Kicked off of a plane...

[Gravekeeper]

I don't disagree with much of what you're saying, GK. My problem is mainly the tone I hear in Canadians' voices when they discuss those "rednecks" in the US. It's smug and self-satisfied. And it's not deserved.

I'm not being smug nor self satisfied. I believe I've established myself as loathing idiocy regardless of race, creed or nation >.>

[protege]

That's cute, but that attitude is partially what GK is talking about when he complains about the screwed up priorities of the US. We're talking about morals and racism here. Military strength doesn't have anything to do with it.

I never said it did. Trying to lighten the mood a bit, and I failed. Sorry about that.

What annoys me about some of this, is that everything that the US is being judged for...is whatever they see and read in the media. Some of the people making the comments, have *never* been here. The media, which has a *vested interest* in things like ratings and viewers. Think about it, if the removed passenger would have been a woman with a screaming baby and was asked to leave, do you think there would have been as much outrage? I have a feeling that the story wouldn't have even made the papers. If it did, it would have been pushed back to page 32 or something.

Oh, and it's not the first time people were paranoid about minorities--look at what happened to the Japanese-descended people in both the US *and* Canada--they were caged up like animals during the war, and harassed afterward. I've seen some of the propaganda, most of which was incredibly racist, and it wasn't just posters either--I'm sure we've all seen the Bugs Bunny cartoons, with various references to anti-Japanese stereotypes.

Unfortunately, every group throughout history has had to deal with this shit--the Jews were rounded up by the Nazis, the various ethnic groups in the former Yugoslavia attempted to exterminate each other, to name a couple. Rather than try to understand each other, it's easier to hate 'different' people.

..and then that brings us back to the media. Does every "terrorist" have to be someone of the Muslim faith, or from the Middle East? Pardon my French, but fuck no--we've had (with the exception of the assholes responsible for 9/11) our fair share of domestic terrorists--the Earth Liberation Front (and similar assholes), Timothy McVeigh, the Weathermen, to name a few. Let's not forget the IRA either--they used similar tactics. But, because they don't garner the same ratings, they're essentially ignored.

All this shit is doing, is keeping the stereotypes alive, and playing on society's paranoia. As long as it's tolerated, it'll never go away

[Gravekeeper]

The media, which has a *vested interest* in things like ratings and viewers.

Exactly, it's what Americans want to see. They want it, so its produced. It's produced because they want it. US media is pretty bad, but you can't stick the entire blame on them when you look at the rating's they get for acting that way. ><

Once the news started becoming entertainment and/or pushing political agendas, all was lost. The very fact most Americans believe ( and rightly so ) that the major news networks take political sides indicates something is desperately wrong.

Oh, and it's not the first time people were paranoid about minorities--look at what happened to the Japanese-descended people in both the US *and* Canada--they were caged up like animals during the war, and harassed afterward.

I don't think its really that comparable because of the type of conflict involved. The enemy is not a specific nation or race and how many Americans really know what nationality the 9/11 really hijackers were? You're not fighting a specific enemy, you're fighting a concept and the concept is being misapplied to everyone that isn't one of Us(tm).

There is absolutely and utterly no reason or justification for what happened in this news story. None. Period. At all and again, like I said, the absolute saddest part about it is there was no one anywhere in the scenario that was enough of a grown up to go "You know what? That's ignorant and racist and has no place here. All of you should be ashamed of yourselves.".

All this shit is doing, is keeping the stereotypes alive, and playing on society's paranoia. As long as it's tolerated, it'll never go away

Exactly. Hence why this aggravates me so much. It was completely tolerated by everyone involved.

[insertNameHere]

Alright, when they say, "I can't wait to high jack this plane", its time to remove them. As much as I love fear mongering, I mean really?

Once talked to a soldier, who got a free upgrade to first class few months after 9/11, he quickly figured out why, he was in uniform and they stuck him next to a Muslim with a turban. The solider said he actually had a good conversation with the guy, who apparently normally doesn't wear his turban, but has been using it to get free shit out of the airlines for mistreatment and couldn't wait to mention they stuck a solider next to him. Solider liked the upgrade and free food and drinks that came with it, and the stewardess even gave him a bottle of wine for his services when he was getting off the plane. Situation is kind of screwed up but, I guess everyone felt safer with a drunk solider between them and a potential terrorist.

