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Editorial
Racial profiling makes a pretty town look ugly
The aftermath, good and bad, from the death and destruction on the East Coast continues to ripple through our community. War of some sort seems imminent, and judging by all the flags out and about, America on the whole appears to have set aside most of its internecine disputes and is focused on presenting a united front.
Still, some disturbing incidents have popped up locally. A recent item on the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department blotter recorded a call from a resident who reported that a Middle Eastern man with a beard was driving a gray, Humvee-like vehicle down Quito Road. Apparently, the driver's appearance was enough of a reason to concern the caller. It's hard to imagine that the police department would have received this call before the events of Sept. 11.
Some radio shows attempting to find humor in the prospect of war are stirring the pot of racial animosity by stereotyping people from the Middle East, especially the Afghans. One show popular during the morning commute recently featured a skit referring to these people as "camel jockeys" and characterized them as being unhygienic, not once, but twice during the piece.
Even to aficionados of low humor, this kind of character assassination is unsettling, especially in light of our troubled times.
One local person caught in the quagmire of ethnic persecution owns a business on N. Santa Cruz Avenue. Jahan Dokht Hill, who is of Iranian descent, said she has received anonymous phone calls telling her to leave the country. She also suspects that a recent case of vandalism to her car is related to the indiscriminate anger some people are directing at anybody thought to be from the Middle East.
Hill was one of the local people who organized a candlelight vigil at the Town Plaza the week of the terrorist attacks. Even though the event was a success, drawing hundreds of people, Hill is contemplating a move from Los Gatos, at least for the time being. She expressed sorrow that she might not be welcome in her own home.
The town, on behalf of its citizens, should proclaim zero tolerance for any behavior that compromises the safety and sense of well-being of its residents, business owners or visitors, no matter their background or religious affiliation.
Local law enforcement should make this a priority and take the offensive. Set up a sting operation and draw out the name callers, vandals and petty thugs. We do it to catch speeders and pedophiles, why not go after malicious hate-mongers?
Nobody should have to participate in a memorial or put up an American flag--on their car, home or business--out of fear. This is and will continue to be the war at home.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
