Family in Muslim clothing ejected from flight at Memphis International

[kpete]

Family in Muslim clothing ejected from flight at Memphis International
Posted: Oct 26, 2010 2:58 PM PDT Updated: Oct 26, 2010 7:07 PM PDT

By Jason Miles - bio | email

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - Comments about seeing people on a plane who appear to be Muslim got National Public Radio analyst Juan Williams fired last week.

Some cannot help but think their appearance had something to do with a family's removal from a plane Tuesday morning at Memphis International Airport.

"My understanding is they were dressed in attire that would indicate some Muslim-type religion," said airport vice-president Scott Brockman.

The Delta flight in question was operated by Comair and made a stop in Memphis on a journey from Dallas to Toronto.

http://www.wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13392236

[Warpy]

1. Shame on the airline for evicting the wrong people.

That is all.

[pnwmom]

31. Pretake-off, one of them spent an unusually long time in the bathroom and left it damaged.

According to the airline.

I don't think this is necessarily about discrimination.

[Warpy]

34. I'd have to know what the "damage" was

but you could be right.

[pnwmom]

35. Something to do with the toilet.

Not clear -- but since that is one of the places the FAA is concerned about bombs being hidden, I'd rather they take precautions.


"On taxi, the crew became concerned when a passenger exited the lavatory after an extended period of time and damage was found in the lavatory," said a Comair spokesperson in a written statement.

Action News 5 learned that damage was to a toilet which was found slightly askew after the man of the family used it.

[petronius]

41. Of course, but once the aircraft was inspected and cleared, and the family was

presumably checked out during that two hours, there was no reason (except spite, I suppose) to exclude them from the flight any further.

Now, everybody in the country knows that this otherwise innocent fellow busted a toilet...

[pnwmom]

44. The article states that the family was detained in order for them

to be interviewed by the FBI, which would be standard procedure in a case like this. Then the airline put them on another of their flights.

I think this event has been overblown.

A few years ago my husband and three children were once detained for hours by immigration authorities when, while visiting a national park, they tried to cross the border into Canada. Being white and wearing typical American clothes didn't spare them from several hours of interrogation, my husband kept separately from my teens and 12 year old. My husband said, fine, we won't go into Canada then, but that wasn't an option either. Once they have you, they have you -- and you have to go through the process no matter how long it takes. Eventually, someone told my 18 year old daughter that the issue was that I wasn't with them! Finally, they were released. And they never saw the Canadian side of the park.

If this had happened to a Muslim family or a Sikh family dressed in religious clothing, and the family went to the newspapers, imagine the uproar. But this kind of thing happens every day, to people of every race and religion. Sadly, it's the post 9/11 reality.

And so is worrying about people who stay in airplane bathrooms for too long and manage to damage the toilets.

[petronius]

48. The point is tht "the post 9/11 reality" is unacceptable

There was no valid reason for detaining this family beyond the time it took to check the bathroom, and even if it could/does happen to everyone evenly (which I doubt) it's still wrong. Security overkill is one issue (and it's noticeable in all areas of life these days), and excessive suspicion based on ethnicity is another. The airline and airport appears to have screwed up on both counts.

You can call this event overblown, and in the grand scheme of things it's pretty trivial (nobody died, everyone got where they were going on the same day, etc), but the core issue to me most is that this is yet another symptom of the acquiescence to and acceptance of this 'post 9/11 mentality' by far too many people in our society. That troubles me more than the (not so) occasional screw-up by an overzealous law enforcement agent...

[pnwmom]

56. Yes, it's unacceptable. And airplanes flying into buildings is unacceptable.

And AK-47's being freely available is unacceptable. And bomb making materials being freely available is unacceptable.

Reality is unacceptable. But we have to do our best to live in the real world of today, not what existed 10 years ago, when oceans seemed to separate us from most of the world's terrorism problems.

[uppityperson]

57. ooooo, where are AK-47's freely available? Border crossing people stop solo adults with kids

all the time to make sure it's not a kidnapping. It works better if the absent parent writes/signs permission for present parent to take named kids across the border.

