jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:http://wjla.com/news/local/several-people-removed-from-spirit-airlines-flight-at-bwi

Several people were removed from Spirit Airlines flight NK969 after the plane was called back to the gate while taxiing off Tuesday morning, according to ABC7 reporter Suzanne Kennedy, who was on the flight. The flight was scheduled to leave from BWI to Chicago.

According to Kennedy, four passengers were initially removed from the flight, three males and one woman. They reportedly had several backpacks and appeared to be in their early 30's and of middle eastern descent.

Three additional passengers were subsequently called out from the loud speaker and removed from the plane.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/passengers-removed-spirit-airlines-flight-suspicious-activity/story?id=35253575

The spokesman said the "suspicious activity" involved one of the male passengers viewing a news report on his smartphone. All four of the passengers were "very cooperative," according to the MTA spokesperson, and have been released.

We have become a nation of pants wetters. If you are of "middle eastern descent" (which I am on one side of my family), I suggest cancelling any planned flights for a while.

About six months before 9/11, I was on a cross -country flight where 4 Muslim men were acting suspiciously once in-flight. I told a flight attendant who had noticed it as well, and notified the pilot. I believe it was a practice flight. You know when something is not right

It this case, the only thing not right was the pants-wetting passenger's suspicions. In your case, there has never been a Muslim man who didn't appear suspicious.

And yet? 6 months later we lost thousands to 12 Muslim men. Was the flight attendant a pants wetting passenger as well? They had spread themselves around the first class cabin, spoke across people in Arabic, kept standing up at odd times, and glared at those who turned to look at them. This is BEFORE 9/11 mind you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yay, it's 9/11 all over again. Irrational fear makes people do stupid things.

What would an example of rational fear be? I assume it would be an objective instead of a subjective test?

Are you saying it's rational to think that someone reading the news on their phone while the plane is on the ground (which EVERYONE is doing now, especially now that they allow electronics to be used) is a threat?

Uhh...no. You referred to irrational fear. That suggests that there could be rational fears. Just wondering what an example would be. If you can't provide one, that's ok.

Not the pp but how about a woman carri g the BRAC gene afraid of getting cancer?

Sure, ok. Not sure how that would apply to see something, say something, though.

You asked for a rational fear. That's one. A rational fear for 'see something, say something'. A man in NC stopped at a rest stop and parked next to a camper. A woman was peering out the window, and something in her eyes gave him a hinky feeling. She did not try to get his attention or anything. He called the police anyway. Turns out she was indeed a kidnapped woman (about 22). He went on gut. He was correct.

I'm genuinely confused about something. In the hypos re churches, etc., wouldn't the issue be whether the tip led law enforcement to have probable cause or at least reasonable suspicion for a stop? I could be wrong, but I thought that somewhat different rules applied on a plane that provide greater latitude for reporting and then law enforcement questioning. I vaguely recall this issue coming up years ago and there being a debate about qualified immunity to people who report something "suspicious." Bottom line--it might be morally questionable, but if the procedures were legal, what can be done?

My husband is middle eastern and our child is half. This entire situation sucks and I have definitely experienced issues at the airport while traveling with him.. But it's completely worth it. I would rather be kicked off a plane unnecessarily (as awful and upsetting as that would be) than DIE because someone saw something and didn't say something for fear of offending someone. It's like the patriot act- go ahead, tap my phone, please! I have nothing to hide. The people who care are the people who have a reason to care.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yay, it's 9/11 all over again. Irrational fear makes people do stupid things.

What would an example of rational fear be? I assume it would be an objective instead of a subjective test?

Are you saying it's rational to think that someone reading the news on their phone while the plane is on the ground (which EVERYONE is doing now, especially now that they allow electronics to be used) is a threat?

Uhh...no. You referred to irrational fear. That suggests that there could be rational fears. Just wondering what an example would be. If you can't provide one, that's ok.

Not the pp but how about a woman carri g the BRAC gene afraid of getting cancer?

Sure, ok. Not sure how that would apply to see something, say something, though.

Anonymous wrote:If Middle Easterns aren't happy that they might get singled out possibly to be on the safe side, then they can move back to the Middle East. I much rather pull a few people off a plane here and there and hurt their feelings, than miss something or afraid to ruffle feathers (like Egypt) and have the plane blow up. If people of Middle East decent can not understand that, then too bad. Go back home. We need to keep our country safe.

Pants Wetter Logic. Grow a pair, seriously.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yay, it's 9/11 all over again. Irrational fear makes people do stupid things.

What would an example of rational fear be? I assume it would be an objective instead of a subjective test?

Are you saying it's rational to think that someone reading the news on their phone while the plane is on the ground (which EVERYONE is doing now, especially now that they allow electronics to be used) is a threat?

Uhh...no. You referred to irrational fear. That suggests that there could be rational fears. Just wondering what an example would be. If you can't provide one, that's ok.

