Canadian Muslim Doctor Escorted Off Airplane For Suspicious Praying

[ceriserose 1]

Was the guy sitting quietly in his seat with his head down or did he have a rug spread out in the aisle?

Does it matter?

The article says he was reciting his prayers so he could have just been sitting in his seat reciting some part of the Quran.

Well, I'd think if he were blocking the aisle it would matter to some. It's not like there's a whole bunch of walkways to go around on a plane.

I doubt he'd have done that, but then I'm always surprised at people.

[Bosco 1]

http://blisteringcheese.com/index.php/weblog/comments/12328/

lovely commentary from the "right".

[Veiled Princess 1]

Was the guy sitting quietly in his seat with his head down or did he have a rug spread out in the aisle?

Does it matter?

The article says he was reciting his prayers so he could have just been sitting in his seat reciting some part of the Quran.

Well, I'd think if he were blocking the aisle it would matter to some. It's not like there's a whole bunch of walkways to go around on a plane.

I doubt he'd have done that, but then I'm always surprised at people.

Well still, blocking the aisle to preform prayer is far from a terrorist activity.

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

Was the guy sitting quietly in his seat with his head down or did he have a rug spread out in the aisle?

i'm sure the pc crowd will say that he can block the aisle.

[Veiled Princess 1]

http://blisteringcheese.com/index.php/weblog/comments/12328/

lovely commentary from the "right".

Doesn't surprise me at all that prayer offends people here.

Also doesn't surprise me that pigs can't have a semi-intelligent conversation without cursing non-stop. My mom used to tell me "the only reason people use those words is because they're not smart enough to think of anything to replace it with"

[I'm Gone 60]

Well still, blocking the aisle to preform prayer is far from a terrorist activity.

I'm sorry, but if some guy Arab looking spreads out a rug in the aisle and starts praying on a plane I'm on I'm going to be asking "what's up with that."

[Veiled Princess 1]

Was the guy sitting quietly in his seat with his head down or did he have a rug spread out in the aisle?

i'm sure the pc crowd will say that he can block the aisle.

He shouldn't block the aisle in case there's an emergency but the article says he was just reciting his prayers and since I have never seen anyone get up in the aisle and pray I doubt he was doing it either. Most people, if they're going to pray on planes, do so in our seats. A few sisters I know will actually pull their blanket over them as to not disturb the other passengers.

Nonetheless, he should not have been hauled off the plane because his prayer offended some drunk redneck

Well still, blocking the aisle to preform prayer is far from a terrorist activity.

I'm sorry, but if some guy Arab looking spreads out a rug in the aisle and starts praying on a plane I'm on I'm going to be asking "what's up with that."

Why should anyone's prayer bother you?

What if it's a white guy? Wouldn't bother you at all?

Edited August 20, 2006 by Veiled Princess

[Bosco 1]

I think a large part of the problem is that the media almost exclusively portrays Muslims in two ways - praying or in acts of terrorism. You see two types of images....... the large crowd of Muslims gathered prostrating (the typical mosque image they show) or the terrorist image (burning down embassies, suicide bombers, Hezbollah marches or even the outraged/angered screaming Muslim). Eventually, the two become linked in a lot of people's minds. It is as if all we do is pray, scream and yell in outrage or bomb things.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Bloody hell. I've prayed on every flight I've been on recently. I always ask the stewardesses if there's a space I can spred my rug out in back, and if not, I'll just pray in my seat. I can't believe this flight crew had never come across a muslim praying on their plane before.

If time permits though, I'll wait until I get to the airport. It's an absolutely amazing experience to come together with fellow travelers in the chapel and make salat together. The one in Amsterdam was very pretty.

[I'm Gone 60]

Nonetheless, he should not have been hauled off the plane because his prayer offended some drunk redneck

Now who's profiling? So only white guys from the South drink? LOL

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

Why should anyone's prayer bother you?

What if it's a white guy? Wouldn't bother you at all?

i'll admit i prayed on a plane a few times. when flying turkish airlines

Edited August 20, 2006 by charlesandnessa

[Veiled Princess 1]

Nonetheless, he should not have been hauled off the plane because his prayer offended some drunk redneck

Now who's profiling? So only white guys from the South drink? LOL

I didn't realize only white guys from the south can be rednecks

[Fuzzness 2]

whats wrong with praying in a seat?

[I'm Gone 60]

I think a large part of the problem is that the media almost exclusively portrays Muslims in two ways - praying or in acts of terrorism. You see two types of images....... the large crowd of Muslims gathered prostrating (the typical mosque image they show) or the terrorist image (burning down embassies, suicide bombers, Hezbollah marches or even the outraged/angered screaming Muslim). Eventually, the two become linked in a lot of people's minds. It is as if all we do is pray, scream and yell in outrage or bomb things.

Yeah that's what would be going through my mind if the guy was in the aisle praying. Is this some pre-terrorist soul cleansing or why wouldn't the guy just sit in his seat and quietly pray.

[ceriserose 1]

I think a large part of the problem is that the media almost exclusively portrays Muslims in two ways - praying or in acts of terrorism. You see two types of images....... the large crowd of Muslims gathered prostrating (the typical mosque image they show) or the terrorist image (burning down embassies, suicide bombers, Hezbollah marches or even the outraged/angered screaming Muslim). Eventually, the two become linked in a lot of people's minds. It is as if all we do is pray, scream and yell in outrage or bomb things.

And while I know better in reality, I would hope that not everyone believes that everything they see portrayed in such limited dimensions believes that's all there is. Unfortunately I know that most people don't seem to be able to critically think about a lot of things, never mind acknowledge media bias.

As for public displays of prayers that limit an area that's already difficult to navigate, I don't care what religion a person is, it's just rude and shows little consideration for others. If praying in your seat is 'just as good', then my expectation as a fellow traveler would be that taking others feelings into account would just be nice manners. That bothers me whether it's driving, queuing in lineups, shopping, or other public venues. (Probably why I don't go where a lot of people are. )