Unless you are like my ex who so nicely wrote one and put a bit in there to please watch me as was concerned I'd kidnap the kid away to another country. Thanks a lot, ex. At least it showed me what YOU were thinking of doing.

[pnwmom]

58. AK-47's are easy to purchase, if you don't have a criminal record.

And even if you do, through back channels.

I personally know two people in two different states who legally purchased them without any special need or training.

[petronius]

62. The primary issue in the story in the OP is the use of the "post-9/11 world" mentality

to defend the unacceptable treatment of these passengers. It has nothing to do with AK-47s, or bomb-making material, or airplanes hitting buildings, or the narrowness of oceans - conflating those with this is not recognizing reality, it's simplifying reality in a dangerous way.

We don't want to go down the path where dressing funny and breaking a toilet is an automatic reason for an FBI interview. We don't want a country in which unusual = suspicious = maybe terrorism = probably terrorism.

It would be naive to think that there aren't people here and around the world who want to harm us. But it's equally naive to fail to see that there are plenty of authoritarian types right here at home who wish to use the magic phrase "post-9/11 reality" to expand the reach of the police-state apparatus. We need to be at least as vigilant about the latter as about the former...

[pnwmom]

64. We don't know that their clothes had anything to do with it.

That was a question the press legitimately asked, but it wasn't anything the airline brought up as a reason to explain what they did.

As I said in another post, my family was also involved in a detention and interrogation -- several hours at the border -- and it had nothing to do with clothes, religion, or race. But if my husband had been Muslim, and this had become a public story, it would have been easy to jump to the conclusion that his background is why he was detained.

[petronius]

66. Leave the clothing out, then, it changes nothing

A broken toilet (on an otherwise safe and inspected aircraft) is not a good reason to hold someone for the FBI, and no amount of post-9/11 rationalizing will change that...

[pnwmom]

67. It was not only the broken toilet. It was that someone spent

an unusually long period of time in the bathroom while it was taxi-ing -- which is when, by law, all passengers are supposed to be seated in their assigned seats. Not on a toilet.

[petronius]

68. Well, I must have missed that in the report. Yes, of course, ill-timed bowel urgency

is a matter for the FBI. ;)

There is nothing, and no combination of things, in this incident as reported thus far that necessitated or excuses holding this family for the FBI, post-9/11 or not.

The aspect of it that is of national interest, and which should cause concern, is the overreaction by the authorities, and the excessive willingness of participants and observers to unquestioningly accept that security concerns (however tenuous) trump everything else...

[kenny blankenship]

52. He walked out saying "Oh, Kaffirs, you do NOT want to go in there! I just dropped the bomb."

Plainly, a statement of a threatening nature.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Hmmmm wonder what would happen if they saw this!!!!!!!!!!??????????

since that is most likely what Jesus actually looked like...

[JoePhilly]

12. Juan Williams would wet himself ... we know that.

[Turborama]

16. Or this?!?

More details http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9365467">here

[jwirr]

20. Long robes and all. He would definitely be ejected. nt

[elocs]

21. No, that's still too handsome for Jesus. Here's what the Bible has to say about his looks:

http://www.differentspirit.org/?gclid=CPrj24Tq86QCFZ_Y5wodbl6aiw

The only verse in the Bible about Jesus’ physical form, before His death and resurrection, is found in Isaiah 53:2. It says:

“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him,
nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.”

In other words, the only biblical description of Jesus during His time on earth says that He was not physically attractive.

We can also say that Jesus would not have had a neat, trimmed beard, because a command in the Law (Leviticus 19:27) required Jewish males to “not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.”

Beauty, in God’s eyes, comes from within <1 Peter 3:3-4>.

This image may be closer to reality:



My guess is that they would throw Jesus off the plane as well.

[antigone382]

65. Isaiah wasn't written in Jesus's lifetime. Isaiah is the book that predicts the Messiah.

It was written long before Jesus is supposed to have been born.

(other than that I agree with you. The vast likelihood is that Jesus didn't have blue eyes or blonde hair.)

[npk]

40. They would ask to fly Virgin Mary Airlines

If they saw that.

[EFerrari]

3. Some "Muslim-type religion"?

This is the airport vice president speaking.

:wow:

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Ignorance is beyond pervasive....

