War veteran charged after bomb comment

The Globe and Mail ^ | Thursday, October 4, 2001 | Canadian Press

[Goetz_von_Berlichingen]

"An 81-year-old man is facing a criminal charge . . . after asking a baggage handler in Charlottetown whether she was looking for a bomb in his wife's change purse."

If the man were a New Yorker, I would assume that the question was asked with a tone of sarcasm (as in "How exactly are we going to fit a bomb in a 2" by 3" purse, and why are you snooping through my wife's change?") On the basis of his reaction, however, it appears that he was asking an entirely innocuous question about security procedures, or perhaps trying to make a joke. Unfortunately, no one takes himself quite so seriously as a petty bureaucrat. What a power rush these minimum wage cretins must get from being able to order the arrest of their betters.

Zero Tolerance (aka Zero Common Sense) rears its ugly head once more.

[NoCurrentFreeperByThatName]

The sky is falling!

Another addition for the absurdity file.

[ScreamingFist]

"I do believe the old man is guilty of being criminally stupid as well"

Criminally stupid? An 81 year old man probably doesn't even know that there are now english words that are politically incorrect. The only criminally stupid individuals here are the supposed security proffesional that couldn't tell their butt from their elbow, let alone find a bomb.

[freedomcrusader]

I'd insult Canadians if I thought it couldn't happen here, but we Americans can be just as asinine. 81 year-old, WWII vet terrorists. Yep, there's legions of them, and they have numerous cells in Canada. (/sarcasm)

[ScreamingFist]

"What a power rush these minimum wage cretins must get from being able to order the arrest of their betters."

Well said my friend. Excellent profile also :)

[bluetoad]

Fun and Games are Over...



Fun and Games are Over...

[been_lurking]

Oooooh!, I feel safer, knowing I'm not allowed to say that word anymore.

I, for one, refuse to be forced into always having to say ".. a really, really, really lousy movie."

Can we coin a new phrase since "bomb" has been outlawed?

[lavaroise]

This is not stupid, this is a situation of retardedness. I am scared crapless that a bunch of retards are screening us.

South Park is no joke, when the cop walks around without pants and says sorry when he bumps into a criminal beating on grandma to death on the street, we have a real representation of how retarded the world has become. The so called elite finds even value in Larry Flint ... so go figure where reality is in those people's minds. They are like retards.

[Justin Thyme]

I hear ya. And I tried to make it clear that the authorities were idiots. I'm just saying that we aren't letting 14-16 year olds get off for murder these days, and treating them like adults. Since the guy is so bent out of shape over this, it would seem like he's not suffering from senility, so that isn't a defence. Unless he hasn't watched TV or read newspapers for the last couple decades, and is blind so that he can't read the numerous signs in the airport which let you know that those comments aren't allowed....just not quite so eager to relieve him of any responsibility at all either. Just saying that you can't over-react, without an initial action to react to.

[tenderstone jr.]

Since the incident Monday, she said, her husband won't eat, has stopped talking and just lies there -- sometimes with tears in his eyes.

How sad. Bullsh*t that these security measures were in place before the attacks. This was probably the first time security had ever searched the old lady, and her husband said something he probably shouldn't have.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

"...I am scared crapless that a bunch of retards are screening us... "

'Retard' is also on the PC list of sacred "Evil" utterances.
I believe the correct term is 'Mentally Disabled',
No..it's 'Mentally Challenged'...no,
Hmmm...'Special', that's it 'Special'.

I also feel "safer" knowing that we are protected by these 'Special' folk.

[SuperLuminal]

Expect this old guy to be on the BATF's hit list. He is their optimum targeting age.

[jalisco555]

I also feel "safer" knowing that we are protected by these 'Special' folk

I believe the proper term is "differently abled".

[rdww]

Case dismissed. Even the most draconian reading of "bomb threat" laws show that this man was asking a QUESTION, not making a statement. Under the theory used here, a concerned passenger asking "I hope you make sure no one tries to sneak a bomb onboard" would be subject to arrest.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

OK, anything to be inclusive.

"I feel "safer" knowing that we are protected by these 'differently abled' folk."

I have updated my list of sacred "Evil" utterances to reflect the latest changes.

[OldFriend]

Good thing he wasn't pointing a chicken finger at the airport worker. Then he'd really really be in trouble.

[riley1992]

See what 'safety' and 'security' will buy you in the long run? Time in the slammer. The hysteria level is reaching asinine proportions.

[PA_hayseed]

Oh yeah! An over reaction but still should have had more sense than to say bomb

My Dad is 80 years old and a WWII Vet. he still calls fly spray "bug bomb" or just "bomb" (An expression from WWII). I'm glad he doesen't fly much anymore (he used to carry fly spray in his luggage when he went to Florida)