Woman arrested for flying while Arab

[JarodRussell]

I'm reminded a bit of this deleted scene from Friends:

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXvvjts_g0Q[/yt]

Mind you, this was filmed before 9/11 (and cut because of it). So the idea that you are detained and interrogated for making a silly joke was around even then. My question in that regard is: how much is truly different today? Even back then you could get arrested for "looking suspicious", even thought the definition of "suspicious" might have changed a bit.

 

[SmoothieX]

So you'll happily submit to a body cavity search too?

Is that an offer?

 

[Amaris]

I'm reminded a bit of this deleted scene from Friends:



Mind you, this was filmed before 9/11 (and cut because of it). So the idea that you are detained and interrogated for making a silly joke was around even then. My question in that regard is: how much is truly different today? Even back then you could get arrested for "looking suspicious", even thought the definition of "suspicious" might have changed a bit.

Yeah, having brown skin is now apparently considered a reasonable definition of "suspicious". Before, they had to take note of your actions. Now they can just look at the color of your skin and detain you and give you a body cavity search. Sounds reasonable. I mean, they're just trying to make us safe. Remember, it's for your protection.

 

[Davros]

Thank you for realizing we don't live in a perfect world full of sunshine and unicorns. I've been stopped and patted down a couple times. Also have had my carry on swabbed for explosives a couple times. I don't like it, but if they catch a bad guy along the way, then good for them. I'll gladly submit to a random check if it means I end up at my destination in one piece. This thread has gone irretrievably pinko.

A pat down is not the same thing as being held for hours and forced to undergo a cavity search.

 

[Trekker4747]

I just read the AP account of this. It's disturbing how many of the commenters after the story are applauding the actions of the police. Here are a few:

Good! Glad to see we are hard at work trying to stop terrorists.

Good job by the police and everyone involved. This needs to be done daily. The Arabic/Muslim people should not blame TSA/Police or America for this. They need to blame those Arabic/Muslim terrorists for putting them in this situation with such cowardly acts.

I'm not mad at what they did to her. They were simply keeping people out of harms way. and if something looks suspicious or out of the ordinary then please go for it. Its another person looking for attention and money just because they can use the 'race card'.

My hats off to the TSA and the cops. Screw this muslim b**&^&h~~!

Sigh.

Jesus Christ.

 

[Trekker4747]

That is exactly my problem with it. The plane was already on the ground! Unless it was their plan to blow up the Detroit airport after they arrived, I don't see how any of this was justified.

Maybe that's why they were questioned. They wanted to know why they DIDN'T blow up the Detroit Airport. I mean aside from the loss of life wouldn't that be doing the city a pretty big favor?



That anyone can defend or call these actions rights is appalling to me. I've related this story to two different people I work with, both have Right-Wing views, and both were shocked and disgusted that this sort of thing happened to an American citizen! They were shocked that this woman was strip-searched and treated like a criminal.

Why? Because the two men in the seat next to her went to the bathroom a couple of times.

Is that really all it fucking takes?

 

[Amaris]

That is exactly my problem with it. The plane was already on the ground! Unless it was their plan to blow up the Detroit airport after they arrived, I don't see how any of this was justified.

Maybe that's why they were questioned. They wanted to know why they DIDN'T blow up the Detroit Airport. I mean aside from the loss of life wouldn't that be doing the city a pretty big favor?



That anyone can defend or call these actions rights is appalling to me. I've related this story to two different people I work with, both have Right-Wing views, and both were shocked and disgusted that this sort of thing happened to an American citizen! They were shocked that this woman was strip-searched and treated like a criminal.

Why? Because the two men in the seat next to her went to the bathroom a couple of times.

Is that really all it fucking takes?

Come now, Trekker, it's for your protection.

 

[Agent Richard07]

I also wondered why the authorities would put these people through all this after the plane landed. I figure that maybe they were looking to see if they were potential terrorists who were up to something that could happen at a later date, or to see if they tried to do something that failed.

 

[Pingfah]

It's easy to say that when it's someone else being strip-searched, isn't it?

To be fair, had this ended in an actual hijacking, you'd surely say "Why didn't they...?!".

Thank you for realizing we don't live in a perfect world full of sunshine and unicorns. I've been stopped and patted down a couple times. Also have had my carry on swabbed for explosives a couple times. I don't like it, but if they catch a bad guy along the way, then good for them. I'll gladly submit to a random check if it means I end up at my destination in one piece. This thread has gone irretrievably pinko.

Now you're just being ridiculous, what you have put up with is not even vaguely similar to what this woman was subjected to, on nothing more than rumour. That you would try to justify this over the top treatment by pointing to your own minor inconvenience is hilarious.

You continue to act as though people are objecting merely to her being detained, rather than the absurd manner in which it was carried out. You don't even appear to understand the point of view you are objecting to here.

Pinko, what a load of hyperbolic nonsense, you are just getting called out for your attitudes and you don't like it.

 

[ichab]

Can you say LAWSUIT? Hope her and the others sue and win a big settlement. I don't mind my tax dollars paying for that.

