Flying While Muslim
You can hear the protests already. And while it seems the only substantial discomfort to passengers was a major inconvenience, the new catch phrase, Flying While Muslim, may be as flawed as the reason for 9 Muslims being removed from a DC flight to Orlando. That is if this quote from one of those removed is accurate. “My brother and his wife were discussing some aspect of airport security,” said passenger Kashif Irfan. Most reports indicate the conversation was about the safest place to sit. And while a guess might be that those removed were required to pay for a different flight to complete their trip may end up being reimbursed once the smoke clears, if they are not then the discomfort was more than inconvenience. Certainly the protests expected will conclude the travelers were treated unfairly. While there may be an argument to support that notion one can also express the tendency to act on the side of caution since 9/11. Even if the outcome is unfair. So was 9/11.
It has been seven years since the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Flight 93 were attacked. Those who wish to object to the occasional incident typically referred to as flying while Muslim, etc., might consider that under the circumstances little has been done in the Muslim community to convince the non-Muslim world the religion of peace is a religion of peace. If it is not fair to ask this of the Muslim community then is it fair to expect the remainder of the world to take it on ‘faith’ that Islam is largely peaceful given the actions of so-called radicals among them?
To adhere to the spirit of full disclosure readers of this blog should know the author’s racial demographic is white. That alone exposes one to a better than even chance of being viewed as a racist. While the author is way past the college years, it was in that environment the following tidbit was presented. No matter who you are if you believe you are not prejudiced you are deluding yourself. Prior to that the concept of ethnocentrism was presented. Or according to wordnet at Princeton, ‘a belief in the superiority of one’s own ethnic group.’ The point is, if you haven’t already guessed it, we all deal with our own prejudices and those of other people every day. It is not likely something that will be rectified any time soon.
For those who suspect this white author has never experienced prejudice as severe as others the following anecdotes are offered. While traveling alone on a cross-country trip by car I was stopped on an interstate by a member of the state police (state intentionally omitted). As I exited the vehicle on command the officer was resting his arms on his open car door aiming toward me what appeared a cannon in my eyes. You can imagine the fear caused by the very real possibility my life was about to end. Obviously I’m still alive. It seems a fellow officer had been killed during a traffic stop and for some reason this officer thought I did it. The matter was of course cleared up but none too soon.
A similar event but with a fellow traveler found the two of us being stopped, interrogated, searched and otherwise inconvenienced by local authorities in a small rural town. It was excused by them as their own brand of fighting drug trafficking. Again, at some point, we were allowed to continue our travel. Had these two events resulted in worse outcomes it might be viewed as intolerable acts of prejudice or at least injustice perpetrated by law enforcement bending the rules.
There are many more anecdotes that will not be offered as it is hoped the two offered thus far will suffice. Again, there is a point. And some of the anecdotes not offered would feature someone from the white racial demographic being treated wrongly simply based on that fact. And yes, the point is prejudice happens to everyone. That may be the only part of prejudice that is an oxymoron. The question is what do we do about it? And that, beloved readers (wink, wink) is the 64 trillion dollar question. For those of you old enough to remember the significance of the 64,000 dollar question, bailouts and other current economic realities caused the inflationary figure displayed.
Happy New Year, my *&$##^&
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
postscript: Perhaps the flying while Muslim on September 11, 2001 is responsible for the flying while Muslim difficulties since then.
Trackposted to The Pink Flamingo, Leaning Straight Up, Woman Honor Thyself, and The World According to Carl, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.