Comments on: TSA detains Middle-Eastern Studies major for carrying Arabic-English flashcards http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 09:40:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710400 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710400 At the start of WWI, Woodrow Wilson enacted war powers that effectively banned German language, culture, and identity. German street names were changed, hamburgers became "freedom sandwhiches", sauerkraut became "liberty cabbage", german books were publicly burned, german opera recordings were smashed, countless people were arrested, harassed, detained, questioned, jailed, and abused. To think, nearly a century later, nothing has changed. ~D. Walker At the start of WWI, Woodrow Wilson enacted war powers that effectively banned German language, culture, and identity. German street names were changed, hamburgers became “freedom sandwhiches”, sauerkraut became “liberty cabbage”, german books were publicly burned, german opera recordings were smashed, countless people were arrested, harassed, detained, questioned, jailed, and abused.

To think, nearly a century later, nothing has changed.

~D. Walker

]]> By: demidan http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710656 demidan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710656 I leave for a week for the Super Bowl in New Orleans followed by a "broom Jumping" ceremony preformed by Coco Robicheaux and the TSA is still bat shit stupid, fine. The wedding made more sense than this, and there was Voodoo involved! Grumble grumble grumble. I leave for a week for the Super Bowl in New Orleans followed by a “broom Jumping” ceremony preformed by Coco Robicheaux and the TSA is still bat shit stupid, fine. The wedding made more sense than this, and there was Voodoo involved! Grumble grumble grumble.

]]> By: RynTheTyn http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710401 RynTheTyn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710401 I guess my brother better not practice his Arabic calligraphy at any airports then... I guess my brother better not practice his Arabic calligraphy at any airports then…

]]> By: cymk http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710658 cymk Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710658 "They followed up by asking whether Mr. George was a member of any 'pro-Islamic groups' on campus or any 'communist groups.' " Right, because only muslim or communists carry Arabic-English language flash cards? We haven't had a viable communist threat since the fall of Russia, why the hell are government officials still scared of communists like they are some sort of bogey man waiting to steal our children in the night? “They followed up by asking whether Mr. George was a member of any ‘pro-Islamic groups’ on campus or any ‘communist groups.’ ”

Right, because only muslim or communists carry Arabic-English language flash cards?

We haven’t had a viable communist threat since the fall of Russia, why the hell are government officials still scared of communists like they are some sort of bogey man waiting to steal our children in the night?

]]> By: jilliancyork http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710914 jilliancyork Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710914 You really think the US is incapable of doing something like this without good reason? Ha, I guess you're not Arab. You really think the US is incapable of doing something like this without good reason? Ha, I guess you’re not Arab.

]]> By: jilliancyork http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710915 jilliancyork Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710915 NONE of that should warrant this treatment of an American citizen. NONE of that should warrant this treatment of an American citizen.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710660 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710660 Do you know what would help protect us from Arabic speaking baddies? More Arabic speaking goodies so we have a clue what they're up to. Do you know what would help protect us from Arabic speaking baddies? More Arabic speaking goodies so we have a clue what they’re up to.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-800261 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-800261 Stalin ackbar? LMAO :P Stalin ackbar? LMAO :P

]]> By: jilliancyork http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710919 jilliancyork Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710919 What truly amazes me here is not what happened to Mr. George but all of the shock and awe ya'all are expressing about it. Clearly you have no idea what those of us with passports full of Arabic deal with every time we re-enter our own country. What truly amazes me here is not what happened to Mr. George but all of the shock and awe ya’all are expressing about it. Clearly you have no idea what those of us with passports full of Arabic deal with every time we re-enter our own country.

]]> By: Kludgegrrl http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710665 Kludgegrrl Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710665 A communist? WTF? I was about to type that it is actually quite legal to be a communist, that you can vote for the communist party in American elections... but of course it's legal to be a Muslim too (and probably rather more common). Sigh. A communist? WTF? I was about to type that it is actually quite legal to be a communist, that you can vote for the communist party in American elections… but of course it’s legal to be a Muslim too (and probably rather more common).

Sigh.