With all the bullshit restrictions in place, I don't know why people even bother worrying, little white children with names similar to terrorists can get on the plane. I mean I agree that if you share a name with a known terrorist and have similar features, better safe than sorry but, when your 3ft shorter, 20-30 years younger.

[Boozy]

I suspect the soldier was seated next to a Sikh man, not a Muslim. Muslims don't usually wear turbans.

Or perhaps the soldier was using the wrong term for the head covering he saw.

[HYHYBT]

I mean I agree that if you share a name with a known terrorist and have similar features, better safe than sorry but, when your 3ft shorter, 20-30 years younger.

My brother's South Korean ex-wife tended to get delayed at the airport because (sorry, I don't remember precisely; she's been out of the family a while now) she has the same name as someone related to that nut who runs North Korea.

[Gravekeeper]

I suspect the soldier was seated next to a Sikh man, not a Muslim. Muslims don't usually wear turbans.

Or perhaps the soldier was using the wrong term for the head covering he saw.

I was about to say, heh >.>

[insertNameHere]

I was about to say, heh >.>

Semantics, to the majority of my uneducated country they are all the same damn group of international terrorists.

I mean, hell if people don't know the difference between Japan and China. Russia and Germany, fuck if they gonna know the difference between people from counties grouped together. That for all purposes "are the same"

I know people who don't understand why we need a passport to go to Canada, isn't it just another state like Alaska????

Seriously, if you can't convince people that all Muslims aren't terrorists it gonna be hard to differentiate different ethic groups too.

[Ginger Tea]

Seriously, if you can't convince people that all Muslims aren't terrorists it gonna be hard to differentiate different ethic groups too.

Agreed, the guy could have been a Sikh with a turban or a man with a middle eastern head dress. Anyone who looks middle eastern is assumed to be Muslim even though they could be Sikh, Hindu or even Christian.

I cannot tell europeans apart just by looking at them, granted some countries have stereotypes like blonde and blue eyed Nordic countries, so if you lined up one from each country and dressed them the same, none of them talking, I would only get a country right by fluke.

Also, unless it was just over exagerated in films and TV, isn't there a large African-American Muslim demographic, I doubt they get as much stick* as "Hey Black Americans can't be terrorists." or "He doesn't look Muslim."
One fraction of the former Yugoslavia is Muslim and they are white, so white Muslims = Terrorists too?
Although I forget which fraction they were and which country they became, I do remember the UK Muslim communities on TV saying they or we should help them because they shared the same religion, regardless of skin tone.

*outside of the usual bigotry

[Evandril]

I'm not being smug nor self satisfied. I believe I've established myself as loathing idiocy regardless of race, creed or nation >.>

'Tis appriciated, from my standpoint I love America, but we're not perfect...and we DO have our blind spots, as does everyone. An outside viewpoint mentioning the specific problems they can see *HELPS*, IMO. I do see lots of 'America sucks!' other places, which I don't enjoy to say the least...but posts like yours are a good thing!

I do *really* wish I'd have been on that plane...I'd have embarrased the hell out of the pilot (and most likely been kicked off as well, but still)

[Mr. Anubite]

\
I do *really* wish I'd have been on that plane...I'd have embarrased the hell out of the pilot (and most likely been kicked off as well, but still)

I was just thinking the same thing! If this ever happens on a flight I'm on, the only security concern on that plane will be me.

[mikoyan29]

I know people who don't understand why we need a passport to go to Canada, isn't it just another state like Alaska????

I realize it's not another state but for years before 9/11, we could go to Canada without a passport. Just a license and birth certificate.

[Boozy]

There used to be loads of places Canadians could go without a passport. The US, Cuba, Mexico, etc.

[MrsEclipse]

I realize it's not another state but for years before 9/11, we could go to Canada without a passport. Just a license and birth certificate.

Back in 2007 I didn't need a passport to get into Canada. It changed shortly after my visit, so I haven't been back. I was in Toronto. Lovely place. I was really surprised when I found out I didn't need a passport. And pretty disappointed when I later found out that changed.

[fireheart17]

One fraction of the former Yugoslavia is Muslim and they are white, so white Muslims = Terrorists too?
Although I forget which fraction they were and which country they became, I do remember the UK Muslim communities on TV saying they or we should help them because they shared the same religion, regardless of skin tone.

That would be primarily the Bosnian folks, although a quick Wiki search shows there are also Macedonian Muslims (33.3%) and Kosovo Muslims (about 90% of their country).