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. It's WMC-TV!

:think:

[wtmusic]

11. That's some Christian-type ignorance. nt

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DefenseLawyer]

25. A sweet gig compared to his last job, assistant night manager at Shoney's n/t

[walldude]

36. NAh.. in Memphis it would have been Waffle House

:toast:

[DefenseLawyer]

37. There used to be a Shoneys just down the street from Graceland

Can't get much more Memphis than that. But you're right about the damn Waffle House, there's at least one at every exit from Kansas City to Jacksonville and Cincinnati to Dallas. Drunks do like their pancakes.

[Edweird]

53. Perkin's or CK's. Ck's makes Waffle House look downright classy.

[npk]

42. As in some "mumbo-jumbo religion" we regular folk don't understand

[mainer]

4. The 9/11 terrorists were not wearing "Muslim" clothing

No terrorist who's planning to blow up a plane would call attention to himself like that. So I would think that anyone wearing "Muslim" clothing would actually be far less of a threat.

[wtmusic]

Bingo.

The notion that we're going to be able to effectively screen passengers based on appearance is nonsense.

[EFerrari]

22. It would be too expensive to dump all the passengers wearing polo shirts.

lol

[jobycom]

6. Let that be a lesson to all Muslims--eat more fiber.

""On taxi, the crew became concerned when a passenger exited the lavatory after an extended period of time and damage was found in the lavatory," said a Comair spokesperson in a written statement.

Action News 5 learned that damage was to a toilet which was found slightly askew after the man of the family used it."

[grantcart]

7. I knew before clicking that they were going to be Sikhs and not Muslims.

And the article is factually wrong in calling Sikhs 'Hindu'.

Sikh isn't even in the same class of religion as Hinduism as Sikhism is a monotheistic religion and Hindus are polytheistic.

[gratuitous]

8. And somewhere, Juan Williams changes his underwear

The United States is safe once more!

[KamaAina]

10. I just flew out of Memphis last week.

Fortunately, I'm white, and I dress like a Christian (or at least a deist), so I was OK. :eyes:

[The Straight Story]

13. ..

[Kalyke]

51. I love Tommy Lee Jones. eom

[bobbolink]

60. I like your graphics, but could we PLEEEZ finally lose the "R" meme?

Really, can't we get a bit more liberated than this?

I would much rather deal with 100 Downs Syndrome kids than 1 of the people who find it necessary to keep using that word, knowing it is hurtful.

[Drale]

14. Next time I need to fly

I think I might dress in complete muslim guard see what happens (BTW Im white as white can be).

[uppityperson]

15. What is "complete muslim guard" and what does it have to do with being "white"?

Seriously. What?

[Codeine]

23. Muslim guard? nt

[uppityperson]

29. He's "white as white can be" so it would be scary.

even here we find them

[krabigirl]

24. me too. I might just wear some and walk around town to scare people.

happy halloween! lol

[uppityperson]

28. You mean clothing like this? Please check out the link, look @ picts, read about them

Not sure how they are scary though.

http://muslimswearingthings.tumblr.com/

[Quantess]

55. My goodness.

Those outfits certainly don't scream, "LOOK AT ME, I'M A RELIGIOUS FUNDIE!"

[grantcart]

38. Well if you want to be thrown off a plane you will have better chance dressing as a

Sikh, Americans don't understand the difference.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

46. very true...and sad... n/t

[Turborama]

17. I bet they did this to try and prove Williams right, somehow. When does it become segregation? n/t

[AC_Mem]

19. OMG I'm embarressed

to live in Memphis. What IDIOTS.

[EFerrari]

27. Don't be embarrassed. There are idiots everywhere.

lol

:)

[NightHawk63]

61. Same here AC

This is just crazy. I heard about this earlier today, but had no idea it was here.

[ejpoeta]

26. this is ridiculous. what the hell kind of country are we! bin laden is

laughing his ass off somewhere.

[rox63]

30. One of the muslim folks I know is partial to plaid shirts and khakis

Another is a doctor, and usually wears a button-down shirt and a tie. That sort of "muslim clothing" doesn't sound all that strange to me. :eyes:

[pnwmom]

32. If I'm ever on an airplane and, on taxi, the attendants notice

the bathroom has been occupied too long and -- upon entering -- see something wrong with the toilet seat,
I wouldn't complain if they investigate the situation, even a family member was the one they were suspicious about.
No one wants a bomb left in a bathroom.