]]> By: bzishi http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710412 bzishi Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710412 They don't have to give a Miranda warning unless they want to use what you say to prosecute you. If you confessed to being a terrorist without a Miranda warning, they wouldn't be able to use that confession in court, even if they record it. It isn't illegal to question someone without a Miranda warning (even while detained), and your rights aren't violated unless they try use that information in court. Since they didn't prosecute him in court, the fact that they didn't read a Miranda warning is inconsequential. This situation was simply the TSA, the Philadelphia police, and the FBI trying to intimidate this poor man and unlawfully detaining him. Just having Arabic flashcards won't meet the test of reasonable suspicion. I hope he wins. They don’t have to give a Miranda warning unless they want to use what you say to prosecute you. If you confessed to being a terrorist without a Miranda warning, they wouldn’t be able to use that confession in court, even if they record it. It isn’t illegal to question someone without a Miranda warning (even while detained), and your rights aren’t violated unless they try use that information in court. Since they didn’t prosecute him in court, the fact that they didn’t read a Miranda warning is inconsequential.

This situation was simply the TSA, the Philadelphia police, and the FBI trying to intimidate this poor man and unlawfully detaining him. Just having Arabic flashcards won’t meet the test of reasonable suspicion. I hope he wins.

]]> By: certron http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-799757 certron Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-799757 I was thinking the same thing. A senior should have learned Arabic by that time, but maybe there are other things involved in the curriculum, like history and ... well, I don't know what a Middle Eastern studies degree is composed of, but if Arabic isn't in the first 2 years, I can't think where else it would be. I'm trying not to be cynical about it, though. I was thinking the same thing. A senior should have learned Arabic by that time, but maybe there are other things involved in the curriculum, like history and … well, I don’t know what a Middle Eastern studies degree is composed of, but if Arabic isn’t in the first 2 years, I can’t think where else it would be. I’m trying not to be cynical about it, though.

]]> By: BillR http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710418 BillR Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710418 there has got to be more to the story. this is unbelievable. if this is even remotely true, everyone involved should be fired on the spot. there has got to be more to the story. this is unbelievable. if this is even remotely true, everyone involved should be fired on the spot.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710420 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710420 The falcon cannot hear the falconer. The falcon cannot hear the falconer.

]]> By: peterbruells http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710676 peterbruells Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710676 Heh. Last time I looked, the communists live in China and hold over 1 trillion USD - no wonder the TSA 's concerned. Heh. Last time I looked, the communists live in China and hold over 1 trillion USD – no wonder the TSA ‘s concerned.

]]> By: MythicalMe http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710421 MythicalMe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710421 This is getting scary. Nicholas George had a weapon that could inflict serious paper cuts. This is getting scary.

Nicholas George had a weapon that could inflict serious paper cuts.

]]> By: peterbruells http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710425 peterbruells Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710425 "The FBI was called in, and an agent called him a 'fucking idiot' "……… You know, for a moment there I really thought the FBI agent meant the TSA agent. What kind of imbeciles work there? I thought Western intelligence services already have touble finding Arabic speakers. “The FBI was called in, and an agent called him a ‘fucking idiot’ “………

You know, for a moment there I really thought the FBI agent meant the TSA agent.

What kind of imbeciles work there? I thought Western intelligence services already have touble finding Arabic speakers.

]]> By: Unanimous Cowherd http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710681 Unanimous Cowherd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710681 So my sixth grade son should NOT study Arabic,like he's been doing this year, at his school? Is that the lesson we should take from this? His school, Sanford Middle School in Minneapolis, won one of seven hard-to-obtain, multi-year grants to develop Arabic language studies in a few American schools. Just so we might, in a few years, perhaps, develop a core of Arabic-speaking Americans, to, oh, you know, talk to Arabic speakers. Cuz maybe that would, I don't know, help us to understand a few other Arabic speakers who happen to not like us very much. Plus Arabic is a useful language to know, like Farsi or Mandarin or Spanish. I'm just baffled by this. I also call "context" and wonder if this person was doing something more obnoxious and got called out for the flash cards. So my sixth grade son should NOT study Arabic,like he’s been doing this year, at his school? Is that the lesson we should take from this? His school, Sanford Middle School in Minneapolis, won one of seven hard-to-obtain, multi-year grants to develop Arabic language studies in a few American schools. Just so we might, in a few years, perhaps, develop a core of Arabic-speaking Americans, to, oh, you know, talk to Arabic speakers. Cuz maybe that would, I don’t know, help us to understand a few other Arabic speakers who happen to not like us very much. Plus Arabic is a useful language to know, like Farsi or Mandarin or Spanish.

I’m just baffled by this. I also call “context” and wonder if this person was doing something more obnoxious and got called out for the flash cards.

]]> By: highlyverbal http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-711193 highlyverbal Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-711193 tizroc at #48 says: "If we continue to throw our hands up in the air and say.. Oh well this is the best we can expect.... then you are right. It is the best we will be able to expect." Please reread the post of mine to which you are replying. Nowhere do I advocate ACCEPTANCE of the erosion of civil liberties. Putting those words in my mouth is offensive and you need to be much more careful. My point was that hoping to reform the TSA from the bottom up, firing one idiot at a time is nonsense*. Yes, of course get these particular idiots, sure. But don't think that they aren't instantly replaced. You invoke the concept of "security theater" but please consider there may be an analogous concept of "activism theater" ... many of the early posters were taking so much satisfaction in imagining these rascals getting fired that I thought it was worth deflating their joy a bit. (Call me buzzkill, I guess.) * With all due respect to your touching anecdote about local progress, I feel you may be underestimating the challenge in overcoming the pervasive anti-Arabic bias shamelessly embedded in policy. tizroc at #48 says:
“If we continue to throw our hands up in the air and say.. Oh well this is the best we can expect…. then you are right. It is the best we will be able to expect.”

Please reread the post of mine to which you are replying. Nowhere do I advocate ACCEPTANCE of the erosion of civil liberties. Putting those words in my mouth is offensive and you need to be much more careful.

My point was that hoping to reform the TSA from the bottom up, firing one idiot at a time is nonsense*. Yes, of course get these particular idiots, sure. But don’t think that they aren’t instantly replaced.

You invoke the concept of “security theater” but please consider there may be an analogous concept of “activism theater” … many of the early posters were taking so much satisfaction in imagining these rascals getting fired that I thought it was worth deflating their joy a bit. (Call me buzzkill, I guess.)

* With all due respect to your touching anecdote about local progress, I feel you may be underestimating the challenge in overcoming the pervasive anti-Arabic bias shamelessly embedded in policy.

]]> By: insert http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710429 insert Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710429 I'm a college student and, until this semester, I studied Arabic (incidentally, in the same program as Nick, at Claremont McKenna College). I've flown a number of times with my Arabic textbooks and notebooks in my carry-on, and I've even done Arabic assignments on the plane, and I've never been hassled. So this is probably -- thankfully -- an isolated incident. There is no blanket "lets harass middle-class white guys who study Arabic at expensive colleges" policy. I, of course, completely believe Nick George's story (after all, he's stuck with it since August) and it seems plausible. I completely support the ACLU's lawsuit and I'd love to see the involved cops, TSA screeners and FBI agents lose their jobs for this abuse of power and pure stupidity. I’m a college student and, until this semester, I studied Arabic (incidentally, in the same program as Nick, at Claremont McKenna College). I’ve flown a number of times with my Arabic textbooks and notebooks in my carry-on, and I’ve even done Arabic assignments on the plane, and I’ve never been hassled.

So this is probably — thankfully — an isolated incident. There is no blanket “lets harass middle-class white guys who study Arabic at expensive colleges” policy.

I, of course, completely believe Nick George’s story (after all, he’s stuck with it since August) and it seems plausible. I completely support the ACLU’s lawsuit and I’d love to see the involved cops, TSA screeners and FBI agents lose their jobs for this abuse of power and pure stupidity.

