Posted on 11/09/2010 11:57:34 AM PST by markomalley
Sikh Americans on Monday protested what they said was a new policy at US airports to screen their turbans systematically, voicing fear the move would further stigmatise their faith.
US officials did not confirm a change in policy and insisted they respected religious beliefs. But they said security measures necessitated checks on "bulky" clothing such as turbans, which Sikh men are required by faith to wear. A group of Sikh American groups said they met several weeks ago with representatives of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) who told them that airports would now screen turbans with hand-wands at all times.
Current policy is erratic, with New York City airports rarely conducting secondary searches on Sikhs but airports in other cities such as Chicago and San Francisco doing so routinely, said Amardeep Singh, co-founder of the Sikh Coalition advocacy group.
"The TSA told us, point blank, that turbans will now be screened 100 percent of the time," said Singh.
The community suffered a wave of hate crimes in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks by assailants who mistakenly associated Sikh men with Osama bin Laden and radical Islam.
Blah, blah, blah. They made me take my cowboy hat off too.
It’s the right thing to do, assuming TSA really is there to make sure “bad stuff” doesn’t get on the plane.
On a side note, when I took my cowboy hat off, they found the full size tube of toothpaste I was hiding. Bummer. ;)
This is how I see it, Mark. As a lady, I have to be x-rayed or patted down and bare that indignity - all for the safety of everyone - and these bozos are all bummed out about their hats (okay, turbans).
bare = bear
Yee-HAW. It’s downright acrilegious making a cowboy take off his hat.
I just cannot type today. “Sacrilegious.”
I knew what you meant. :)
They should be pissed at the correct people - MUSLIMS,
for making this necessary.
I’d rather have your damn turbin searched than seeing bodies falling out of the sky...screw you!...Got back to turbanland if you don’t like it! ENOUGH ALREADY!!
Oh how blessed America is with all that diversity. How could this country have survived since 1776 with only a bunch of honkies and blacks?
Hey, if you are willing to put a bomb in your underwear, why not under your ragtop?
Hey, if you are willing to put a bomb in your underwear, why not under your ragtop?
They can stay home.
If these folks refuse to allow the search of their turbans, the solution is very simple.
They can stay the hell off of our airplanes.
Didn't you know that?
They are “godly”. You're just a lowly infidel. Sarcasm off. Notice how easily OFFENDED they get when it is THEIR RELIGION that we are fighting against. If they truly wanted to be Americans, they would sheepishly and quietly comply - embarassed at other Moslems who want to kill us. I'd look MORE CLOSELY at those so HIGHLY offended.
Then don’t fly you Sikh bastards.
I know you're not mohammedans, and you hate the bastards as much as I do. And the TSA crap is just "security theater".
But Christians who happen to wear hats have to put up with the same bullcrap you do.
and these bozos are all bummed out about their hats (okay, turbans).
Tell your buddies to quit killing Americans, making bombs, and blowing themselves up in crowded places and we will quit x-raying your hats.
A turban does not a Sikh make.
Your ignorance is showing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.