Arabic T-Shirt Alarms Flight Officials (man told to turn shirt inside out)

[Kadie]

Arabic T-Shirt Alarms Flight Officials
By KAREN MATTHEWS, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, August 30, 2006


(08-30) 14:32 PDT NEW YORK, (AP) --


An Arab human rights activist was prevented from boarding a plane at Kennedy Airport while wearing a T-shirt that read, "We will not be silent" in English and Arabic.

Raed Jarrar was at the gate to board a JetBlue Airways flight to Oakland, Calif., on Aug. 12 when four officials from the airline or a government agency stopped him and told him he could not board with the shirt on, he said Wednesday.

One official told him, "Going to an airport with a T-shirt in Arabic script is like going to a bank and wearing a T-shirt that says, `I'm a robber,'" he said.

snip...
Jarrar, who directs the Iraq project for Global Exchange, a San Francisco-based human rights organization, said he refused a suggestion from the officials that he turn his shirt inside out. In the end, officials gave Jarrar another shirt to wear over his, and he put it on rather than miss his flight.

snip...
Jarrar, 28, is half-Iraqi and half-Palestinian and moved to the United States last year from Jordan, where he was studying. The slogan "We Will Not Be Silent" has been adopted by opponents of the war in Iraq.

more...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2006/08/30/national/a143219D39.DTL

[EstimatedProphet]

1. Jeez...racist much?

One official told him, "Going to an airport with a T-shirt in Arabic script is like going to a bank and wearing a T-shirt that says, `I'm a robber,'" he said.

What a dick. Arabic=criminal.

[dsc]

2. What possible use could that be?

I certainly don't think we should assume that people wearing Arabic Tshirts are terrorists but if we are going to assume that how does turning that tshirt inside out change that? I would love to hear a reasonable explanation for that.

[Kadie]

11. That was the first thought I had when I read the article.

I don't think we will hear a reasonable explanation.

[panader0]

3. What idiots! I hope he sues the shit out of them.

I was asked about my "Homeland Security" T-shirt while entering the local army base where I am doing construction. (It has Geronimo and three other Apaches in a photo and says "fighting terrorism since 1492")
I wasn't hassled too bad, but it caught the eye of the guards. Har Har.

[Nobody]

4. I want an Arabic T-shirt too!

I want mine to say George Bush is not my president. in Arabic. No translation.

I'd also like one that says I am not a member of Al-Qaeda. also in Arabic.

[OwnedByFerrets]

5. God, what kind of society

has monkeyboy turned us into?

[Rex]

6. So wearing a shirt with arabic writing is illegal in America?

Anyone look up this new law? Must have passed it last night while I slept.

[kenny blankenship]

7. So now Arabic script is de facto illegal in America's public places. Nice.

[driver8]

8. Now these idiots are afraid of t-shirts??

I guess the terrorists are now wearing t-shirts that say in arabic, "Stop me, I'm a terrorist."?

What a bunch of horse shit.

[tanyev]

9. Whew! Turning that t-shirt inside out will render him incapable of

carrying out the heinous terrorist plot he so obviously intended.




:sarcasm:

[RC]

10. Well yah.

He wouldn't be able to read his instructions after he got on the plane then.

[WinkyDink]

12. I want a T-shirt with Arabic script for "I have a gub."

Geez. Arabic script and design are ONLY the loveliest in the world. I hope the Al-Hambra is well-guarded.

[madmusic]

13. I want one that says...

All your Bill of Rights belong to us.

[ChickMagic]

14. I have a t shirt that says Peace

in English, Arabic and Hebrew. I'll have to remember to wear
it next time I fly. Either that or my Homeland Security suspect
number shirt. :evilgrin:

Who am I kidding? I'm probably already on all no fly lists.

[The Gunslinger]

15. I Have Arabic lettering....... ..........Now give the plane to me!!!!!

[Warren DeMontague]

16. Apparently, we will be SILENCED, however.

That's just fucking ridiculous. The majority of Terrorist attacks in this country have been committed by white, Christian men. Next time I see someone wearing a Jesus t-shirt in an airport, maybe I should complain to security that it frightens me.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

17. If you'd like to hear Mr. Jarrar discuss this

you can go to my archives at the White Rose Society. www.whiterosesociety.org/Kincaid.html

I spoke with Mr. Jarrar on "Head-On With Bob Kincaid" this past Friday, August 24th. Select that archive, and go toward the end of the program.

His passionate insistence upon the rights guaranteed under the Constitution are inspiring.