 

[Trekker4747]

I suspect she can't sue. You can't sue the government for doing it's job. No matter how stupid that "job" is.

 

[1001001]

This thread has gone irretrievably pinko.

Did I fall into a time machine and travel back to 1952, or did my brain just stroke out for minute?

Dude, it's like you ran out of bullets and just threw the gun at us....

 

[Trekker4747]

More like the gun holdster.

 

[SmoothieX]

I'm not trying to throw the gun at anyone. I just firmly believe that in this day and age of terrorism, that caution, whether or not it is excessive in the long run or not, is well worth the inconvenience. Frisk away TSA, I'd rather land safely and deal with being checked out, than be blown to bits with my 'pride' intact.

 

[Trekker4747]

Frisk away, sure.

Haul someone off in handcuffs in front of a plane-load of people, detain them, strip search them, treat them as they're not an American, and then when you find out your wrong just give them two rough pats on the shoulder and a "Sorry, kid" all because someone saw that person sitting next to people who happened to go to the bathroom a couple of times while being not-white?

No.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I'm sure whoever reported it was doing what he thought was best.

I find it easier to believe they were racist assholes taking advantage of the laws and mood prevailing in the States to cause problems for people they didn't like the look of.

Don't get me wrong, I think they were racist assholes, but it's also possible they didn't know this would happen. The idea of speaking up is good. It's those who are responsible for dealing with this information that needed to act more responsibly.

I didn't say that I agree with the methods, but I do understand them. Most of the terrorists on 9/11 actually showed up on lists during check-in. But after what airport security thought was an intensive search back then, they still managed to hijack airplanes. Had they done the same with them, 9/11 wouldn't have happened.

While you say you don't agree with their methods, you certainly excuse them. It also ignores two things. One, our screenings have gotten better. Two, there were better ways to handle this.

I'm not trying to throw the gun at anyone. I just firmly believe that in this day and age of terrorism, that caution, whether or not it is excessive in the long run or not, is well worth the inconvenience. Frisk away TSA, I'd rather land safely and deal with being checked out, than be blown to bits with my 'pride' intact.

This wasn't a frisk. It was a several hour detention and strip search based on nothing. There were no grounds for suspicion. Think about it. At a minimum, this is counterproductive. What if they're so focused on detaining these people who they have no reason to suspect that they miss someone who actually does something suspicious during the commotion? Then you're not anywhere closer to being safe. You just live in a fantasy world where people are seriously abused for no gain.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Frisk away, sure.

Haul someone off in handcuffs in front of a plane-load of people, detain them, strip search them, treat them as they're not an American, and then when you find out your wrong just give them two rough pats on the shoulder and a "Sorry, kid" all because someone saw that person sitting next to people who happened to go to the bathroom a couple of times while being not-white?

No.

I don't really understand why being an American makes that much
difference. If I, an Australian, was visiting America as a tourist and I was hauled off in handcuffs, detained, strip search etc just because someone thought I looked suspicious would it
More acceptable bwcause I am not an American citizen?

 

[Amaris]

Frisk away, sure.

Haul someone off in handcuffs in front of a plane-load of people, detain them, strip search them, treat them as they're not an American, and then when you find out your wrong just give them two rough pats on the shoulder and a "Sorry, kid" all because someone saw that person sitting next to people who happened to go to the bathroom a couple of times while being not-white?

No.

I don't really understand why being an American makes that much
difference. If I, an Australian, was visiting America as a tourist and I was hauled off in handcuffs, detained, strip search etc just because someone thought I looked suspicious would it
More acceptable bwcause I am not an American citizen?

I think it has more to do with the idea of the government doing this to "it's own people". I would be appalled if it happened to any innocent from any nation. Everyone deserves the same human rights.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Frisk away, sure.

Haul someone off in handcuffs in front of a plane-load of people, detain them, strip search them, treat them as they're not an American, and then when you find out your wrong just give them two rough pats on the shoulder and a "Sorry, kid" all because someone saw that person sitting next to people who happened to go to the bathroom a couple of times while being not-white?

No.

I don't really understand why being an American makes that much
difference. If I, an Australian, was visiting America as a tourist and I was hauled off in handcuffs, detained, strip search etc just because someone thought I looked suspicious would it be more acceptable because I am not an American citizen?

 

[Gov Kodos]

Frisk away, sure.

Haul someone off in handcuffs in front of a plane-load of people, detain them, strip search them, treat them as they're not an American, and then when you find out your wrong just give them two rough pats on the shoulder and a "Sorry, kid" all because someone saw that person sitting next to people who happened to go to the bathroom a couple of times while being not-white?

No.

I don't really understand why being an American makes that much
difference. If I, an Australian, was visiting America as a tourist and I was hauled off in handcuffs, detained, strip search etc just because someone thought I looked suspicious would it be more acceptable because I am not an American citizen?

A government with no concern for law or the civil rights of its citizens is, by many, believed to likely be even less concerned for a foreign national. Further, it betokens a government that would be essentially a despotic one and the only people with any rights would be those wielding power.