Would you be comfortable sitting next to a lone Muslim man on a plane?

Question

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070725/D8QJAQ000.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - Airport security officers around the nation have been alerted by federal officials to look out for terrorists practicing to carry explosive components onto aircraft, based on four curious seizures at airports since last September.
The four seizures were described this way:

- San Diego, July 7. A U.S. person - either a citizen or a foreigner legally here - checked baggage containing two ice packs covered in duct tape. The ice packs had clay inside them rather than the normal blue gel.

- Milwaukee, June 4. A U.S. person's carryon baggage contained wire coil wrapped around a possible initiator, an electrical switch, batteries, three tubes and two blocks of cheese. The bulletin said block cheese has a consistency similar to some explosives.

- Houston, Nov. 8, 2006. A U.S. person's checked baggage contained a plastic bag with a 9-volt battery, wires, a block of brown clay-like minerals and pipes.

- Baltimore, Sept. 16, 2006. A couple's checked baggage contained a plastic bag with a block of processed cheese taped to another plastic bag holding a cellular phone charger.

I AM VERY SORRY TO SAY I WOULD NOT BE COMFORTABLE.
We fly out of Milwaukee all the time...

I am not HAPPY about feeling this way - I am just being HONEST. It is not racism - it's FEAR!

Answer 1

I would not say uncomfortable but I will say I am on heightened awareness when I am sitting next to a Muslim.

I was leaving Minneapolis on Sept 8, 2001 when I noticed a Muslim man sit down next to me at boarding. Since had no other weapons I had the 2 pencils I was carrying sharpened. I figured I would shove them through his eye if needed.

If the people on Sept 11 would have thought the same way a lot of people would still be alive.

I do not think it is racist to be aware of your situation and ready to fight. While I know all Muslims are not terrorists all terrorists seem to be Muslims. I will not apologize for wanting to live.

Answer 2

I simply refuse to fly period.
I don't feel it's safe and the airports have made flying hell for their passengers.
Only recently a woman and her 2 year old little boy were kicked off of a plane because the little boy was saying "Bye bye plane" and it pissed off a stewardess so she lied and said the woman threatened her and got her kicked off of the plane.
Another incident was a woman was pouring liquid out of her babies sippie cup onto the ground and security almost arrested her for it.
They also make women remove their babies diapers so they can check the children for weapons which I am completely opposed to.
Last night I heard on the news that TWA in Phoenix Arizona didn't have any security at all working between the hours of 12 am to 4:30am and was allowing anybody through to board the planes without checking them for anything which could cause severe casualties or even death among innocent passengers.

Flights are being canceled leaving passengers stranded sometimes for days without so much as an excuse as to why.
And in some cases people are held hostage by the crew on the tarmac until whatever is wrong is fixed and they can't leave the damn plane because the airport doesn't want to pay to put them up in a hotel.

I have even heard of Muslims being allowed to board the plane without so much as a glance while everyone else is put through extensive security checks.

I'll figure an alternative way to travel and leave the skies to whoever has more patience than I and are more even tempered.
Because if a stewardess told me to drug my child in order to shut him up I wouldn't hesitate to tell her to kiss my %@!.

And that would go over like a lead balloon for sure.

Answer 3

you can drive there if you want. Its actually not safer than flying. Is processed cheese explosive, they never tought me that in the marines. would have saved us a bunch on plastic explosive. Yes I would fly next to an arab, cause if they act funny now, the people in the plane will take him down. I would.

Answer 4

Well I suppose I would make that decision after attempting to talk to him. I am a sociable person most of the time and have had conversations between myself and muslim men quite a few times.
Most of the time they are nice people, in fact very nice people.
Once in awhile you will get one that is guarded and you can feel that they perhaps dont like to talk to westerners.
Of those types you sometimes cant help a thought going through your mind of is this guy one of those crazy ones. Its only a fleeting thought though, but it still happens. we are human.

Answer 5

If there is a bomb on a plane, it won't matter who you are sitting next to--or across from--or down the aisle from--or....well, you get the picture. If it goes BOOM, everyone is going down!

But, I really would like to know just exactly how you would identify a Muslim based on looks. An Iraqi friend of mine looks a little like an Italian banker--and he's a Christian, a Catholic at that! My cousin's Iranian husband looks every bit like an Arab; he is, but he's also a Catholic! My friend's daughter looks like any middle class Black woman, and she's a Muslim!

If everyone thought like you do, then we needn't worry about "losing" in Iraq---the terrorists will have created "fear" and therefore will have reason to say, "Mission Accomplished".

Answer 6

You know, to be quite honest, I never gave it a thought till I read your question.
I live in a rural area and I don't have much contact with anyone outside my area.
I hope I wouldn't have fear but I can't say for sure.
I understand what you're saying.

Answer 7

I DEFINITELY would feel uncomfortable. WHY=because the World Trade Center Buildings were not brought down by Norwegian blonde haired blued eyed passengers. If it quacks like a duck...etc...etc.

RLP = note new name!

Answer 8

Well, I refuse to live my life in fear. I fear nothing (except for spiders!).

I would not be bothered by anyone sitting next to me on a plane, bearded or not.... And, I would have no way of knowing if that person were Muslim or not anyway.

Our government has so many people in a constant state of fear with a boogie-man behind every tree or in every airline seat.

Relax. Life is too dam short.

Answer 9

yes, I don't think most people are evil or wrong-doers.

I really only get nervous around people who don't smile when someone smiles at them. I'm not saying these people are dangerous but I attribute it to them being rude or mean (yes i know I might be making te fundamental attribution error).
a Muslim man who doesn't smile and gives off a "mean vibe" might make me nervous.

Answer 10

I'd be a lot more comfortable next to a Muslim than I would a hypocritical, self-righteous, judgmental conservative Christian. THOSE PEOPLE are freakin' NUTS!!!

I think I'd rather be blown up into a million pieces than have someone else's right-wing values shoved down my throat for several hours.