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Some of you have still missed my point. This is not about railfan vs railroad! I am aware that some so-called railfans (foamers) are really thieves, and they should be arrested. So should anyone messing with someone elses property. However, neither a trainman's bashfulness or the industry's concern about liability have anything to do with national security. These are not national security issues and the heavy hand of martial law should not be used to solve them. My point was that the bogus and erroneous terrorist profile put out by the A.A.R. is wasting the precious time of our security forces and police. But apparently not for long! Where I live, the harrassment IS easing. Even a U.P. railroad cop patrolling on foot along a county park boundary the other day ignored my presence at the boundary until I asked him what was up. It seems that the police in my area are beginning to get wise to the phony profile and are placing railroad reports on a lower priority, unless the railroad has someone in custody. He was out there looking for someone with a camera. It may have been me, as I had one in plain view - but since I was obviously no threat, he conversed openly about all this "Waste of time", and then walked on. Now this perceived lack of credibility in a call to the police can't be good for national security. You cannot cry wolf for long, and not eventually get eaten by the wolf. Why not come out with a real profile, one that truly points to real security threats - filtering out everyday activities which (though perhaps annoying) have nothing to do with security. If that is not possible - then true security demands that we accept the fact and replace profiling with common sence and increased vigilance by all. The locals should know what is ordinary in their areas, even if someone in a centralized office cannot know. Let's put all Americans to work watching out for each other - railfan and railroad alike - at the grass roots. Railfans could be a great asset in this cause, not unlike the Civil Air Patrol during WW2. Register them, with background checks, if you like; but let's get on with it. A.A.R. - are you listening? RmC
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