T-shirt with arabic Script = 'I am a robber'

Nom Chompsky

Nom Chompsky

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A rather disturbing piece by an Arabic Man who was interrogated by US officials

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Then I once again asked the three of them : "How come you are asking me to change my t-shirt? Isn't this my constitutional right to wear it? I am ready to change it if you tell me why I should. Do you have an order against Arabic t-shirts? Is there such a law against Arabic script?" so inspector Harris answered "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". I said "but the message on my t-shirt is not offensive, it just says "we will not be silent". I got this t-shirt from Washington DC. There are more than a 1000 t-shirts printed with the same slogan, you can google them or email them at [email protected] . It is printed in many other languages: Arabic, Farsi, Spanish, English, etc." Inspector Harris said: "We cant make sure that your t-shirt means we will not be silent, we don't have a translator. Maybe it means something else". I said: "But as you can see, the statement is in both Arabic and English". He said "maybe it is not the same message". So based on the fact that Jet Blue doesn't have a translator, anything in Arabic is suspicious because maybe it'll mean something bad!

* * * * * * * * * *

Meanwhile, a third man walked in our direction. He stood with us without introducing himself, and he looked at inspector Harris's notes and asks him: "is that his information?", inspector Harris answered "yes". The third man, Mr. Harmon, asks inspector Harris : "can I copy this information?", and inspector Harris says "yes, sure".
inspector Harris said: "You don't have to take of your t-shirt, just put it on inside-out". I refused to put on my shirt inside-out. So the woman interfered and said "let's reach a compromise. I will buy you a new t-shirt and you can put it on on top of this one". I said "I want to keep this t-shirt on". Both inspector Harris and Mr. Harmon said "No, we can't let you get on that airplane with your t-shirt". I said "I am ready to put on another t-shirt if you tell me what is the law that requires such a thing. I want to talk to your supervisor". Inspector 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".
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The real question is so what? Who cares what his t-shirt says? Would anyone be so dimwitted as to worry about someone walking into a bank with a t-shirt that says 'I am a robber'?

A few years ago a guy in the US was harassed by security at a shopping mall. I think he was wearing an anti-Bush or anti-war t-shirt. They made a big scene.
 
Just a lot of people living in fear and being stupid.
 
They're starting to take this paranoia a bit too far now, its almost becoming ridiculous. To generalise an entire group of people based on the actions of a retarded few is a bit extreme. In fact this whole passenger complaining on airlines crap is getting out of hand. If proper security measures are in place, there should be no need for anybody onboard to worry about anybody else onboard.
 
Seriously though - why poke the bear? The airline is just going to poke back and keep you off the plane.
 
chiskop said:
Who is poking the bear?

How is wearing a tee that says We will not be silent provocation?

:confused:
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Was referring to all the other suggested shirts.

As far as this instance goes even though the airline was clearly in the wrong they can keep anyone they want off the plane.

JFK isnt exactly known these days for being forgiving.
 
Highflyer_GP said:
They're starting to take this paranoia a bit too far now, its almost becoming ridiculous. To generalise an entire group of people based on the actions of a retarded few is a bit extreme. In fact this whole passenger complaining on airlines crap is getting out of hand. If proper security measures are in place, there should be no need for anybody onboard to worry about anybody else onboard.
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Agreed. The paranoia thing is indeed becoming ridiculous. Soon the only thing you'll be able to wear on a flight are your undies.
 
halicon said:
i wonder if an english dude wearing a t -shirt saying: TERRORIST would be allowed on - chances are probably
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Chances are most definately not. Even before this whole thing in the U.K with increased air security and indeed before 9/11 if you said so much as the word bomb in airport let alone on a plane, you would be liable to get yourself arrested.

Some chap the other day at Jozi Intl. was joking about a bomb, till the cops pulled in and arrested him!

I don't think a TERRORIST t-shirt would go down well.
 
bwana v.16 said:
As far as this instance goes even though the airline was clearly in the wrong they can keep anyone they want off the plane.
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Can they really? On what grounds? Based on that logic you could keep anybody that "looked Middle Eastern" off the plane. And that wouldn't be illegal?
 
Syndyre said:
Can they really? On what grounds? Based on that logic you could keep anybody that "looked Middle Eastern" off the plane. And that wouldn't be illegal?
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According to federal law "An airline cannot refuse passage to an individual because of that person’s race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or ancestry." However the pilot can exercise captains authority and refuse passage to anyone for whatever reason he/she wants - even people the airline and security have cleared.
 
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