The real target of the 6 imams' 'discrimination' suit

[Fandango 1,439]

If it was a stunt, that's perhaps questionable, but calling it "terrorism" is a bit of a stretch. It's a lot closer to civil disobedience, or a sting operation where a young-looking person goes and buys cigarettes to prove the pharmacy doesn't card.

Didn't terrorism used to involve actual terror, and not just playing to people's emotional panic attacks? It's not worrying about not offending people, it's about not overreacting and labelling every goddamn thing an act of terrorism. I'm sorry, praying in an airport -- even if you do it intentionally to make a point -- is a gigantically different thing than having a plot to hijack a plane or actually having a bomb.

Are you saying these stunts wouldn't instill terror in their co-passengers?

I did, however, clarify earlier that I found it to be emotional terrorism.

And I also said that it wasn't the praying that was the problem. People pray at airports/on planes all the time.

Edited March 17, 2007 by LisaD

[Caladan 19]

I'd say that *if* the story is as has been reported, "playing to people's prejudices" is a better word for it than "terrorizing." I mean, honestly, "emotional terrorism"?

[Fandango 1,439]

I'd say that *if* the story is as has been reported, "playing to people's prejudices" is a better word for it than "terrorizing." I mean, honestly, "emotional terrorism"?

Yes. IMO it is.

moving about the cabin changing seats and separating like that? Asking for belt extenders when none are needed? If I was on that flight, I'd be sh!tting myself.

[pedroh 21]

I'd say that *if* the story is as has been reported, "playing to people's prejudices" is a better word for it than "terrorizing." I mean, honestly, "emotional terrorism"?

Yes. IMO it is.

moving about the cabin changing seats and separating like that? Asking for belt extenders when none are needed? If I was on that flight, I'd be sh!tting myself.

yeah I agree, when you are trying to create fear, or trying to distress a group of people can be considered terrorism.. now, the factors that trigger this fear in people are the problem.. for LisaD, just the praying wouldn't be a problem, but yea, all the show they made, praying out loud, criticizing the US Govt, doing all that stuff in the airplane, while not a real threat probably, it's somethng that would bother more than one...

now, unfortunately not all the travelers are LIsaD.. who don't get paranoid by stupid things as, in this case could be the praying.. there's a bunch of a-holes out there that just cuz they're speaking arabic they'd be like omg! terrorists

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

now, unfortunately not all the travelers are LIsaD.. who don't get paranoid by stupid things as, in this case could be the praying.. there's a bunch of a-holes out there that just cuz they're speaking arabic they'd be like omg! terrorists

i consider lisad's statements to be prudent, not paranoid

[mybackpages 0]

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid...read&tid=25

The story on the news seems to keep repeating the idea of the seat changes, the seatbelt etensions etc...here is an interview in the words of the Imams themselves on what happened on that plane.

[Caladan 19]

I'm sure all the people who were worried on the plane had memorized the seating location of the 9/11 hijackers, and that's what tipped them off. Goodness knows I worry about that when I fly.

[Fandango 1,439]

now, unfortunately not all the travelers are LIsaD.. who don't get paranoid by stupid things as, in this case could be the praying.. there's a bunch of a-holes out there that just cuz they're speaking arabic they'd be like omg! terrorists

i consider lisad's statements to be prudent, not paranoid

I think he was saying I wasn't paranoid just because I wouldn't automaticall freak out if I heard someone praying.

[GaryC 7]

Hey, not much scares me but that was intended to frighten. Those guys knew what they were doing and the reaction it would generate. They were being first class chopf#cks and they were lucky that the passengers didn't kick the sh!t out of them.

[pedroh 21]

now, unfortunately not all the travelers are LIsaD.. who don't get paranoid by stupid things as, in this case could be the praying.. there's a bunch of a-holes out there that just cuz they're speaking arabic they'd be like omg! terrorists

i consider lisad's statements to be prudent, not paranoid

I think he was saying I wasn't paranoid just because I wouldn't automaticall freak out if I heard someone praying.

SI

[rclouse 0]

and fyi, if that was my azz on the plane, I'd worry too. It's time we stop worrying about offending people and time we are honest enough to say 'that don't smell right.'

ur right there... but.. is praying loudly a justification to worry, just cuz they are praying in arabic? or are you talkin about the whole show they decided to mount on the plane..

I've been through the airport in Casablanca probably 7 or 8 times, and there are always a few devout men who pray before getting on their plane. They always go to an empty part of the terminal to do their prayer and they speak quietly.

These imams were being conciously provocative. They knew their actions would cause a reaction. That is what I'm upset about. I hope their day in court brings that to light.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

The Quran exempts us from prayer during travel; imams know that. Also, we are to be modest and considerate in our deeds. Thus, I find their actions to be highly suspicious.

[Caladan 19]

If you read the article mybackpages linked, three of them did go to a quiet part of the terminal. One of them had his flight upgraded, and two fat ones asked for seatbelt extenders, and one of them asked another passenger to switch seats because he wanted to sit next to the blind imam. They weren't praying in the aisles.

I'm sure there's no reason at all why the airlines and the U.S. attorney general would be interested in discrediting them. And it's not like this sort of incident hasn't happened before on flights where someone is hailed a hero for saying to the flight attendant: that guy looks Muslim. There was a great article where some ninny managed to get an orthodox Jew with a prayer shawl tossed from a flight because he looked Muslim.

We certainly rely on these sharp eagle eyed passengers to keep us safe from old men who have gone from security.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

There are conflicting stories. One article isn't proof.

[GaryC 7]

The fact that they led them away in handcuffs tells me that someone in authority had a reasonable suspicion. I doubt it todays world of lawsuits that they would have done that without a good reason. I realize that the imams would do their best to understate what happened if in fact the reports are true. The sad fact remains that after 9/11 we tend to be more paranoid about this sort of thing than we used to be. If this happend in 1997 they would have been looked at as an oddity. But since we have in fact been hurt it is reasonable to understand our lack of understanding. Don't blame the passengers for overreacting- blame the azzholes that hijacked the 4 planes on 9/11.