Kept off a plane for carrying a book?

Great Debates
1

Naturally, airport security is paramount right now. But I’ve got to admit, this seems excessive to me:
According to this article, 22 year old Neil Godfrey was kept off a United flight from Philadelphia to Phoenix because he was carrying a copy of Hayduke Lives, a novel about a fictional environmental terrorist. The cover art shows a man’s hand holding a bundle of dynamite with an attached timer. Does anyone think that any reasonable person should assume that reading this novel makes someone a threat to security somehow? (The book was examined for 45 minutes, which should have been adequate to determine that it was a harmless work of fiction.)

What next? “I’m sorry sir, you can’t fly. The Bukowski novel in your bag suggests to us that you may drink too much and become a nuisance.” :rolleyes:

2

Maybe if it was a really bad book.

“Okay, this is a hijacking! Everyone do as I say! I’ve got a copy of Britney Spears’ autobiography, and if you don’t do as I say I’ll start reading aloud.”

Some books, the pilots of the plane would voluntarily crash the thing into a building if you actually did that.

3

Unfortunate incident, but there seems to be a dispute about the guy joking about a bomb.

I understand that people carrying on bottles of water are asked to take a sip. Not a time to joke by falling on the floor.

Seriously, I recently flew and I did consider what book to bring and what jewelry to wear. Didn’t want any delays in traveling.

4

Maybe he was carrying a concealed book.

5

There should be a law!

6

<insert obligatory singing of “I’m Just a Bill” here>

7

MEBuckner, that information was not supposed to be released to the public yet.

Some gentlemen from the Company will be visiting you soon.

:wink: