So this is going to be unpopular most likely.

So I was reading about the whistleblower in the FBI releasing the violent extremists material. A lot of fuss has been around implications that if you are associated to the Betsy Ross flag (among other symbols) it means you have a probability of being an extremist.

If we can pry our eyes away from the symbols and read the summary - not even the whole summary at the top... just the part in bold that says:

"The use or sharing of these symbols should not independently be considered evidence of MVE (Militia Violent Extremists) presence or affiliation or serve as an indicator of illegal activity, as many individuals use these symbols for their original, historic meaning, or other non-violent purposes."

So why are we upset about this? Is it profiling? Of course it is. Like any investigation, or analysis - criminal or otherwise - there are a series of boxes that get checked. If you check one or two - most likely not of interest. Check a lot of boxes, you start to meet the criteria and eventually ... yes you have a probability of getting some new attention and in this case attention that you would rather not have.

Even then, it will have had a lot less to do with a Betsy Ross Flag than what has been implied by media and politicians.

So if you are one that is having stress over this event - relax. Despite what you were told, it isn't nearly as scary once you read the fine print..scratch that... bold print at the top.