From: Ismail Zayid
To: Globe& Mail
Sent: Monday, June 03, 2002 10:06 PM
Subject: Licensing Racism.

531 Young Avenue,
Halifax, NS. B3H 2V4
Tel: 902.429.9100
 
June 3,2002
 
The Editor,
The Globe & Mail
 
Dear Editor:
 
It is saddening to see the Globe & Mail allowing the publication of such pernicious and offensive diatribe, as seen in John Ibbitson's article :{ "Why racial profiling is a good idea" June 3}. This offensive attack on Muslims and Arabs is clearly advocating open undisguised licensing of racism. Would Mr. Ibbitson like painting yellow stars on the arms of Arabs and Muslims?
 
If Mr. Ibbtson is advocating racial profiling for Muslims for committing the terrorist attack against Americans in New York, why are Christian fundamentalists, like Timothy McVeigh, who committed the terrorist attack in Oklahoma, spared this distinction, or for that matter Israelis who bombed American diplomatic centres in Alexandria and Cairo in 1954 [the Lavon Affair], to blame it on Egyptians ?
 
It is time for our political leaders and media to cease the advocacy of this malicious racism against Arabs and Muslims.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Ismail Zayid, M.D.