# American Muslim family kicked off AirTran flight for commenting on seat safety **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 2, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617 "2009-01-02T18:50:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/81 "2009-01-02T23:38:30Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Altogether too reasonable for some members of your “omigod Amerikans so panicky racist stoopid” audience here. Eh, I don’t think I’m your typical anti-American kneejerker. But in this case I gotta say the preponderance of evidence suggests to me panicky stupid ( may or may not be racist, may or may not be American - maybe German tourists are the ones who bitched ). > [@](#): > > Let’s remember that making casual comments about explosions or weapons while flying has gotten some **lily-white Caucasian** members of the flying public in trouble before. Sure - it’s not smart. But again preponderance of currently available evidence suggests to me an overreaction. > [@](#): > > \*if you’re a would-be bomber into martyrdom for Allah, don’t you want the _least safe_ seat on the plane? Well, exactly. > [@](#): > > \*\*as for someone behaving dumbly meaning they’re harmless, being a terrorist does not imply that you’re Brainiac (remembering Richard Reed, the attempted shoe-bomber, who’s responsible for all of us having to take off and put our shoes back on every time we board a goddamn plane, may he rot. Again, you’re correct. But that’s only one item. Add them all up and I’m sticking to my opinion for now. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/82 "2009-01-02T23:44:00Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I have been treated to a full pat-down and luggage search at the preboarding security checkpoint, and I do not look Middle Eastern. I do have a beard, though. :eek: You can never trust a person with a beard - especially a woman - they are always hiding something, even if it is only the remnants of their last meal among their foliage! ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/83 "2009-01-02T23:48:47Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Did I miss the part of the story where their skin color or dress was discussed? Hmmph. I could have sworn it was in the CNN report originally but can’t find it there now. No matter. [Here’s another version in WaPo.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101932.html) > [@](#): > > five of the six adults in the party are of South Asian descent, and all six are traditionally Muslim in appearance, with the men wearing beards and the women in headscarves. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/84 "2009-01-02T23:51:36Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Ridiculous. Should we expect an authorized list of subjects that Muslims can engage in while on a plane from Homeland Security? Not to mention what books passengers may try to bring through TSA security, what sorts of t-shirts they can wear and what sorts of scarves are appropriate, please. > [@featherlou](#): > > Is that like “driving while black?” 😃 From personal experience, exactly like it. I’m just the right shade of brown that people looking for terrorists give me the eye, and cops looking for the Inappropriate Presence of Negros On Public Roads do as well. It’s fun. (Not as much fun, generally, though, as when I’ve flown El Al to go to Israel.) > [@Stratocaster](#): > > But I will say flat-out, if I heard a family, one who appeared as they did, wondering about the safest place on my flight should an explosion occur, I ABSOLUTELY would have alerted someone. If that makes me narrow-minded, so be it. Why, in case they’re the new breed of jihadist airplane bombers who **don’t** expect whatever havoc they’re intended to commit to be a suicide mission? And because so many people survive airplane _explosions_ caused by _bombs_? > [@Stratocaster](#): > > Sorry, I’ll have to accept the horrible shame of being considered close-minded, I guess. To me, it is self-evident why someone of Mideastern descent wondering aloud about where the safest place to be on the plane should an explosion occur is cause for at least “let’s make sure this isn’t a problem” concern, depending upon the nature of the comments. Guess what dumbo, the people yanked off the plane today were all born and raised in _Michigan_. They **aren’t** Mideasterners. They’re **Americans**. Or I suppose you’re suggesting differing standards of behavior on Yasmine Bleeth, Shannon Elizabeth, Shakira, Sen. Spencer Abraham, Bobby Rahal, Sen. John Sununu, Congressman Darrell Issa, Ralph Nader, Jamie Farr, Doug Flutie, Kathy Najimy, Casey Kasem, Tony Shalhoub, Marlo Thomas, Benny Hinn, Vince Vaughn, John Zogby, Amy Yasbeck, Steve Jobs, F. Murray Abraham and Catherine Keener? Oh, no, wait, most of them just look white and the women don’t wear hijab, so they can just carry on.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/85 "2009-01-03T00:28:39Z")
> [@tumbleddown](#): > > Guess what dumbo, the people yanked off the plane today were all born and raised in _Michigan_. They **aren’t** Mideasterners. They’re **Americans**. Guess what, dipshit? That’s what the word “descent” already recognizes. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/86 "2009-01-03T00:36:44Z")
OOOH! Michigan. MidWesterners. That’s even worse. Those Detroit Three have been holding all of us hostage and who can forget the infamous Pinto Explosions? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/87 "2009-01-03T00:37:28Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Guess what, dipshit? That’s what the word “descent” already recognizes. But as already been pointed out to you, the family+friends weren’t actually of Middle Eastern descent. Why not just say “scary-looking swarthy people” and be done with it? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/88 "2009-01-03T00:41:56Z")