[2008 was great]

33. They should have been taken off the flight!

For me, their wardrobe is a non issue. Once I read the following, it became clear why they were taken off the flight.
"On taxi, the crew became concerned when a passenger exited the lavatory after an extended period of time and
damage was found in the lavatory," said a Comair spokesperson in a written statement."

"Action News 5 learned that damage was to a toilet which was found slightly askew after the man of the family used it."

[GoneOffShore]

43. Oh stop - or did you forget the sarcasm smiley?

"Askew?" "Askew??"
The guy probably tried to turn around and his clothes caught the seat.

"An abundance of caution" is going to destroy us all.

And have you actually looked at airplane toilets recently? Most of the seats are "askew".

Look at is this way - They had already passed through the "TSA ""Security"" ""Screening"""" so they were certified safe to fly. Probably went through the Nude-O-Scope AND were frisked. Their luggage and carry-on baggage definitely was pawed and searched through.

So, tell me, if TSA was doing THEIR job, why should they have been taken off of the flight?

Explain it to me like I'm a 4 year old. Plus tell me how often you fly.

Remember what Ben Franklin said: "He who would give up a little freedom for security, deserves neither."

[pnwmom]

45. The article didn't say the "seat" was askew.

It said the toilet was askew. And that there was damage. I have no idea what they meant and no else else here does either.

As for your other point, surely you've heard about the tests they run from time to time to test security -- and how often things still get by. And what about the shoelace bomber? He went through security. It isn't enough to have screening. Airline personnel still need to remain vigilant before and during the flight.

I don't fly often but my husband flies several times a month. I appreciate all the measures they take for passenger safety.

As for Ben Franklin, you are misquoting him. He actually said,

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

"Essential liberty" vs. "a little temporary safety" is different from "liberty" vs. "safety." Being a practical minded man, I don't think Franklin would have argued with anyone's wanting to make jetliner flights as safe as possible.

[GoneOffShore]

47. Uh - Okay - Yeah - Sure

"When he left, an attendant inspected the bathroom and saw that part of the toilet hood was dislodged. At that point, the crew had the man, his wife and child — also in traditional clothing — exit the plane, Brockman said.

The man told authorities he’d dislodged the seat when trying to turn around. The regional jet has a smaller bathroom than larger planes, Brockman said."
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/oct/26/plane-security-scare-delays-memphis-flight/

You appreciate all the measures they take for airline safety? Really?
The virtual strip search - Nude-O-Scope?
The useless liquid ban?
The removal of shoes?
The groping and pat down?

In actual fact we're giving up essential liberty by letting the TSA regulate who travels and how we travel. And the TSA (Thousands Standing Around or Thieves Standing Around) is a bunch of clerks who fancy themselves as "officers". Good thing that they have zero arrest powers. I think Franklin would be appalled at what is being done in the name of "security".

I'm not a zek being transported to the gulag. I'm an American traveling within my own country.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. Justbfor the fun of it

Tempted to travel as hassidic jew next time. I can use the lawsuit money and it will take that.

[kenny blankenship]

49. Does TSA have Muslin sniffing dogs in all the airports and bus terminals yet?

You know not all teh Muslins are going to oblige us by dressing up in burkas and skullcaps. We can't count on them slipping up forever.

[Gormy Cuss]

50. So far the dogs can only sniff out wool, and that's a major security problem because

only teh polly-esthers are allowed on flights.

[kpete]

54. i am flying tomorrow

what should i wear?

[musette_sf]

63. All-natural fibers and lace-up shoes (preferably an athletic shoe),

as polyester and sandals can reduce your survival chances if an emergency occurs.

At least, that's what I always wear.

:-)

[Paulie]

59. The only hope we have for safer flights

All Muslim looking People should get free non-stop executive jet service when they fly. Then the rest of us fat white people can feel "safe" while packed in the sardine can also known as coach.

There, everyone is happy! :rofl: :sarcasm: