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T-Shirt with Arabic Script = Terrorist?!?

parkerstudio.com — While traveling through JFK airport, Arabic blogger Raed was told he must change his t-shirt. Raed asked "Isn't this my constitutional right to wear it?" with which Inspector Harris responded "you can't wear a t-shirt with Arabic script and come to an airport. It is like wearing a t-shirt that reads "I am a robber" and going to a bank".

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  • Rezzy, on 10/12/2007, -31/+304Absolutely disgusting. I am appalled that this could be displayed so blatantly, but, then again, I don't know why - it's not unusual.

    Truly saddening.
    • raisputin2, on 10/12/2007, -34/+391What is truly saddening, that he chose to wear a shirt that had something written on it in Arabic? Or that they made him change it?

      I can say now, that seeing his experience, I will make it a point to wear a shirt with Arabic script on it the next time I have to travel somewhere, and unlike this gentleman, I WILL NOT change, wear inside out or cover my shirt just because it might offend someone. If it offends someone, good! It is my right to wear it whether it offends someone or not.

      I urge all Americans that value their rights under the Constitution to start wearing shirts with Arabic script on them.

      I reccomend the following:
      http://www.cafepress.com/buy/Arabic/?click=true&CMP=KNC-G-PP-IN1&ovchn=GGL&ovcpn=Places+-+International+1+Prime&ovcrn=sr2PP4go33582gx7668pi13ai2428+Arabic+t-shirt&ovtac=PPC&SR=sr2PP4go33582gx7668pi13ai2428
      http://store.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/mivavm?/merchant.mvc+Screen=PROD&Product_Code=103914211&Category_Code=mt

      Stand up to those that would oppress your freedoms because someone else doesn't respect your freedom of speech. DO NOT bow down to those that would oppress you!

      (Reserving digg up/down on rezzy until i figure out what he was trying to say. exactly)
    • dustedbunny, on 10/12/2007, -13/+246@raisputin

      Maybe we can get that group of 255 people who did a slow motion walk through Home Depot to buy those tshirts and wander through the airport.

      I'd pay to see that. Hell, I'd probably even participate.
    • brstilson, on 10/12/2007, -11/+257Americans have the right to freedom of speech. Unfortunately many Americans also incorrectly think they have the right not to be offended.
    • whiskeymb, on 10/12/2007, -13/+214Welcome to America, land of the free, unless you are from the middle east or anywhere close.
    • clarkmoody, on 10/12/2007, -7/+92I'm so glad it's not illegal to offend someone, but by the way the news/corporate world/politicians talk and act, you would think it is.
    • halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -19/+150@raisputin2

      As a Christian, this gives me some interesting options.

      To the untrained Western eye Arabic can look an awful lot like Aramaic or Hebrew.

      Wouldn't it be fun for a group like Campus Crusade for Christ to go on a trip, all wearing various Jesus centric Bible verses in their shirts in one of these languages?

      Anyone know how phrases like "Jesus Lives!" or the full text of John 3:16 would be written in Arabic?
    • FatMagic, on 10/12/2007, -11/+194Get this shirt: http://www.cafepress.com/buy/Arabic/-/pv_design_details/pg_1/id_5503448/opt_/fpt_/c_360/

      It says God Bless America in Arabic :)

      P.S. - Halleyscomet: good idea!
    • Tsujigiri, on 10/12/2007, -9/+62I'm with raisputin2. I'm flying to both LA and NY by the end of the year and I'll be wearing that shirt on both trips.
    • ToxicBomber, on 10/12/2007, -55/+14http://www.cafepress.com/buy/Arabic/-/pv_design_details/pg_1/id_5503448/opt_/fpt_/c_360/

      That's probably the best one to where around anywhere...

      It says "God Bless America"...in Arabic (i think)

    • Feanor, on 10/12/2007, -8/+37The one that says I (heart) New York would be classic as well.
    • Mallus, on 10/12/2007, -13/+107Welcome to the New McCarthyism.
    • nox327, on 10/12/2007, -9/+49@ raisputin2

      That is the first thing I thought when I started reading the article. I so want to buy a shirt in Arabic and wear to see what people really say, but since I am as pale as one can be, I'll probably won't even be noticed. Sad that something like this happens in a country that pride itself on Freedom. Freedom my ass.

    • radu79, on 10/12/2007, -23/+73In Jet Blue's defense, they can legally not let you wear that Tshirt, it's a private flight. I do not agree with it, but it's not illegal to ask people to respect your dressing code.
    • affanjam, on 10/12/2007, -12/+35http://www.dafont.com/font.php?file=psuedo_saudi&page=1&nb_ppp_old=10&text=terrorist&nb_ppp=10&classt=alpha
    • missflibbles, on 10/12/2007, -31/+15Do we have any Arabic speakers? I want the shirt, especially for the next time I fly, but I'm not going to take Cafe Press' word for it, either. I don't want my shirt to secretly say something else.
    • kd1s, on 10/12/2007, -5/+58I know, I was particularly incensed by the comment that Americans don't understand the Constitution. Some of us are well aware of the rights granted us under the constitution, as was the author.

      I do hope he follows this up with a civil suit. Someone has to stop the insanity.
    • syberghost, on 10/12/2007, -8/+53Of course, one of the rights cherished in this country is the right to refuse service to anyone, for any reason not specifically prohibited by law.
    • liquidrums, on 10/12/2007, -163/+18A shirt with arabic print looks like defiance in the eyes of the other passengers. It looks like you're about to go out in style.

      Because of all this *****, I have no tolerance, like most passengers, for anyone wearing 4th-century-style garments or anyone who prays to Allah, or considers a pedophile their profit.

      Digg me down, but we're in the majority.
    • joerod, on 10/12/2007, -103/+18you know what makes me sad, people hijacking planes and crashing them into buildings. hey if it was a Chinese person was responsible for 9/11 and i saw someone with Chinese characters on their shirt i might be a little weary myself.. why don't the good Muslims out there stand up and make a voice for the good Muslims out there??? then maybe peoples view would change.. until then, honestly, what do you expect?
    • inkyblue2, on 10/12/2007, -5/+129my t-shirt is covered in arabic numerals. run for your lives!
    • incubusnb, on 10/12/2007, -6/+49America, the only place where a website could be debating over a t-shirt while advertisements in the corner try to sell you them.
    • birdwatcher3000, on 10/12/2007, -17/+16This is what it has come down to :(
    • themarq, on 10/12/2007, -10/+41I wonder what his shirt said.

      Would it be possible to get a T-shirt with the Bill of Rights printed on it translated into Arabic?

    • elamr, on 10/12/2007, -65/+9I'm all for freedom of speech... but should we (as free people) be a little more responsible. I mean, he could have worn a T-Shirt with picture of Osama bin Laden w/subtitle "will kill you all" on it to the air port, but that is like wearing a Nazi uniform to a
      Barmitzba and get mad at everyone when they tell you to take it off.

      Free people need to be more responsible than those that do not have freedom of speech.
    • drizek, on 10/12/2007, -10/+39"In Jet Blue's defense, they can legally not let you wear that Tshirt, it's a private flight. I do not agree with it, but it's not illegal to ask people to respect your dressing code."

      I could be wrong, but from the article, it seemed like they werent workign for jetblu, they were airport security officers.

      Anyway, i need to get me an arabic tshirt. Maybe one that says "***** the TSA".
    • berock, on 10/12/2007, -6/+40@radu79

      I would agree with you if Jet Blue was able to produce documentation that this was against their policy.
    • falgon, on 10/12/2007, -21/+58I'm petitioning my favorite airline (Jet Blue) to add Christian t-shirts to their list of banned garments. Honestly, they offend me. I mean, whatever happened to separation of church and state? If we're going to get into the business of prohibiting [perceived] religious clothing at airports because they might offend other passengers, we need to prohibit -all- religious clothing. Including the "majority". When I want to be religious I go to church, and I don't want religous propoganda shoved down my throat when I'm just trying to fly home to be with my family for Thanksgiving.

      Allow all religious shirts, or allow none.
    • Feanor, on 10/12/2007, -15/+76@liquid - "I have no tolerance, like most passengers, for anyone wearing 4th-century-style garments or anyone who prays to Allah..."

