Hoopla over nothing?

Question

This is exactly why we dislike the nonsense people post here on a regular basis.

One Midwestern flight was cancelled because a passenger found Arabic-style lettering (which was actually Farsi) inside the in-flight magazine.

A second flight was more recently cancelled because a passenger heard some other men speaking Arabic and complained about it. As it turns out, the group of men were visiting from Iraq to train US soldiers before going to Iraq themselves.

Is all the paranoia really worth it? I ask because so far all any paranoid non-Muslim has done is delay flights. The real successes come from great undercover work or other Muslims who turn to authorities when they feel something's suspicious. How would you feel if you were on either of those flights? Do you think it would be a legitimate reason for a cancellation or delay? And what type of role do you think misconceptions, stereotypes, and anti-Islamic rhetoric play on people's paranioa?

Answer 1

No, this is simply paranioa at it's worst and an inconvenience for the rest of us...

This is neither legitimate nor reasonable and for those too paranoid and ignorant I would advise a roadtrip or a boat...

Though it is better to be safe then sorry there is a limit and a line not to be crossed for everything...

Answer 2

I recently read an article about a man who was removed (I believe) from a flight because his T-shirt was written in Arabic and other passengers got afraid and reported him. It wasn't anything bad, I don't even remember what it was, but the story just made me shake my head. Pathetic.

Several years back, a friend of mine's husband was stationed in Qatar. Several of the men in the unit were angry at how their tours were handled and got T-shirts that said "F*** ", in Arabic. I wonder, if these white men had worn these shirts on a plane, would there be any problem? I have a feeling the answer is no.

Racial profiling is thinly veiled racism.

Answer 3

I am sorry for your pain and embarrasment. The political and cultural climate in this country since 911 has been deplorable. The politicians and the media have exploited fear and played to the lowest common denominator. Instead of doing real homeland security they have raised false fears in Americans and promoted prejudice and failed to truly inform. Airport security can be done with the baggage checks and metal detectors and all the other security we have put in place. We should not target people because of their ethnicity or language. This only increases tensions and gives others more reasons to be wary of Americans and feel Americans are ignorant. We are really a country of immigrants and we need to stop promoting fear where it is not needed and begin to educate ourselves and examine our government policies both foriegn and domestic.

Answer 4

HHHMMMMMMMM - idunno , you know I just can't get the whole 9/11 out of my head - 3000 ppl dead caused by islamists fanatics who went out of their way to kill soooooo many ppl and rick ache the whole world into turmoil!

I guess my answer is - one can never be too careful! but thank you for your concern and thank you for flying Yahoo airlines where your flight will never be canceled ,but your account will!

no please stop whining and criticizing and if you don't like the precautions made to make you safe as well ,then maybe a future home in Iran might be more pleasant for you!

and I'm not even an American! but I feel they are doing the right thing!

Answer 5

They prevented a Canadian man from entering the united states because he took acid 30 years ago and wrote a paper on it! The stupidity I see here day in and day out really makes me wonder if we are going to survive or if we should just go extinct.

Answer 6

Ask the 3000+ who died on 9/11 if the paranoia is really worth it. I do believe they would say "yes", if they could. After all, such "hoopla" could save lives.

I am sorry that you see this as an assault on your religion, but you have to understand that the 9/11 attacks weren't carried out by a group of Italian grandmothers. The extremists brought this upon you.

I prefer to err on the side of caution, and I feel that my life is worth any delay in reaching my travel destination. I would not have been bothered by these delays.

Answer 7

I think that better to be safe than sorry. And you might not ever be in the same page with people who are scared because Islam. Call it paranoia all you want. I am still troubled by after what happened 9/11.

Answer 8

9/11

Answer 9

Ours is a society of fear. Fear of everything. We can thank the media for most of it. Everything from TV ad campaigns, to the news coverage of international issues. Then we can thank ourselves for allowing ourselves to be lead like sheep to buy whatever product we're told will get rid of our wrinkles [even though a 16 year girl is the spokes-model who has no wrinkles] and our politicians who will say anything to get us to go along with whatever they want. Fear begets fear. It cancels flights, it gets kids thrown out of school for drawing a crude gun on the bookcover... It's all ridiculous.

Answer 10

They just need to walk a little lightly these days. It's not many of their faults, but there are many, many who bring it on themselves. I would rather it be a mistake than to allow a terrorist on board.

I am glad that you brought it up. Because you people need to either put a stop to it, or help those who are trying to put a stop to it.

If you complain about everyone else, you make yourself look like a terrorist sympathizer who is trying to put one over everyone else.

Be smarter. Stop complaining. We don't care what you think if you are against us. In fact, you are the enemy if you are against us.