As citizens we are already asked to produce our ID all of the time...whenever we buy something with a credit card, apply for a new job, rent an apartment, or get stopped by the cops for any reason. When we renew our driver's license. Or make a withdrawal at a bank. When we buy alcohol or cigarettes....or go through security at the airport, etc. I very recently had to produce my passport for my employer so my proof of citizenship could be on file. Are you also offended by all of these things? People are asked for the "papers" to prove who they are every day. How many times have you been asked for your social security number, or your driver's license?
There are many countries which ask that foreigners and tourists carry around their passport or ID, this is really not as unusual and harsh as you're making it sound. If you're not doing anything wrong and are obeying the law, what exactly do you have to fear or hide? In other countries that do have similar laws (such as Japan), it's unlikely you're gonna get pulled over and singled out at random unless you're actually doing something suspicious-- for example, hanging around a shady part of Roppongi late at night, where drug deals are known to go down, smelling like marijuana. Or acting drunk and disorderly on a street corner. Is it really that big of an inconvenience when there's very real drug and gang violence taking place?
If you really want to talk about harsh treatment of foreigners breaking laws across borders, lets talk about Indonesia. Or the middle east. Various countries in Africa, or China-- where bringing drugs across their borders can get you slapped with the death penalty on the spot.
Now, I am personally part native american, and I sometimes do get mistaken for being latina, or half white and something else. I sympathize with the possibility of people getting judge by their looks, I do. I'm not saying this law in Arizona was the best available option... but the federal government has been sitting on it hands doing nothing for long enough, while the situation has continued to get worse, and citizens felt the need to protect themselves. The law does stipulate that a cop would need some kind of reasonable suspicion. That means they can't just walk up to a woman minding her own business and harass her at complete random and with no reason. So yes, the way I read the bill, it sounds like they need to be doing something suspicious other than merely walking around with a different skin color.
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There are many countries which ask that foreigners and tourists carry around their passport or ID, this is really not as unusual and harsh as you're making it sound. If you're not doing anything wrong and are obeying the law, what exactly do you have to fear or hide? In other countries that do have similar laws (such as Japan), it's unlikely you're gonna get pulled over and singled out at random unless you're actually doing something suspicious-- for example, hanging around a shady part of Roppongi late at night, where drug deals are known to go down, smelling like marijuana. Or acting drunk and disorderly on a street corner. Is it really that big of an inconvenience when there's very real drug and gang violence taking place?
If you really want to talk about harsh treatment of foreigners breaking laws across borders, lets talk about Indonesia. Or the middle east. Various countries in Africa, or China-- where bringing drugs across their borders can get you slapped with the death penalty on the spot.
Now, I am personally part native american, and I sometimes do get mistaken for being latina, or half white and something else. I sympathize with the possibility of people getting judge by their looks, I do. I'm not saying this law in Arizona was the best available option... but the federal government has been sitting on it hands doing nothing for long enough, while the situation has continued to get worse, and citizens felt the need to protect themselves. The law does stipulate that a cop would need some kind of reasonable suspicion. That means they can't just walk up to a woman minding her own business and harass her at complete random and with no reason. So yes, the way I read the bill, it sounds like they need to be doing something suspicious other than merely walking around with a different skin color.