"How Do I Speak Up When I Don't Even Know How To Speak Down?" : If you see something, say something Wallmart shoppers of America!

What is considered out of the ordinary and worth reporting? 

     Picture a mother of two pushing her cart through Walmart as one of her kids tugs her arm toward the toy isle, the other begs her to get an slushy from the snack bar. She is annoyed at the holiday crowds rushing past her, and begins to tune out her children as she makes her way to the dog food isle. She is thankful for the sale on Purina, hence why she and millions of others pack into the store like cattle. All of a sudden an announcement sounds over an intercom, something to the effect of "remember Walmart shoppers, if you see any suspicious activities, please report them. If you see something say something". This is the voice of
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet A. Napolitano. These messages are part of the campaign to make people more alert and aware of their surroundings. It has been evident in years past, that some of the greatest threats to homeland security have been foiled by average people on the lookout. For instance, once there was a smoking car in the middle of times Square which came to be noticed by a street vendor. His perceptiveness saved lives that day. The announcement that sounds in Walmart is part of a bigger campaign that is also sounding in The Mall of America, and areas of Public transit.

      So here is the issue. The children turn to their mother after hearing this announcement, "Mommy are there bad people here" . The mother tells her children that they have nothing to worry about, but she is reminded to be on her guard at all times. However, at what point does she become desensitized to this announcement, and start believing her own words of consolation? Also, do these announcements invite her to openly invite people to partake in racial profiling? Everyone will respond differently. I feel that it is a good thing to keep people on their toes, but I do not believe in racial profiling. Heightened security is a good thing. Some may argue that these announcements will alarm people and make them live in fear, even in places as seemingly safe as a superstore. Some people do not feel comfortable reporting others because they do not wish to judge. Others judge too quickly and offend others. What the Secretary of Homeland Security is trying to accomplish through theses announcements is to arm people with awareness so that they do not have to fear, and they can fight fear itself. She wants us to look out for unattended packages, and abandoned smoking cars rather than judging the guy next to you on the train because he dresses differently than you.

Source: 
http://www.npr.org/2010/12/11/131991345/wal-mart-shoppers-homeland-security-wants-you