Posted on 07/16/2004 6:28:10 PM PDT by quidnunc
They had Syrian passports.
I didn't socks with my boots and refused to take them off figuring I would have to get searched. About four agents mysteriously appeared *LOL*
Well... if Moussaoui "was known to have recruited young Muslims to fight in Chechnya", then HAIL AMERICA, and more power to him!!
After all... from bitching about Russian Orthodox defense of their sovereign mother territory from the depradations of Chechen Insurrectionists, to bombing the Serbian Orthodox out of their ancestral homelands in Kosovo in order to make way for Albanian Narco-Terrorist murderers, to ignoring the plight of the Coptic Orthodox in Sudan while they are enslaved and massacred by Muslim Arab shock troops, it is bloody well apparent -- From the Balkans to the Caucusus/Middle East to North Africa -- that American Foreign Policy has followed a viciously-simple "Rule of Thumb" for at least the last ten years:
True, but does that then impose an obligation on everyone else? The point of Steyn's comment was not what other's wish to call themselves, but the PC mandate that we all must comply.
Along that line, I have a right to call myself "Your Magnificence". According to PC rules, you would be rude (and in some cases criminal) if you did not also call me by that name.
It speaks well for you that you accept the prospect, as you put it, as necessary though unpleasant. Unfortunately, it's one of those situations where the good (you) must suffer because of the bad. Interesting to learn that the screeners seem to target Indians.
By the way... Siamese Princess? Interesting choice of names. I have heard of a well-known conservative writer of Siamese descent. Have you?
In real life I am a red-haired WASP Episcopalian -- my nom de plume is taken from the nickname of Her Royal Highness the Princess Jessamyn of Siam -- my 16-year-old sealpoint Siamese cat! It's 12:52 am EDT and she's sleeping on the bed; but then, that's what she does most of the day, as well.
I don't know of a writer from Thailand (previously known as Siam), but there is someone who writes for with a strange name that may be from Thailand. I seem to remember reading that somewhere but my memory is hazy.
No it doesn't impose an obligation on anyone else. I've met people who insist on calling me certain things for their own personal agenda,etc. Your Magnificence sounds okay ;-)
"hehehe well...how about American? That's simple ;-)"
Yeah it's simple. I want something that's flashy though
The Wahabbis cannot win. Indeed, there's a saying of the Prophet that defines these abominations as " those that leave the religion of God as the arrow leaves the bow".
The Episcopalian faith is an interesting avenue toward the One God, but I know little about it. I understand the traditional Protestant churches, but know little about yours...
Englighten me...
Blank-American
I'm flying El Al for the first time next week. It'll be interesting to see how adults do airline security.
Sounds like too many people have too much time on their hands. I have only been stopped and thoroughly searched once, when I arrogantly declined to do some things "on principle". TSA then had an obligation to check me out. Now when I have a flight, I know and adhere to the simple rules. I breeze through screening despite frequent travel to some questionable countries.
Funny about the combination of people on this thread who are offended by PC labels, coupled with those who desire special treatment because of their own labels.
I went to Israel in 1998, my first trip out of the U.S., brand new US Passport. I was 24, going alone, for 18 days, no itenery, no hotel bookings, I was going to figure it all out when I got there.
I am Italian-American living , born and raised in Chicago, raised Catholic but am now Non-denominational.
I was interrogated at Chicago O'hare by El Al for about an hour. They wanted to know about my family, my religious beliefs , what job I had, why was I going to Israel, why didn't I plan anything, they even asked how I heard of Israel, was I going to the "territories", did I know any Arabs, was I on a mission of terrorism on their behalf. and on and on.
I anticpiated some sort of questioning, but they put special focus on me.. even had to go in a private room while they took everythign out of my bags and and examained every nanometer. I kinda enjoyed it, it was certainly not something you experience every day and I knew I was "ok", so I wasn't worried about them finding something. There's nothign there.
I never felt more safe on a plane in all my life.
FWIW - I spent most of the last three years traveling twice a month - active duty military traveling on orders on a government purchased ticket.
I averaged 50% for more thorough inspections. Always wondered why a military officer traveling on orders with a government purchased ticket was so suspicious. I concluded it was due to the large number of highjackings committed by USAF officers.
"People have a right to call themselves whatever they want."
Yes, they do. Couldn't agree more. The problem comes when (as happened to me recently) a half-white/half-Indian told me I was NOT a native American. Only HIS "people" (the Indian half, I guess) were natives. When words are usurped and deemed to be the sole property of only one group of people (like the formerly terrific "gay"), that offends me.
People may have a right to call themselves whatever they want, but they do not have the right to the sole use of that name.
Obviously - you have never worked for an American corporation with a Human Resources department (HP,IBM, Sears, McDonalds, Ford, etc.) You'd know all about coercion and PC controls.
I think of PC as word hijacking. So many words that now mean something completely different. Gay, tolerance, diversity, etc. I steadfastly use homosexual, intolerance, and fragmenting of American society. Racial profiling is probably a term made up by some shyster lawyer.
We love you OP. Thank you for your love for us.
Yes?
No flame.
RADICAL CONCEPT ALERT!!!
What's four bucks and a hassle from people looking for the wrong people?
What makes you think they are "looking for the wrong people"?
The screeners are not the ones you want to hassle, it's the ones who make the rules the screeners follow.
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