By John Brown III Santa Monica
I wish to express a different view of the war on terrorism and in particular the suspicious filming of Santa Monica landmarks. What I read was that Middle Eastern men were seen filming the pier, the police station and other points of interest and one person decided to take pictures of them (SMDP, Aug. 11, page 1).
Why? Were their actions illegal? If their actions were not illegal, why are they suspicious? Because of how the men looked and were judged by this onlooker?
Should we be taking pictures of all tourists who film, videotape or visit major points of interest? When I travel abroad, I frequently take pictures of police stations, fire stations and government buildings because they are new, different and unique to their regions and of interest to me as a tourist.
Is this behavior illegal or suspicious? Should it be viewed that way by their locals and my picture taken?
Until America and Americans treat individuals equally, we will not be respected around the world. By acting prejudicially — forming an adverse opinion without just grounds or having an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race or their supposed characteristics — we defeat our own arguments of representing the moral high ground.
If we appear prejudiced and bigoted, we encourage the anti-American propaganda that feeds, fuels and recruits terrorists worldwide. In America, we presume people to be innocent and equal. We must apply this view to our daily lives and lead by example in how we treat people who are foreign looking and different from ourselves.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 22, 2005. Read the original PDF.