counter Russian military intelligence collection efforts in New York City. My job was to convince the Russians that I was an authentic spy, willing to betray his country for cold hard cash. I believe they were willing to recruit me, in part, because I’m a first-generation American and the son of a Pakistan-born father. It was imagined that I had conflicting allegiances – a perception I played to. However, over time this assumption that my heritage makes me more prone to sell out my country has come to bother me immensely. Granted, I used the Russians’ own biases against them, but isn’t there a better way to determine loyalty than the color of my skin or my parent’s birthplace?
In fact, there is — the bulk data approach used by the National Security Agency.
...
Perhaps to those like Sen. Rand Paul who’ve never had to fight assumptions based on one’s ethnicity or the color of one’s skin, the thought of cell phone data being pooled and analyzed is disconcerting. However, as someone who regularly puts up with extra scrutiny, whether it’s at an airport or a shopping mall, I welcome the leveling of the playing field that bulk data collection brings. I urge our government not to follow the Russian method of profiling, but, instead, to use bulk data collection to arrive at objective analyses.
read more:
http://www.salon.com/2015/06/01/wha...ssumptions_behind_his_patriot_act_principles/
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