      You do know that Allah is the Arabic word for God right? Muslims worship the same God as Jews and Christians you know, they all just have different endings. Do you have no tolerance for any person of the Book? You, sir, are a selfish, prejudice person who contributes absolutely nothing to global society.
    • affanjam, on 10/12/2007, -3/+25@themarg here u go Bill of Rights in Arabic thanx to google
      http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fusinfo.state.gov%2Fusa%2Finfousa%2Ffacts%2Ffunddocs%2Fbilleng.htm&langpair=en%7Car&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools
      original:
      http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/funddocs/billeng.htm
    • Bradl3y, on 10/12/2007, -2/+20@themarq RTFA

      It tells you what the shirt means.

      @drizek RTFA

      It explains that a woman working for jetblue was with the security.
    • Darkone253, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11@raisputin2

      I'm going to buy one of those. Thanks!
    • Pangolyn, on 10/12/2007, -10/+27"In Jet Blue's defense, they can legally not let you wear that Tshirt, it's a private flight. I do not agree with it, but it's not illegal to ask people to respect your dressing code."

      Uh, they asked him to wear another t-shirt. It's not that he's not allowed to wear a t-shirt. He also asked for a rule showing he could not wear it, but they didn't have one. It was not a dress 'code'.
    • icarus429, on 10/12/2007, -3/+21@ falgon:
      I'm pretty sure the shirt has no religious content (someone correct me if I'm wrong); it just happens to be in Arabic. It would be interesting if Jet Blue banned all clothing with writing on it, Arabic, English, or anything else instead of just Arabic.
    • cliffzdude, on 10/12/2007, -30/+13It appears that the catalyst behind this is JetBlue. They were asking the person in question to hide his shirt, the security folks were helping out as per their charter. Last I checked Jet Blue was a corporation, and not part of the government.

      If a guy wanted to walk through Disney with a T-Shirt on that said "KILL THE USA", and Disney said he couldn't wear that in their park, would Disney be Anti-American???
      No, they would not be Anti-America, or Pro-America, they would be simply exercising THEIR RIGHT as a business to create an environment within their boundary as they see fit.

      The author tires to down-play the fact that it was JetBlue who was creating this stir, as that is really boring to write about and it doesn't do anything for the Author's "cause". In the end the story requires some semblance of truth, and he is forced to mention that it is Jet Blue that is requiring his change of attire.






    • joemommasfat, on 10/12/2007, -9/+37I agree with most of the posts here, but just remember, you are a hypocrite if you would have a problem with someone wearing a swastika on their t-shirt.

      Free speech is free speech right?

    • ddegner, on 10/12/2007, -22/+13Only on Digg could a guy with a Hizb-allah icon get +165 diggs (raisputin2), I love this place.
    • Jaymoon, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1510 years ago for my birthday, some friends and I went to a skating rink. They wouldn't let us in with our "San Fransisco 49ers" T-Shirts on. So we had to wear them inside out...

      Because we all know that skinny white nerdy 12 year olds with football logos on their shirt are the most dangerous gang members on earth.
    • marillion, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10I want to clear something up. There's a difference between airline employees and TSA employees. The later, of course, are those people who run the screening areas and have the overly developed sense of empowerment.
      It's one thing if an airline employee asks you to do something. Airlines are companies who don't have to worry about pesky things constitutional rights. They do have to worry about civil rights, but that's a whole discussion in and of itself.
      A TSA employee is a government representative - perhaps even officers of the government - I forget where the line is drawn. He (or she) is obligated to abide by and respect constitutional guarantees.
    • jabelar, on 10/12/2007, -16/+7If you are going to wear the Arabic t-shirt, you might as well go with a huge novelty turban like Johnny Carson's "Carnac the Magnificent". And maybe a ceremonial dagger as well.
    • shoover, on 10/12/2007, -6/+10@ddegner
      While raisputin2 does seem to be a bit one sided in his beliefs (judging by his previous posts and diggs) I think what he has said in this article makes good sense. So do 165+ others evidently. I'm willing to take the comment for its value despite the source.
    • shami, on 10/12/2007, -10/+67 ماذا لو أرادو منعي من السفر لأنهم سمعوني أنكلم بالعربية؟
    • theBrink, on 10/12/2007, -62/+4so yeah, digg that ***** up because god knows being asked to change your t-shirt is too much, everyone should wear a "***** islam" shirt like suggested.

      god, ***** you pussies.
    • musters, on 10/12/2007, -35/+5I can't help but think that says something evil in Arabic.

      Sounds familiar, think I just read a story on something like this.
    • triplehelix, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13the key thing that most people saying jet blue's actions were reasonable based on offensive/violent t-shirts being rightfully banned is that the kids shirt didn't say death to america, it was simply in a foreign language. if it did have a motto along the lines of "i'm a terrorist" then you might have a point, but it didn't.
    • drizek, on 10/12/2007, -3/+21"I agree with most of the posts here, but just remember, you are a hypocrite if you would have a problem with someone wearing a swastika on their t-shirt."

      1. I have no problem with people wearing swastikas
      2. This guy wasnt wearing a swastika or an "i love bin laden" shirt. For you example, it would be the equivelant of banning a tshirt that said "tear down this wall" written in german.
    • Dred, on 10/12/2007, -16/+6"I don't want religous propoganda shoved down my throat when I'm just trying to fly home to be with my family for Thanksgiving."

      @falgon if Christians offend you why on earth would you celebrate Thanksgiving?
    • hoosierplew, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11Google translation of Shami's arabic (above):
      "What if preventive wanted to travel because Samauni Anklm Arabic"

      Gotta love beta translation tools!
    • Rezzy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Sorry, to clear things up, I was saddened by the fact that he was forced to change it - I'm all for your idea!
    • drizek, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16"@falgon if Christians offend you why on earth would you celebrate Thanksgiving?"

      Because thanksgiving is a national holiday. Dumbass.
    • shami, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16@hoosierplew:
      Beta translation tool => "What if preventive wanted to travel because Samauni Anklm Arabic"
      Actual, human, translation => "What if they wanted to prevent me from traveling because I speak Arabic?"
    • vermin, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Thanksgiving has nothing to do with any religion. From this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving

      "Thanksgiving Day, is an annual secular holiday" key word being secular.
    • ernkush, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9I find it interesting that although this thread is about freedom of speech diggers digg down anyone against their own opinion.
    • Lifestory, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4and you, Inspector Harris, is probably wearing something that says "I'm a dick".
    • SanchoPanzer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Whatever next? A outlawing of Wilson, Kepple and Betty films and the banning of people that listen to Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles?
    • jaikar, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5The shirt says "we will not be silent".
      I guess Bush and company will make sure that every one will be silent.
      WAKE UP America!
    • Scottamus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5"What if they wanted to prevent me from traveling because I speak Arabic?"

      Yea, they've done that too. Well, actually it just has to sound Arabic.
    • creektown, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9ok folks i called jet blue last night and asked them to explain their regulations on articles of clothing with arabic script.
      the rep on the phone went straight into a script that she must have been given and explained to me that the jetblue airline did not have any policy or regulation on t-shirts reguardless of what they say or what language they are in the T.S.A. agents made the decision to not allow the t-shirt on the plane and the jet blue employee was offering the free shirt so that this guy could fly and keep them legal in the eyes of the T.S.A who can ground their planes, and allow their customer to make his flight since without customers the T.S.A would not have to shut them down they would be out of business. Now the agent did tell me that the message on the shirt was unacceptable and not the language that it was written in. i explained to the rep that it said we will not be silenced and that the shirt was purchased in washington and was sold in many languages. the rep responded to me with, the T.S.A. made the decision to not allow the shirt not jet blue.
      So i asked the rep on the phone would you have let him fly? Her answer to that was you could have F.U. on your shirt for all i care. And to that i said thank you and goodbye.
      **************************************************************************************************
      now the point is that jet blue is not accepting any responsibility for infringing on the first amendment. the fact that the rep had a script to read means that the legal dept of jet blue has already gone over this issue and decided that what was done to this guy was not a company supportable idea ie they would not get up and say to the world we do not allow arabic tshirts, they placed the responsibility solely on the T.S.A. who are a federal organization representing us the americans and in place to uphold and protect our freedoms after all isnt that why were at war to protect our freedom ?

    • netsui, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4The thing that really pisses me off is that the terrorists have won, the politicians have one, this god damn, idiotic, authoritarian administration has won. People no longer need to be censored and controlled. They will censor and control themselves without intervention from any outside force. They are essentially enslaving themselves in political ideology at will.

      Why can't people see that? They are destroying their own rights day by day.


      ~netsui
    • karenatwork, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0I see many angles to this story. "IF" this man is an American - he has the right to wear the shirt, in America. As American - or whatever Nationality, we do have the right to scare people.
      To say that particular company had no one to interpret the writing - well, you were in a big airport - do they not have someone to interpret? But then, you are in a big airport - kinda like the ones the planes left from on 9/11 - going back to 'we don't have the right to scare others'.
      If anyone is to blame - blame the ones who have made Americans leery of anyone wearing a tshirt, in an airport, with Arabic writing.
      This reminds me of an incident with my daughter (6 years old), who was learning to read, and my son who was 20. We were in a store and some idiot walked by with a tshirt on that read "I F_ck Sheep." This shirt offended me, and my son. Of course my 6 year old read it and had questions. My son went to the guy wearing it and loudly told him how little he thought of the shirt. To make my son shut up & go away the guy turned his shirt inside out.
      In my opinion the guy deserved the humiliation he received. We all have rights - but there is a time that public decency prevails.
  • didymus, on 10/12/2007, -5/+137Land of the Free?

    If this is what it has come to, what are you fighting against the terrorists for anyways?

    • halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -23/+98Oil.
      Profits for Military Contractors.
      To kill people because they're not as white as the current administration.
      To spread fear, uncertainly and doubt, which makes it easier to control the population.

      There are a lot of reasons.
    • golhra, on 10/12/2007, -7/+49It's land of the free until you offend someone.
    • snoble, on 10/12/2007, -46/+19@halleyscomet

      Dr. Rice and Alberto Gonzales are white? The current administration certainly has a lot of issues but when you throw in suggestions that they are white supremacists it just makes me disregard your entire comment. They (the administration) certainly may lack sympathy for problems people have that are due to being a minority (hence their lack of support for affirmative action) but, other than a few southern accents, there is no reason to think they have anything against non-white people simply because they are non-white.
    • Azuroth, on 10/12/2007, -13/+27Because hurricanes target minorities...
    • geocar, on 10/12/2007, -16/+46@snoble
      "Dr. Rice and Alberto Gonzales are white?"

      In a word? Yes.
    • Darkone253, on 10/12/2007, -16/+17@kavinath
      Stop listening to Kanye West.

      @Azuroth
      Exactally.
    • vectorprime, on 10/12/2007, -2/+24Hurricanes can target whomever they damn well please. No one in their right mind is implying a conspiracy because a hurricane hit a largely poor minority area.

      The issue is why the corps of engineers couldn't get funding to reinforce the levies and why FEMA's response was painfully slow and patchy.

      But kudos for the strawman argument, it really was a good effort
    • Vermifax, on 10/12/2007, -4/+20@Assuruff

      It's not the disaster, professor....

      It was the government's response (or the near-complete lack of).

      Hurricanes do not target minorities. Neo-Fascist governments do.

      Pay attention.
    • Malshew, on 10/12/2007, -13/+2@halleyscomet

      You have to be joking me. Seriously, you are a prime example of why I believe that Digg's population is a majority of middle-schoolers and philosophy majors.
    • ddxChrist, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10@ Malshew

      I wouldn't be surprised if Digg users were interested in philosophy. It's derived from the Greek word that means "love of wisdom," which I see applies to quite a few open minded diggers. But thanks for showing the rest of us you're immature.
  • bollox, on 10/12/2007, -26/+71They are fighting against "terrorists" for control of oil reserves. It isnt about freedom.
    • ilyag, on 10/12/2007, -8/+83Not only are you and people like you naive, but you also choose to ignore the highly publicized speeches and papers written by members of the neo-conservative movement (including Project for the New American Century, the orchestrators of Bush's foreign policy).

      They don't want oil. They want American imperialism to assimilate foreign cultures in order to homogenize the world. They think this will lead to more allies if more foreign countries share much of the American culture. This means more business opportunities for Americans, more military alliances, more weight in the United Nations and other international organizations, and more "peace".

      Personally, I think they're wrong on all counts, and the task is entirely impossible. However, that IS what they want.
    • somnus, on 10/12/2007, -4/+21Well, more likely to stabilize regions which control oil reserves; it's not like the Army is pumping oil and bringing it back here. Think of it like going to the mall at night, beating the crap out of the security guard, charging him for obstructing your good times, then appointing a new security guard who *will* let you in the mall at night. When the mall admin comes down on you, you yell "shut up!" and backhand them.

      I think that makes sense, anyway. If not, please kindly fill in the blanks =)

    • incubusnb, on 10/12/2007, -4/+21Obtaining natural resources by assimilation through conformity, sounds like a good plan.

      Except when you take into account that your suppressing the cultural backrounds of millions of people who want to remain tied to their ancestry and will kill and/or die to defend that tie.

      The U.S is doing a tight rope walk over an erupting volcano right now, the slightest miscalculation will result in collapse. The military powers of China, North Korea and many Middle eastern countries are just waiting for the slip. This world will turn into a Global Dictatorship in our lifetimes, either by American rule or Chinese rule, this is almost a certainty unless action is taken now.

      Peaceful revolution or violent revolution, both end in freedom.
      Disinterest and ignorance can only end in the enslavement of humanity
  • silenceHR, on 10/12/2007, -6/+50meh... and i thought our nationalistic crap during 1990's was bad... oh boy was i wrong...
    • raisputin2, on 10/12/2007, -11/+4@MikeFrom America
      " By that logic, having Japanese kanji tattooed on my arm makes me a ninja!"

      That has GOT to be the funniest thing I have read in a LONG time!!!
  • thebusdriver, on 10/12/2007, -133/+11The dude had a point, no one would walk into a bank with a shirt that says I am a robber and expect not to be hastled or anything. The dude shouldnt HAVE to change it but I dont blame the screener for asking or w/e
    • MikeFromAmerica, on 10/12/2007, -7/+174I disagree. Wearing a T-shirt with Arabic writing is a far cry from a wearing a shirt that says, "I am a bank robber." By that logic, having Japanese kanji tattooed on my arm makes me a ninja!
    • xtmno3, on 10/12/2007, -8/+68I also highly doubt any bank would question you if you wore a shirt that said "I'm a robber" when you went it. If anything, you would geta couple laughs.
    • tizz66, on 10/12/2007, -4/+56They're nothing like each other. Having a t-shirt with 'I am a robber' on it is a threat because you're saying you are a danger to that environment - even if you're joking. It could understandably be taken as threatening. Wearing a t-shirt with Arabic on? When has arabic been a danger to an environment?

      If his t-shirt said 'I'm an extremist', or 'I'm a suicide bomber', the reaction would have been more understandable.
    • h00paj00, on 10/12/2007, -11/+13@xtmo: Try it, and get back to us.
    • brstilson, on 10/12/2007, -3/+32That would only be true if the t-shirt said "I am a terrorist" in Arabic.
    • brstilson, on 10/12/2007, -3/+41I would totally wear a shirt that says "I am a robber" to a bank. It's called "Ironic humor."
    • qbaler, on 10/12/2007, -1/+42It's more like if only white ppl were thought of as robbing banks and you walked in with a shirt that says "I'm white".
    • silenceHR, on 10/12/2007, -39/+9offcourse... it is well known that americans can read arabic, so they would know what T-shirt says.

      ::roll eyes::
    • musters, on 10/12/2007, -102/+8He should change his shirt,

      if you don't want to be harassed,
      WEAR AMERICAN CLOTHES, WITH ENGLISH WRITING,

      it's just the way things are,
      if you look like a terrorist, you will be treated like one.
    • incubusnb, on 10/12/2007, -5/+31Hey, does that mean if I wear a shirt that says "The force is strong with you" I can be a Jedi?

      Sounds good to me, now where can I pick up my lightsaber

      On a serious note, I have a hoodie that says "I'm part of the problem", does that mean I'm really part of THE problem, or just A problem, or do I just like the hoodie?
    • thefirelane, on 10/12/2007, -3/+19>it's just the way things are,

      Great logic, that's been the excuse for every injustice in American history: "If you want to vote, JUST PAY THE POLL TAX, it's just the way things are"

      the point is things change, the point is there is a way things SHOULD BE, the point is you're supposed to have freedom in America
    • mendicant, on 10/12/2007, -5/+25@musters: What does a terrorist look like? Brown with arabic writing on his shirt? Your preconceived notions of terrorists are from the administrations insistence that only people from the mid east are terrorists.

      What about this guy?
      http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2006/LAW/08/12/unabomber.sale.ap/vert.unabomber.gi.jpg

      What about the IRA?




    • musters, on 10/12/2007, -30/+4I'm sure at least the IRA know how to party
    • natterca, on 10/12/2007, -3/+30@musters

      What are American clothes? The kind you buy in Walmart that are made in China?
      Btw, are all your shirts brown?
    • Goner, on 10/12/2007, -1/+44I wore my "I steal music on the internet" shirt (jinx.com) to Universal Studios and Disneyland and in neither place was I asked to remove it or accosted in any way. In fact, one Universal Studios security person smiled and said, "Me too!" as I walked by him.
    • musters, on 10/12/2007, -33/+4The types of clothes that 95% of the American population are wearing. Go visit there, you will see. Obviously you live in a box if you think every American gets their wardrobe at Walmart.
    • silenceHR, on 10/12/2007, -5/+16what i find really .. urm.. weird.. is that some americans think terrorism started with 9/11.
      NEWSFLASH ::
      1) every european country had terrorism issues long before you even knew how to spell the word
      2) you had Oklahoma City waaaaaaaaay before 9/11

      it's sad that some americans think "TERRORIST!!!1111" when they see anyone who might look like he is from Middle East. For those i suggest to watch "The Grid" mini series.... there is interesting scene when i guy (member of some US white militia) is questioned by FBI agent...

      this is as close as i can remember right now... not acctual scene.

      FBI :: you know you helped terrorist to attack US, what will your friend in xxxxx militia think of that?
      militia guy :: but he isnt terrorist, he is like us
      FBI :: you think caucasian?
      militia guy :: yes
      FBI :: ever heard of Chechenya?
      militia guy :: yeah, some guys that were fighting
      FBI :: you know that Chechenya is located in Caucas region? and that many chechens are blond with blue hair, sinca caucasian orginited from there???
      militia guy :: oh *****...

      for anyone, i highly recommed that show...


      (sorry for bad spelling....)
    • RevEng, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15Wait a minute, you mean I have to buy name brand clothing full of advertising, logos, drug references and sexual innuendos in order to not be considered a terrorist? I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous.
      Not only is there no reason why you should have to look like everyone else, there's actually a constitutional right that says you don't have to! Or atleast, it's written on paper--it's only as good as the people who uphold it.
      The reactions of people in general appaul me. Because a person is of Arabic decent and is wearing American-style clothes that contain Arabic writing, he could be a terrorist? And that makes you afraid enough to complain to security? What about all the people of Germanic decent in your country. Do you think they are Nazis?
      Terrorists are not of any race, color, or religion. Terrorists are people who purposefully cause terror in others. By that definition, the majority of Muslims, Arabs, Pakistanians, Iraqis, and many other races are NOT terrorists. However, several departments of the government (including Homeland Security) are terrorists.
      So long as we hold on to these false notions of what makes a terrorist, we will never be able to stop them.
    • musters, on 10/12/2007, -35/+3I love how the common arguement is that not all terrorists are muslims.. while I agree to that, I never said all terrorists were, however, it seems that 99% of terrorists are muslim, so you aren't really convincing me or anything.
    • thebusdriver, on 10/12/2007, -21/+5The point is that no one knew what the ***** it said, and obviously with all the hub bub lately I could see why the screen would ask him to change it. I dont believe for a second that the dude should have to change it at all, BUT I dont blame the dude for asking.
    • silenceHR, on 10/12/2007, -24/+1299% or terrorists are muslims.

      could you please count _ALL_ terrorist acts on US soil and make graph, based on religion of those that commited those acts?

      i am too tired for this... you people need reality check.
    • musters, on 10/12/2007, -23/+1when did I say "that happened on US soil"?
    • Vermifax, on 10/12/2007, -3/+24No true Muslim is a terrorist. Period.
      No true Christian is a terrorist. Period.
      No true Jew is a terrorist. Period.

      No true believer in God would employ war as an extension of policy.

      Any person who uses religion to explain, excuse or justify their own issues of xenophobia, control, anxiety or hatred are called "extremists".

      Every religion has "extremists". It obviously does not mean that they are right with God.

      Bush once claimed that "God told [him] to invade Iraq". This would make Bush more of an "extremist" than a Christian.

      McVeigh and that other guy were from a section of eastern Oklahoma called "God's Country", a known haven of white supremacists. Their actions in 1985 however, had absolutely nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

      If Americans could take a break from the Fox News-flavored Kool-Aid long enough to learn and appreciate the distinction between Religion and Extremism (admittedly, a thin line), we could do more to help this world (as opposed to hurting it).

      Oh, and one more thing...

      It's OK to hate Osama bin Laden. He's been an active CIA spook practically since Reagan's inauguration and a business partner of the Bush Family since Neil Armstrong took his "one giant step for mankind".
    • vermin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9If you're counting the whole world, then the percentage of terrorist attacks that are carried out by muslims is nowhere near 99%.
    • kylebrothert, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9I just got off the phone with Jet Blue. I was told that they're addressing this issue in conjuction with TSA (Transportation Security Administration). The Jet Blue rep was aware of the incident.

      While I couldn't get any real answers, I was happy to hear that they had to address it. Remember, most businesses won't change their behavior without public pressure.
  • MyHappyClam, on 10/12/2007, -60/+9I think everyone should be able to walk in an airport and board a plane without any clothes at all. That is my right!

    Now there are common sense things people should know but in this world nowadays people are more worried about injustices of those who don't seem to have any common sense than to their own security. Free speech all you want, but shouldn't you be prudent in your actions? Besides if we take this to the extreme, I could have (as the airport person) called the ACLU and complained that I was offended by the shirt and sue him. Why not they sue at the drop of a hat without regard to common sense either.
    • stinknugget, on 10/12/2007, -3/+19They do this in the UK on boats, and pubs with FOOTBALL shirts because it provokes fights.
    • Tsujigiri, on 10/12/2007, -3/+23Actually it isn't your right. Public nudity is illegal.

      You can't call the ACLU and complain about being offended. The ACLU is only interested in advocating an individuals rights, not advocating people's fashion sense. Your disliking something is not a violation of your rights. In your analogy the only way it would work is if someone invented a t-shirt that somehow infringed upon your freedoms as outlined in the constitution, which would have to be quite a remarkable t-shirt.
    • Atomic1fire, on 10/12/2007, -26/+41. its not your right
      and 2. thats sick the world would be alot worse if everybody was nude not to mention hypothermia would go up
    • lucask, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10Well although stringent regulations from the Government are in placed on Airliners, a private company can make decisions as they see fit to the mannerism and dress of those who enter their airplane. For instance you cannot play golf on any respectable course in a t-shirt and jeans, the company holds the right to standards which they place. It's an economic decision which Jet Blue made (I might add a very poor economic decision because I would never fly Jet Blue after this), and they have the right to do so. I think it's a disgrace that people act this way and get offended by anything middle eastern and it makes me sick.
  • bUND, on 10/12/2007, -229/+12Serves him right.

    I would have called the cops on him as well.
    • heresy_fnord, on 10/12/2007, -33/+94You prejudice *****.

      God it's people like you that need to go to just drop dead.

      Do they marry cousins where you are from?
    • DanLikesBeer, on 10/12/2007, -112/+15@heresy

      Hmm. Doesn't agree with your thinking, so not worthy of life. You're the one sounding like a terrorist ***** now.
    • emitemirp, on 10/12/2007, -5/+31Gotta love the block feature.
    • innerspirit, on 10/12/2007, -23/+12both of them sound like extremists to me

      as for people dropping dead, you might wanna join Al Qaeda or the US government if you want to play God so badly
    • colinmhayes, on 10/12/2007, -18/+5I think some people's sarcasm detectors are a bit out of whack.
    • missflibbles, on 10/12/2007, -5/+18prejudice != prejudiced

      Q. What's more annoying than extremists?
      A. Idiots.
    • meznak, on 10/12/2007, -4/+17This is the third time i've dugg-- you today under two articles. You, sir, are a racist bastard and need to stop calling yourself an American. Ever heard of a dude named Adolf Hitler? He convinced an entire country to think the way you do. You are a prime example of what is wrong with this country: xenophobia. Get an education and learn to hold your tongue.
    • MikeJo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I have never seen anyone be dugg down so much in one story than "bUND".
  • bUND, on 10/12/2007, -96/+10Yes my friend, thank you for proving my point !!

    You are making an EXCELLENT example of how "your kinds" jump to violent conclusions and react with emotion and fear without first thinking.

    Again, please do not attack me nor my house nor my family.
    We did not do anything to you or your people, so please leave us alone.
    We just wish to live our lives in peace and quiet.

    Thank you, and God Bless.
    • aOenEz, on 10/12/2007, -9/+23Idiot. How would you like it if the roles were reversed? Picture this: Islam is now the most dominant religion on earth and a new Islamic president has amended the constitution to say that the new national language of America is Arabic. Because of this, Christian extremists participate in terrorist activities and hijacked airplanes. The whole country spirals into a mass-paranoia of Caucasians. Then one day you go to the airport with a shirt that says "we will not be silent" in English. As a result, all your fellow racist and paranoid passengers erupt with complaints and you're forced to remove your shirt that's written in ENGLISH. How would YOU like it you ignorant little man?

      Oh, and don't respond with the obligatory "Christians wouldn't do that," because that would just further prove your ignorance, and would also cause me to backhand you off of the Internet. Or, the -insert tubes jokes here-.

      Finally, you might not be Christian, but that isn't the point of my rebuttal. I'm just trying to portray to you the ignorance that causes people to discriminate people based on their looks and/or their LANGUAGE. What does LANGUAGE have to do with extremist beliefs?
  • bUND, on 10/12/2007, -119/+10And before you turn my own words around against me,
    there are several logical reasons as to why an arab with
    a t-shirt that has arabic writing on it should not be allowed on a plane.

    you just chose to make a big deal about it in order to get attention.

    Common sense, my friend.....do you know what that is? I am not sure how to write it in Arabic, so please use an Arabic to English dictionary to translate.

    • qwickone, on 10/12/2007, -7/+37They should not be allowed on a plane? Tell me those reasons. While I think annyoying/rude to detain and question an Arab for wearing Arabic writing on their clothes, I see the necessity, especially if other custumers were upset. But once they questioned him and felt that he was not a threat (which they did or they wouldnt have let him on the plane at all), I don't think they had any good reason to not let him wear his shirt. Everyone on that flight probably already saw him wearing the shirt, do they think something is less likely to happen if he changes? Most likely no, so what was the point at all?
    • griz, on 10/12/2007, -4/+22You mean the shirt with the arabic script written with explosive ink.

      There is a HUGE difference between a real threat and a perceived threat.
      The media creates a perceived threat. Paranoia perpetuates this
      threat. And innocent people are perceived as threatening.
      Once they questioned him and searched him and knew he was not a threat,
      their only reason for acting any further on his shirt was to stop others from feeling
      a perceived threat.
      Sorry, but you can't kill someone with words.
      I would have stood there until Jet Blue produced a translator.
    • PowerCow, on 10/12/2007, -4/+24i am sure terrorists would wear a shirt written in arabic as they board the plane.. even the 9-11 terrorists were made to look western..

      I figure you suppose they should all wear, i love america shirts, while carrying a bible... of course the terrorist wouldnt learn to do that
    • silenceHR, on 10/12/2007, -2/+21i guess all 9/11 terrorists wore T-shirt saying "i am suicide bomber and will hit WTC/Pentagon/White House" in arabic????

      for crying out loud... people who really wanna blow plane try to look NOT suspicious. you won't see them looking at watches or being nervous (after all, they made their peace with their god and are ready to die), they will also have normal clothing, nothing to draw attention.... if you even tried to f*cking read about 9/11 you would know how they boarded planes....


      bah.... like talking to the wall, some people will never understand:
      a) how terrorists acctually work
      b) how they are manipulated into fear, for sake of those in power
    • ZerozenOnes, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7@ dUMB

      The shallowness of your reasoning is laughable. The mere fact that you somehow managed to escape you pen is mesmerizing. You likely just trailed behind smarter cattle.
    • musters, on 10/12/2007, -20/+2and who's to say they wouldn't wear something like that to throw you off because you would expect a terrorist to be a little more discreet about it. such a stupid arguement.

      just look at the stupid criminals in America. you'll see plenty of examples of people who are not discreet about robberies or violent acts.
  • bUND, on 10/12/2007, -124/+9The fact remains is that arabs, especially in today's fear based society are perceived by the general public as "suspicious".

    So when you get an arab trying to make some ***** ass statement (and unless he has ***** for brains, dont tell me he wasnt looking for trouble while wearing that shirt).

    That is just the way it is. If the arabs don't like it....you got noone to blame but the other arabs that are causing all the problems.

    So therefore, if you do not like being stereotyped and singled out in this country, then please go the ***** back to where you came from.

    =)
    • Weav, on 10/12/2007, -3/+34America: the land of the free. Thanks for your opinion bUND and try to think for a moment what America stands for and why people came over here in the first place.
    • xtmno3, on 10/12/2007, -5/+27You say if Arabs don't like it the only people they have to blame are other Arabs? I could not disagree more. If that is the correct way to reason about these things, then people like me have people like you to thank for having to explain that not everyone in my country is a complete raving lunatic.

      You have to think about it this way: If you are Arabic, you most likely have Arabic related clothing. People who skateboard tend to have skateboarder clothing, surfers have surfer clothing, businessmen have suits, etc. To say that a person is asking for trouble by wearing their clothing is just wrong.

      Lastly, when you say to "please go the ***** back to where you came from" I have to wonder if you are native american? My best guess would be that you are of Europeon decent, which means you too should be singled out, stereotyped, and sent back where you came from.

      I highly suggest you check out this website: www.tolerance.org

      Thank you, and God bless....wait I am an atheist in part due to people like you.
    • qwickone, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8You failed to address the point I made. I'm not saying he shouldnt expect a hassle, but when they deemed him not to be a threat, was it necessary for him to change his shirt anyway? I think it was the airline's duty to find a computer, get online and look up the translation of what was printed in english on his shirt to see if it matched the arabic writing. that would have taken, um, 5 minutes and this whole, let's violate constitutional right thing would have been avoided.
    • merreborn, on 10/12/2007, -4/+25"dont tell me he wasnt looking for trouble while wearing that shirt"

      Yeah. Right. Wearing a shirt in your native tongue is a "statement". That statement being "I like wearing shirts that have text on them written in the language I grew up speaking".

      Someone stop him before he wears again!
    • tont0r, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14So lets you have this land where they say 'SAY WHATEVER YOU LIKE! YOU ARE FREE TO DO THAT HERE!'. Then you go there and you have a shirt that says 'Im Stupid With' in english. However, the people there have decided that you cant wear that shirt because it being in english makes you a killer. How is that going to make you feel? Do you see the problem with this?

      You see, its easy for you to say 'serves him right' because you are not on the other end of the stick. You might as well hop back to the early 1960's and tell all the black people thats what they get for being black.

      Then you top it off with saying 'God bless'. You are a horrible person.
    • becominglumberg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11Although I agree with you it was probably not a wise choice of shirts for travel, he certainly has the right to wear a shirt with a non-offensive logo on it.

      You obviously have little education in the background of the country - after all, 'we' (being a WASP myself) came here because we were tired of being stereotyped and singled out in our original countries, and wanted a place that we could be ourselves.

      You remind me of the people that cite French military history of why they should never be respected, who clearly have completely forgotten one victory they had that had much to do with this country's founding.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Yorktown
    • brstilson, on 10/12/2007, -6/+19America is where Europe sent all it's ultra-strict religious nutjobs. I don't think they want anyone back.
    • dkleehammer, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3@ Weav
      To be free by becoming an American and following the rules. What's your point?
    • incubusnb, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4YOUR ALL FREE, YOU HAVE ALL BEE EMANCIPATED FROM INTOLERANCE AND SLAVERY...

      ...except you dirty middle easterners and supporters of middle easterners
    • jbcghia, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Don't feed the trolls...ignore this one, he is hopeless
  • FullMetalMonkey, on 10/12/2007, -1/+34"It is like wearing a t-shirt that reads "I am a robber" and going to a bank"
    Well, I know what i'm doing this afternoon!
    • elamr, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4@brstilson,
      [I would totally wear a shirt that says "I am a robber" to a bank. It's called "Ironic humor."]
      Please do. And video tape it so I can see the cops "rodney king" you on YouTube.
  • Dayz, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16That shirt actully looks cool
  • DonSchenck, on 10/12/2007, -39/+14Then you all don't mind if I wear a Nazi shirt, eh??

    Just asking.
    • Dayz, on 10/12/2007, -18/+11that has nothing to do with it
    • Durinthal, on 10/12/2007, -2/+34Nope. I might think you're an intolerant ***** because of it, but I wouldn't try to stop you from wearing it.
    • DonSchenck, on 10/12/2007, -23/+12It has nothing to do with it?

      Clothing? Check.
      Controversial? Check.
      Freedom of expression? Check.

      Where's the difference?
    • qwickone, on 10/12/2007, -2/+25There's also a difference between promoting hatred and making a non-hate related statement
    • DonSchenck, on 10/12/2007, -10/+7Thanks Durinthal .. you're consistent and that's respectable.
    • qwickone, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Also, should you expect a hassle, sure, but should you expect them to make you change it in order to board a plane, no.
    • marsz, on 10/12/2007, -3/+27@DonSchenck

      You don't really think that's a good point do you? Arabic is a language not an ideology.
    • DonSchenck, on 10/12/2007, -44/+6You're right, of course, qwikone.

      I FORGOT just how much the Arabs just LOVE the Jews.
    • doubledangerbat, on 10/12/2007, -30/+4Exactly, there are many many malls across the nation that will kick out people for shirts with swear words or depictions that aren't taken too kindly to.

      Now, I agree what happened was wrong (the police, not the shirt), but seriously...all you people going, "America, free?? blah blah..." should shut up because it's our very laws that allow you to say that on this posting. You do know that in many countries if you're found saying something against your country, it's treason and you're put in jail or killed, right?? Or are you uninformed about that too?

      Shut up, because the only reason you're allowed to have your own point of view in public is because of America. Which by the way, if you don't want to vote or do something productive when you feel there's something wrong (which doesn't include your dumb bumper sticker) and you just want to bitch about America, get the hell out.
    • qbaler, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16wearing a shirt that says i hate jews is different then wearing a shirt that says im arabic.

      what happened here is like a jewish person wearing a shirt that says "im jewish" and trying to bored a plane with nazi's.
    • ccc319, on 10/12/2007, -2/+31You are a fool. A Nazi shirt is a symbol of hate, prejudice, and intolerance. A shirt in Arabic (which they had no idea of the message, despite the English below it) does not represent the same thing. The point is that he was being targeted because of culture, not the message on the shirt.

      I think if you were wearing a buddhist swastika (the mirrored Nazi symbol) and people mistook it for Nazism, and asked you to remove it, I would say that they shouldn't be offended because they are ignorant of what the shirt really means. It's the same situation here.
    • animalgod, on 10/12/2007, -0/+20Ah, the equivalent would be a shirt with German writing on it. Notice he wasn't wearing an Al Qaeda shirt.

      But yes, wear what you like.
    • DonSchenck, on 10/12/2007, -12/+10ccc391 -- so you're saying I CANNOT wear a Nazi shirt because of it's meaning??

      Where is MY freedom of expression???

      Where do we draw the line?
    • mage1129, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6There is a huge difference between wearing a Nazi shirt and wearing a shirt with Arabic on it. If you are wearing a Nazi shirt there is a greater chance that you are going to not only offend people but you will probably also anger people enough to incite violence and there is where a clear and present danger lies and would allow the TSA to revoke your 1st amendment rights. I have seen shirst where the word coca cola is written in arabic and I am sure that if he was wearing this shirt he would not have been bothered over a 2nd security check. The largets part of this issue is that people were ignorant and decided to use fear and not reason when addressing the situation. If I was this dude I would be more upset about my 4th amendment rights being violated then my 1st. I am not saying America is or will ever be a police state, but when thigns like this happen they need to be addressed and corrected.
    • incubusnb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11Wear what you want, I won't stop you. Hell, if you want to go to the supermarket in full KKK gear I'm not gonna stop you, I'll just think less of you.
    • jbcghia, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Its freedom and sometimes it is painfull so go ahead, why don't you meet me in Los Angeles and see how far you make it with your shirt in one piece
    • raindogmx, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5"It has nothing to do with it?

      Clothing? Check.
      Controversial? Check.
      Freedom of expression? Check.

      Where's the difference?"

      Well, you can get on a plane wearing a nazi t-shirt. Where's the difference then?
    • davodavo, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5You just invoked Godwin.

      That means you lose.
    • inkyblue2, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12"I FORGOT just how much the Arabs just LOVE the Jews."

      last i checked, being arabic wasn't a lifestyle decision, and it doesn't mean you're a jew-hating terrorist. did i miss the memo?

      sure, some of them do. some of them are racist assholes. some americans are arab-hating assholes, too. that doesn't mean all of us are.
    • DonSchenck, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4My point, which most missed, is that FREEDOM of expression should be for ALL political speech. Anything less is censorship.

      I'd rather see 100 Nazi t-shirts on a plane than ONE incident like the story we're all talking about.

      But some of you scare me. You're no different that "Agent Harris" ... you simply draw the line where it pleases YOU.
    • KVargs, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2i somewhat agree with don here, given different circumstances. so this may be a bit extreme, but bear with me - imagine if you were jewish during world war 2 and you were with other jewish folk and knew what was going on with the nazis and whatnot. now if a person came in wearing a shirt with german writing on it, would you be worried or not? you wouldnt know what kind of person he is, but the fear is still there. i know the idea is far fetched and i dont really know if ive made this clear enough, so sorry.
  • westwind429, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16It's sad that this happened in the "land of the free." What's sadder is that people are trying to defend it.

    Okay, so people on the plane were concerned. It's almost a "heat of the moment" sort of thing. Doesn't excuse their racist stupidity, but whatever. That's their prerogative. There is NO EXCUSE, though, for an intelligent person sitting safe and sound behind his computer monitor to try to make this seem okay. It is absolutely indefensible.

    I guess "intelligent" is the key word.
  • Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -4/+29Just to think, a few years ago people were afraid of being robbed or beaten up by Negros. Now we can unite with our colored brethren in a common fear of light-brown-skinned people.
  • ccc319, on 10/12/2007, -1/+23This is sick, mostly because not a single one of the employees seemed to think there was something wrong with this. But what's worse is that this is in NEW YORK CITY, where people are exposed to many cultures and are supposedly more tolerant/liberal. These people need to be fired.
    • FishPoisonCon, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8"...supposedly more tolerant"
      you've never actually been here, have you?
  • Lumina, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17So IF I walked into an airport wearing a shirt with Korean script would I be subject to the same thing? I mean it looks Asian so for all most American's know or the security guard it could be Japanese. The fact that it is the Arabic script is what gets to me. That is plain outright prejudice and is sick.

    I cannot believe we live in such a world now that one would be stopped just because of a t-shirt. If I walked into a bank with a shirt that said bank robber on it, would I really be questioned or would the employees get a good laugh? If I wear a shirt that said I am liar, does that make me a liar or am I really telling the truth?
  • h00paj00, on 10/12/2007, -16/+5Inspector Harris said "You don't have to talk to anyone. Many people called and complained about your t-shirt. Jetblue customers were calling before you reached the checkpoint, and ***costumers*** called when you were waiting here in the boarding area".

    Those damn costumers! Always trying to get people to buy clown costumes and the ass end of a 2 person horse costume.

    Also: "it was then that I realized that my t-shirt was the reason why I had been taken to the secondary checking. "

    In the past 5 years, I've been pulled aside for a secondary search at least 10 times while flying. I'm batting .333. So forgive me if I don't shed a tear for you.
  • thkfceblkhrt, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8dude this is blatant discrimination and xenophobia.
    Arabic is a whole language wtf?

    What they should have done is snapped a shot of his t-shirt and got it translated.
    Just to see what it said. I don't think even if it said something ridiculous they had a right to make him take it off. But they may have had a right to question him and his motives if it said something inflamatory.
  • ahmerhussain, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9I'll wear a turban! (Seriously, My parents are Pakistani.)
    • gjd131, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16I'm no doctor, but if your parents are Pakistani, aren't you too?
    • Atomic1fire, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5unless he came to america that makes him a pakistani american
    • musters, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4thanks captain obvious.
  • Kohath, on 10/12/2007, -24/+8Why should we believe this actually happened? It sounds like a hoax to me.
    • xtmno3, on 10/12/2007, -4/+135 points for questioning the information people give you, and wanting to judge it as true on your own. Keep up the good work.
  • databasecowboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7It sort of reminds me of a bumper sticker, I think it was from the band PiL, that just said "CAR BOMB". This was during the IRA war when car bombs were a real threat in the UK. A friend had one on his car and he never got arrested or a warning.
    • FishPoisonCon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4i'm pretty sure that was a negativland thing (the sticker)
  • Black913Hole, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8The only terrorist actions in the article are the ones on my eyes.

    Indent new paragraphs, please.
  • 4degrees, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5that's friggen sad. I would have asked for a T-shirt with the 1st amendment written on it.

    That or get the damn NY shirt and then when the plane takes off... take off the shirt and go to the bathroom, drop a nasty deuce and wipe my ass with the NY shirt then JAM it in the toilet. get off the plane with my cool shirt on and with a smile on my face.
    • halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8What about just going to the air port wearing a t-shirt that has the First Amendment in Arabic?

      THAT would be a fun one.
  • JoshP, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14if you reallllllly want to get in trouble. try this t-shirt out:

    http://www.stuartheir.com/deathattack/images/dynamite.jpg

    from http://www.deathattack.com/ , t-shirt designer out of Brooklyn.
  • franksmith, on 10/12/2007, -22/+11I like Bush

    I like tight security including the phone tapping thing

    BUT THIS IS SCREWED UP and there is NO REASON it should have been allowed to happen... somebody(s) needs to hang for this.... this has gone WAY TOO FAR
    • imightbewrong, on 10/12/2007, -8/+5i dont think bush owns jetblue
    • diggitystar, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4dugg up because you're smart enough to realize that a person can indeed stand on both sides of a line. You give conservatives a better image, which they need in places like this. Note: I have no political affiliation.
    • diggitystar, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4oh come on, dugg him way down for being honest and rational? Can you really justify invalidating his comment just because he likes the president? You people are being pretty narrow, here.
    • Nerys, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Well yes. Bush is a traitor plain and simple so anyone who likes him is either a traitor, Unintelligent, or just plain blind.

      Anyone who is ok with unwarranted unsupervised without cause wire tapping is also like wise either a traitor, unintelligent, or just plain stupid.

      Nothing is more important than freedom. EVERYTHING ELSE is utterly of no value without freedom

      Bush is absolutely without question or even possibility to argue ANTI Freedom unless you LIMIT freedom to HIM and the people he cares about and no one else.

      Freedom is everything

  • dkleehammer, on 10/12/2007, -16/+5"It is like wearing a t-shirt that reads "I am a robber" and going to a bank""

    A terrorists wants to destroy life, the bank robber is just greedy. This isn't even a decent argument.
    • evanfrey, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4First off the point of a terrorists is to cause terror which often involves taking life although the taking of life is not the motive. Secondly a bank robber isn't necessarily greedy just in need of money (I work because I need money not because I am greedy). Sorry to be pedantic.
    • dkleehammer, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3The only thing that you said different was the fact that maybe the bank robber isn't greedy. It still doesn't make a decent argument about the fact that a bank robber's "hobby" is substantially different than that of the terrorists.

  • imightbewrong, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9if you wore a shirt that said "Im a robber" in a bank i dont think anyone would really care or even notice
    • cfrancisco812, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2It's not necessarily "I'm a robber," and I'm all for freedom of speech, but I can see how the shirt could be unsettling to some people, especially in times like these. Arabic aside, "We will not be silent" is a message of revolution and definitely something a fanatic might say just before they blew themselves up. It's short and to the point.
  • musters, on 10/12/2007, -29/+3I think the cop made a good arguement about the Bank Robber comparison. The guy was just asking for attention and decided to be a dick about it in the process.
    • mage1129, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4That analogy was terrible because having a shirt that says you are a robber and then going into a bank can be considered a threatening act. Having a shirt in Arabic is not threatening and should not be considered threatening, if he was wearing a shirt that says cocacola in arabic it would be a different story.
    • musters, on 10/12/2007, -11/+2maybe wherever you are from, but this is America.
    • pumacub, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Doubtful, I own a shirt with Arabic writing. I didn't buy it for attention, and I often wear it without a second thought.
    • mage1129, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Dude I am in America. In fact I live pretty close to JFk and will be flying Jet Blue quite soon, sit the Arabs next to me, I am cool with them.
    • musters, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1well pumacub, go wear your damn arabic shirt to the airport, let them harass you, and then blog how that went.
      also, if you don't like the way things are, get out.
  • bUND, on 10/12/2007, -42/+2@xtmno3

    Here is my impression of you:

    WAAAAHHHH IT'S ALL WHITEY'S FAULT, WAAAAAAHH.....FOUL FOUL FOUL !!!
    RACISM, FOUL !!! WAAAAAAAH !!!

    And I did see a picture of the t-shirt in question.

    I would like to buy one, actually.....no wait, I would like to buy two.
    One to ***** on, the other to cover it up with.
    • ThatsWhatYouGet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15@bUND
      "Here is my impression of you:"

      Wow. Your ignorance/immaturity is staggering. I'm going to go ahead and nominate you for a Darwin award. You're bound to kill yourself in some embarrassing fashion any day now.
    • xtmno3, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13As much as argueing with a child only provokes it more, I feel inclined to answer. I am caucasian. More specifically, I am a white male, age 18-30, of German descent.

      So no, it is not all whitey's fault, it is a truly colorblind issue. There are morons and bigots of all colors and creeds, but most of them do not speak up as much on digg as you do.
    • centinall, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Damn, learn how to reply in the same thread. It's not that hard.
    • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Are you really that racist, or is this a clever troll?
  • monergism, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Has Raed read the Constitution lately?
    • bUND, on 10/12/2007, -34/+3ENGLISH *****,
      DO YOU SPEAK IT?


      /JULES (Pulp Fiction)
    • Trizor, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11@bUND

      You totally missed his pun. Dug down for criticizing correct English.
    • monergism, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2I was not intending on a pun. The point remains. There is no right to fly or protection to wear choice clothing on a privately owned airline.

    • musters, on 10/12/2007, -7/+4keyword "Private".
      The airline can do whatever the hell they want.
    • davodavo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5The security guards are regulated by the TSA. Government agency.
    • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3I believe they could probably be sued for discriminatory behavior, however. In Canada I know they would, so I assume it would be the same in the U.S.

      As an analogy, imagine a private club that would refuse to serve african-americans.
    • musters, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2have you ever gone to some nightclubs in the united states?
      the bouncers let in whoever they want.
  • ryan1938, on 10/12/2007, -24/+4Personally, I think more profiling should be done at airports. It just makes sense from a fiscal and a security standpoint.

    I think it sucks that we have to profile muslims, because I really believe that they are a good group of people. However, it is time that we face the fact that there is a small faction of MUSLIMS that want to kill any and all americans... If we can't profile them, we won't be as effective in stopping them.

    If I were a liar, a thief, and a.... errr, wait... If I were a politician, my policy would be to stop and check EVERY muslim before allowing them to board an airplane.
    • spraguep, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Yeah we should lock them all up on concentration camps like we did all the Japanese American Citizens on the west coast during WW2...

      /boggle

    • jbcghia, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9So how bout we profile bible bangers and gun nuts too since they have been responsible for acts of terrorism as well what do they look like. So white people should be added to the list I guess...fat ones with american flag shirts especially suspicious.

      Maybe we should start actually trying to work on a long term solution instead of just making lame attempts at security...if its not planes it will be trains or buses or some other *****. Living in fear is no way to live.
  • mbrutsch, on 10/12/2007, -4/+29"Land of the Free"? That is SO "pre 9/11". Remember, Freedom isn't Free.

    Wilkommen auf Amerika.

    * WAR IS PEACE
    * FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
    * IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
  • patrix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+20Although I hate to admit it, the terrorists have finally "won"!

    Previous Digg story that proves it (http://digg.com/political_opinion/Refuse_to_be_Terrorized)
  • infonote, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5I wonder the reaction if it happened to a Jew (nothing against Jews, just an example). The media would not stop criticizing for two weeks. This confirms a previous digg article that made it to the frontpage that USA is playing the terrorists game.

    Anyway the Arab blogger should take the case to court.
    • xtr3m, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I think that when it comes to media it's what sells, really.
      Lets see if this whole "there's no freedom anymore" thing gets picked up anytime soon.
  • ccc319, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Just had a funny thought about T shirts. If you've ever seen "People vs. Larry Flynt," you might be reminded of the incident where he wears a T-shirt to a trial, reading "***** THIS COURT." I don't think he had to remove the shirt.
  • JamesWyatt, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6I can see both sides of the story, but unless it's a written rule, they had no right to do that..
    Just like the other story here of Bumping the Flight of an Arab Family because the rest of the Passengers suspected them to be terrorists..

    On the other hand, if I flew to IRAQ with a shirt with "It's our Oil Now!! U.S.A.!!" I'd get pegged off real quick.... :)
    • musters, on 10/12/2007, -12/+3exactly, there is the exact same hostility facing Americans in the middle east.

      for some reason though we don't make it our lifelong goal to bitch and complain about it though.
    • jbcghia, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6we are a society that values the rule of law and have a constitution that is designed to protect the minority and the individuals basic human rights. Is it the end of the world that they made him change his shirt...maybe just the begining of the end. The death of America (physically idealogically etc) would plunge the world in to dark times indeed so anything that weakens our basic freedoms should be taken very seriously.

      Iraqis should be pissed at us, we have ***** them bad for no good reason. They weren't the ones on the planes on 9/11...those were mostly Saudis. Saddam was a bastard but that doesn't justify our actions...if it did how come no ones thrown bush in jail and set up a democracy for us? Hopefully a sweet american style one with lots of kidnappings and sensless murder...oh wait we've already got one of those here nevermind bush can stay I guess.
    • Lexrst, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7@ JamesWatt: "On the other hand, if I flew to IRAQ with a shirt with "It's our Oil Now!! U.S.A.!!" I'd get pegged off real quick.... :)"

      Yes, of course, because there is an expectation of freedom (© GW Bush) we should have over there in those democratic, non-totalitarian Middle Eastern countries.

      The point is that all these pundits and politicians want us to think that the "War on Terrorism" and Iraq War are protecting our right to "Freedom" but anytime those rights are violated or curbed we should accept it because they're "protecting" us from people that "want to kill us."

      B.S.

      I'm sorry, but this is a seriously messed up set of priorities. There are far worse problems facing the US than terrorists and losing a war in Iraq is not going to fix that particular problem anyway. Fixing poverty and educating the uneducated will go a lot farther toward that goal while allowing us to concentrate on bigger problems: coming to a scientific consensus on whether human beings are effecting climate change; reducing dependence on non-renewable energy sources; treatments for HIV and the staggering number of cancers out there; the problems with education in economically depressed areas; poverty and homelessness; mental illness; and on and on and on....

      There are a helluva lot more people affected by the problems listed above than have been killed on US soil by terrorists, but many politically powerful people would have you believe that it's the biggest, most important problem facing America. The numbers say otherwise...
    • musters, on 10/12/2007, -10/+2Lexrst, you're effed up.

      I'm going to treat them the same way they are going to treat me.

      If they are going to harass me when I fly there, I can harass them when they come here.

      free speech or no free speech, that's human nature.
    • Lexrst, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4@musters "free speech or no free speech, that's human nature."

      ...and that appears to the root of the problem, doesn't it?
    • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4musters, you seem to be forgetting about a little fact called: the rule of law.

      Just because your freedoms aren't protected if you're in foreign country doesn't mean that the rights of someone coming here from that country aren't. That may seem unfair, but that's the price to pay for holding the moral high ground.
  • DrSkrud, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4Let's get some t-shirts printed up that say "I am a robber" and wear them whenever going to the bank for a deposit or withdrawal or whatever.
  • Lumiras, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14This is just disgusting. First off, do you think that a terrorist would wear a t-shirt that says "i'm going to blow up this plane"?

    No, a terrorist would want to sneak onto the plane without anybody noticing
    • dognose, on 10/12/2007, -8/+2They are looking for unusual people to single out. If everyone was wearing these shirts, I'd bet it wouldn't have been a problem. I think he's an idiot for wearing a shirt like that.
  • ravenofwinter, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Hmm, I wonder what would have happened if the guy had said "But this is Hebrew!"

    Most people wouldn't know the difference, and he could have gotten all offended about being called and Arab, and demanded an apology and free tickets and more.

    • razarizvi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Good point ...all these languages, in addition to Arabic, use the same script Persian, Urdu, Kurdish, Pashto, etc.
  • JiffyJoker, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4I'm disgusted by the airports decisions, that's just profiling.
  • PowerCow, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8http://www.refuseandresist.org/police_state/art.php?aid=1495
    http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/01/31/D8FG23S8G.html

    it's not just arabic shirts being banned
    try flying with an anti bush shirt
  • phreel0aderr, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3One thing i have noticed no one bring up is what it actually said in both languages. "We will not be silent". This could be written in Swahili and people still would have called.
  • gendjinn, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4See how far you get with this image on your t-shirt.
  • ZerozenOnes, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Revolting.

    Tell them what you think. I did.

    http://www.jetblue.com/speakup/ComplaintsForm.aspx
    • mage1129, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2Are you sure it was Jet blue and not the TSA? He isn't really clear on that and if anything it seems that the jet blue agent was just trying to defuse the situation. I don't know if Jet Blue has their own security gaurds or if JFK is all TSA.
    • apetrie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2mage1129: Either the complaints will get to the right people or (if enough complaints come in) Jet Blue will complain to the right target about:

      1) the negative press they are receiving because of the actions of the security guard and
      2) the inappropriate way their customer was treated

      If they feel like this will have a negative effect on their business, of course.

      Regardless, complaining to Jet Blue even if the guard didn't work for them is going to be as effective as it would be if he didn't.
  • JonForTheWin, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2I'll be traveling soon and when I do I'm going to wear a shirt that says 911truth.org.

    When I get harassed I'll start yelling out "you hate America! You don't care about the victim's families! Traitor!".

    You know, just for fun.
  • keitho, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5[meet the parents] bomb bomb bomb bomb. bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb. what if i was in world war 2 and served as a bombbadier. [/meet the parents]

    this another unfortunate situation where fear overtake logic.
  • bUND, on 10/12/2007, -31/+3Wow, look at how many liberal wack jobs are on digg right now.....

    I support the airport security in what they did. The police officers did a great job at investigation a possible situation, and should be awarded a promotion for it.

    Dig me down you little pussy-ass liberal bitches !!!
    • gardnert1, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11lol, youre insane dude. What can he possibly do with a t-shirt that says something in arabic? blow up a plane? Get your head outta W's ass you freak. Its people like YOU that cause terrorists to attack us.
    • drapelyk, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15you are one pathetic individual...

      You are racist.
      "So therefore, if you do not like being stereotyped and singled out in this country, then please go the ***** back to where you came from."

      You are obscene.
      "Dig me down you little pussy-ass liberal bitches !!!"

      You are childish.
      "@xtmno3
      Here is my impression of you:
      WAAAAHHHH IT'S ALL WHITEY'S FAULT, WAAAAAAHH.....FOUL FOUL FOUL !!!
      RACISM, FOUL !!! WAAAAAAAH !!!"

      You my friend are the problem in America. You fear anything that isn't "American." Yes, the terrorist attacks have been primarily from middle-eastern people...the Oklahoma City Bombing was attacked by one of our very own, Timothy Mcveigh. Some people hate other people... It's not a race...it's typically not a country...it's idiots like you. It's people who a fanatical about their own beliefs. You cannot argue with this. People who cannot accept others views or even accept that other people have other ideas without bashing them are stupid. Live your life. Do it peacefully...but don't infringe upon someone elses. He may have been, as you said, attempting to incite trouble. However, I have a closet full of clothes with English words written on them. Could he not have been just wearing one of his shirts written in his language? Calm down bucko. OPEN YOUR EYES.
    • shad0w, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Liberals have courage. You, my friend, are playing the terrorist's game. You are afraid and that's why you hate arabs. Terrorists want you to crawl into your little hole of fear and denial and never look up. People like you let the terrorists win. Let me say this again: you are the one that is afraid.
    • mage1129, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8bUND it is people like you that make it harder and harder to be an intellegent conservative. Being a conservative doesn't give you free reign to call everyone who disagrees with a liberal wack job and be xenophobic. Get your head out of your ass and start thinking before you make any comments.

      In addition the police deserve nothing because they have a duty to protect this guy's rights just as much as anyone elses. If anything they took a harmless situation and escalated it.
    • Bob042, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Sure, they investigated a situation, but once they found out he wasn't a threat, they have no right to make him change.
    • JoeBlunt, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Look at how many ignorant fascists wiping their ass with the Constitution are swarming on Digg.

      They hate us for our Freedom Fries? Freedom on the March? Free parking? Free taco bell hot sauce?

      What the hell are we fighting for if we can't wear a freakin t shirt on an airline?
  • gardnert1, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3i wanna go to the airport wearing a t-shirt that says "terrorist", anyone know where i can get one?
    • xtmno3, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Walmart, in the printer section, just look for iron on design paper.
    • gardnert1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1cool, thanks
  • rafiss, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5"I FORGOT just how much the Arabs just LOVE the Jews."
    +1 sweeping generalization

    And even if they all did hate Jews, what does that have to do with the shirt this guy was wearing?
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