]]> By: carborundum http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710431 carborundum Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710431 "You know who did the Oklahoma bombing?" "Timothy McVeigh" "You know what language he...let's forget that line of questioning." “You know who did the Oklahoma bombing?”
“Timothy McVeigh”
“You know what language he…let’s forget that line of questioning.”

]]> By: cameronh1403 http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710687 cameronh1403 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710687 Wow, the dog and pony show that is the TSA continues! and this time, they brought in a clown from the FBI!!! Man I am glad I am alive to watch this!! Wow, the dog and pony show that is the TSA continues! and this time, they brought in a clown from the FBI!!! Man I am glad I am alive to watch this!!

]]> By: tim http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-711200 tim Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-711200 <blockquote>Last time I looked, the communists live in China and hold over 1 trillion USD - no wonder the TSA 's concerned.</blockquote> If you <i>actually</i> believe that China is, or indeed has ever been, a communist country then you didn't pay much attention to politics in school.

Last time I looked, the communists live in China and hold over 1 trillion USD – no wonder the TSA ‘s concerned.

If you actually believe that China is, or indeed has ever been, a communist country then you didn’t pay much attention to politics in school.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710436 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710436 <i>I guess my brother better not practice his Arabic calligraphy at any airports then...</i> Chances are you'd get busted for Hebrew or Devanagari or any script that looks just a little too squiggly for the US of A. I doubt that the TSA is hiring linguists. I guess my brother better not practice his Arabic calligraphy at any airports then…

Chances are you’d get busted for Hebrew or Devanagari or any script that looks just a little too squiggly for the US of A. I doubt that the TSA is hiring linguists.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710437 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710437 “At no time did the officer inform Mr. George of any rights he retained, including...the right to leave the airport rather than get on the flight,” That's probably the most important right. Giving him the impression that he couldn't legally leave was the big abuse of power. Man, can you imagine all the useful work two FBI agents could do over the course of 5 hours... “At no time did the officer inform Mr. George of any rights he retained, including…the right to leave the airport rather than get on the flight,”
That’s probably the most important right. Giving him the impression that he couldn’t legally leave was the big abuse of power.

Man, can you imagine all the useful work two FBI agents could do over the course of 5 hours…

]]> By: Pantograph http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710440 Pantograph Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710440 Well wasn't he a veteran of the first Gulf War? Clearly McVey was turned by Saddam personally and sent back as an Al Quaeda sleeper agent. I would be perfect for your secret police if I weren't a muslim communist. Stalin ackbar! Well wasn’t he a veteran of the first Gulf War?
Clearly McVey was turned by Saddam personally and sent back as an Al Quaeda sleeper agent.

I would be perfect for your secret police if I weren’t a muslim communist.

Stalin ackbar!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710441 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710441 @ Anonymous # 4: That is the funniest thing I have ever read. Even though I am not an American, I think "liberty cabbage" will be finding its way into my regular vocabulary, thankyou for the invaluable factoid. @ Anonymous # 4:
That is the funniest thing I have ever read. Even though I am not an American, I think “liberty cabbage” will be finding its way into my regular vocabulary, thankyou for the invaluable factoid.

]]> By: dudeglove http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710442 dudeglove Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710442 Not the first time I've heard about the TSA detaining people unlawfully at an airpot. A Ron Paul supporter got asked repeatedly what he was doing with about 1000 dollars in his bag on his way from a support rally. There should be a recording of it on youtube. Wait, doesn't Bin Laden speak Pashto? Not the first time I’ve heard about the TSA detaining people unlawfully at an airpot. A Ron Paul supporter got asked repeatedly what he was doing with about 1000 dollars in his bag on his way from a support rally. There should be a recording of it on youtube.

Wait, doesn’t Bin Laden speak Pashto?

]]> By: macmichael http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-710443 macmichael Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-710443 That was the first thing that came to my mind too. That was the first thing that came to my mind too.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/10/tsa-detains-middle-e.html#comment-799788 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-799788 Why is the script to Harold and Kumar 2 here? Oh wait. . . Why is the script to Harold and Kumar 2 here? Oh wait. . .

]]>