So **monstro** the idiots on the plane wouldn’t have been more scared that they were of Pakistani descent what with Mumbai and all? - Nah - they probably stopped following that story before it turned out those terrorists were trained inside of Pakistan. Nevermind. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/89 "2009-01-03T00:44:42Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t think they’re legitimately afraid. I think they just get off on harrassing Muslims. I think that’s a bit of a stretch. Unless they had some Freepers, or some Bill O’Reilly types on board, it was probably just stupidity. Never attribute to malice, and all that. **Stratocastor** , for example-I don’t think he’s smart enough to to feel that way-he honestly thinks that the airlines acted reasonably. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/90 "2009-01-03T00:45:18Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > But as already been pointed out to you, the family+friends weren’t actually of Middle Eastern descent. > > Why not just say “scary-looking swarthy people” and be done with it? monstro, you’re picking nits. Apologies for the imprecision of my characterization of the family in question. Change it to, “people who appeared to be of Mideastern or South Asian Islamic descent.” It changes nothing else of what I posted–it is exactly as reasonable or unreasonable to you as it was before, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/91 "2009-01-03T00:46:22Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > **Stratocastor** , for example-I don’t think he’s smart enough to to feel that way-he honestly thinks that the airlines acted reasonably. Fuck you, too, genius. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/92 "2009-01-03T01:08:08Z")
Personally, if I heard a bunch of people with that creepy Detroit accent talking about the safest places to sit on a plane, I’d get freaked out too. Clearly they were dangerous… On second thought, I’m gonna stick with my initial assessment and say this was a horrible, horrible fuck-up by AirTran and I hope it costs them big time. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/93 "2009-01-03T01:31:47Z")
> [@tumbleddown](#): > > Or I suppose you’re suggesting differing standards of behavior on Yasmine Bleeth, Shannon Elizabeth, Shakira, Sen. Spencer Abraham, Bobby Rahal, Sen. John Sununu, Congressman Darrell Issa, Ralph Nader, Jamie Farr, Doug Flutie, Kathy Najimy, Casey Kasem, Tony Shalhoub, Marlo Thomas, Benny Hinn, Vince Vaughn, John Zogby, Amy Yasbeck, Steve Jobs, F. Murray Abraham and Catherine Keener? > > Oh, no, wait, most of them just look white and the women don’t wear hijab, so they can just carry on.:rolleyes: I haven’t checked bios on all of those and some I know of their heritage, but _Steve Jobs_? Yeah his adoptive father was of Syrian heritage but does that really count? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/94 "2009-01-03T01:53:58Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I haven’t checked bios on all of those and some I know of their heritage, but _Steve Jobs_? Yeah his adoptive father was of Syrian heritage but does that really count? His biological father was named **Abdulfattah Jandali**. ETA: Apparently you got that backwards - his biological dad was the Syrian :). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/95 "2009-01-03T01:57:33Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Sorry, I’ll have to accept the horrible shame of being considered close-minded, I guess. To me, it is self-evident why someone of Mideastern descent wondering aloud about where the safest place to be on the plane should an explosion occur is cause for at least “let’s make sure this isn’t a problem” concern, depending upon the nature of the comments. I’m not saying they should be locked up, or not made whole. My advice to people of that heritage, don’t speculate about explosions on an airplane. Some of the fundamentalist ilk in their religion ruined that for them. That sucks–it really does–but that’s the world we currently live in. I suppose you agree cops harassing blacks and latinos too. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/96 "2009-01-03T02:37:10Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > My advice to people of that heritage, don’t speculate about explosions on an airplane. Some of the fundamentalist ilk in their religion ruined that for them. That sucks–it really does–but that’s the world we currently live in. That’s the world we currently live in–a world where the bad acts of a few will often result in prejudiced acts toward millions of innocents. Yet rather than fight against it you resign yourself to it. You would limit others’ freedom out of said resignation rather than speak out against such injustice? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/97 "2009-01-03T02:40:11Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > His biological father was named **Abdulfattah Jandali**. > > ETA: Apparently you got that backwards - his biological dad was the Syrian :). Yup. My mistake. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/98 "2009-01-03T03:38:32Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > I suppose you agree cops harassing blacks and latinos too. Would it help your argument if I admitted to kicking puppies too? Why in the world would you suppose this? ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/99 "2009-01-03T03:51:10Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > That’s the world we currently live in–a world where the bad acts of a few will often result in prejudiced acts toward millions of innocents. Yet rather than fight against it you resign yourself to it. You would limit others’ freedom out of said resignation rather than speak out against such injustice? I think you missed my point. I was suggesting that I wanted to wait for further details before concluding that an injustice has in fact occurred. Assuming their remarks could reasonably have been interpreted as something other than innocuous means any “injustice” is principally the fault of the “bad acts of the few.” None of us enjoy all this enhanced scrutiny and airport security and such, myself included. That family apparently did not create the need for this, but neither did the airline or the pilot or you or me. The Islamic fundamentalists, those you correctly identified as the minority, those guys did. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617/100 "2009-01-03T04:09:33Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I haven’t checked bios on all of those and some I know of their heritage, but _Steve Jobs_? Yeah his adoptive father was of Syrian heritage but does that really count? As pointed out, it’s his biological father. And yes, all of those people are of “Mideastern descent” which is **Stratocaster** ’s sole criterion for having to comport themselves differently than the decent people who don’t blow things up.☹ Watch out for that Congressman Issa, he’s a real terror. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-muslim-family-kicked-off-airtran-flight-for-commenting-on-seat-safety/479617.md?page=6)