Not the pp but how about a woman carri g the BRAC gene afraid of getting cancer?

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Middle Easterns aren't happy that they might get singled out possibly to be on the safe side, then they can move back to the Middle East. I much rather pull a few people off a plane here and there and hurt their feelings, than miss something or afraid to ruffle feathers (like Egypt) and have the plane blow up. If people of Middle East decent can not understand that, then too bad. Go back home. We need to keep our country safe.

I think the same logic should be applied to southern white males who could potentially be planning to shoot up a black church.

Has nothing to do what we are talking about but sure. If I saw a white person wandering around paying attention to an all-black church, I would definitely be on guard. What is your point?

My point is that if we adopt your standard we will not wait for white people to pay attention to all-black churches. They will be reported and investigated for looking at their phones. If they don't like it, they can go back to wherever the hell they came from.

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Middle Easterns aren't happy that they might get singled out possibly to be on the safe side, then they can move back to the Middle East. I much rather pull a few people off a plane here and there and hurt their feelings, than miss something or afraid to ruffle feathers (like Egypt) and have the plane blow up. If people of Middle East decent can not understand that, then too bad. Go back home. We need to keep our country safe.

I think the same logic should be applied to southern white males who could potentially be planning to shoot up a black church.

I think we should all move back to the old country and give "our country" back to the Algonquian, Seminole and Cherokee people.

I think white settlers killed most if not all of them - but great idea!!

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Middle Easterns aren't happy that they might get singled out possibly to be on the safe side, then they can move back to the Middle East. I much rather pull a few people off a plane here and there and hurt their feelings, than miss something or afraid to ruffle feathers (like Egypt) and have the plane blow up. If people of Middle East decent can not understand that, then too bad. Go back home. We need to keep our country safe.

I think the same logic should be applied to southern white males who could potentially be planning to shoot up a black church.

I think we should all move back to the old country and give "our country" back to the Algonquian, Seminole and Cherokee people.

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Middle Easterns aren't happy that they might get singled out possibly to be on the safe side, then they can move back to the Middle East. I much rather pull a few people off a plane here and there and hurt their feelings, than miss something or afraid to ruffle feathers (like Egypt) and have the plane blow up. If people of Middle East decent can not understand that, then too bad. Go back home. We need to keep our country safe.

I think the same logic should be applied to southern white males who could potentially be planning to shoot up a black church.

Has nothing to do what we are talking about but sure. If I saw a white person wandering around paying attention to an all-black church, I would definitely be on guard. What is your point?

What was the passenger doing that can be compared to a white male "staking out a church"? Please explain.

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Middle Easterns aren't happy that they might get singled out possibly to be on the safe side, then they can move back to the Middle East. I much rather pull a few people off a plane here and there and hurt their feelings, than miss something or afraid to ruffle feathers (like Egypt) and have the plane blow up. If people of Middle East decent can not understand that, then too bad. Go back home. We need to keep our country safe.

I think the same logic should be applied to southern white males who could potentially be planning to shoot up a black church.

Has nothing to do what we are talking about but sure. If I saw a white person wandering around paying attention to an all-black church, I would definitely be on guard. What is your point?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And yet, not one step forward to protect us against school/theater shooters.

Exactly what do you suggest??

not pp, but gun control would be a nice start

That didn't help Paris much did it.

Good thing our borders aren't so porous.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/15/paris-attacks-highlight-frances-gun-control-problems

You are being sarcastic, correct? Do you know how many illegal guns come from Mexico already? If the US tried to ban guns, they would make a fortune smuggling in even more. A country will never be without weapons. Why give them to only criminals? I am 100% for stricter laws for acquiring a gun and I am against semi-automatics but I (a liberal who doesn't own a gun) believes every American deserves the right to bear arms. To protect themselves if needed.

So then you are FOR gun control then?

Anonymous wrote:If Middle Easterns aren't happy that they might get singled out possibly to be on the safe side, then they can move back to the Middle East. I much rather pull a few people off a plane here and there and hurt their feelings, than miss something or afraid to ruffle feathers (like Egypt) and have the plane blow up. If people of Middle East decent can not understand that, then too bad. Go back home. We need to keep our country safe.

Keep telling yourself that....you're not doing anything to keep anyone safe by reporting people using smartphones as they are intended to be used.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And yet, not one step forward to protect us against school/theater shooters.

Exactly what do you suggest??

not pp, but gun control would be a nice start

That didn't help Paris much did it.

Good thing our borders aren't so porous.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/15/paris-attacks-highlight-frances-gun-control-problems

You are being sarcastic, correct? Do you know how many illegal guns come from Mexico already? If the US tried to ban guns, they would make a fortune smuggling in even more. A country will never be without weapons. Why give them to only criminals? I am 100% for stricter laws for acquiring a gun and I am against semi-automatics but I (a liberal who doesn't own a gun) believes every American deserves the right to bear arms. To protect themselves if needed.