According to the Americans, this is what a terrorist looks like:
and like this
and like this
Well, you may say, better safe than sorry. After all, we don’t know what the kid had in her diaper, and the first two are kinda swarthy-lookin’.
And yes, fair enough, they do look kinda tan for, respectively, a Canadian and a Swede, but since Maher Arar was cleared of terrorism charges and released after spending two years of torture in a Syrian prison(Syria being the US’s favorite offshore torture facility), and since Prince Carl Philip of Sweden is in line for the throne of a major European monarchy, besides being a total hottie, to keep Arar on the no-fly list and to arrest and detain HRH CP in jail overnight for using his diplomatic passport and looking insufficiently regal seems a tad…well, overzealous.
Whereas we have no sympathy whatsoever for the three year old girl who threw a screaming tantrum while her flight was boarding, and who was thrown off the plane and banned along with her parents for “attacking a woman” (who happened to be her mother). If empowered to do so, I myself would unhesitatingly throw off a plane anyone I felt looked like they could at some point in the flight become flatulent, hog the armrest, throw a screaming fit, attack someone, discuss real estate or smokers’ rights, or chew with their mouths open. And I wouldn’t wait for the bloody plane to land, either. Softies!
So, with passport requirements stiffening, even for US citizens trying to re-enter their own country — don’t misplace yours. If it can happen to Swedish royalty, it can happen to anyone.
Well, OK, there is one difference between royalty and us little guys in this situation…
“I got the impression that he thought it was quite exciting,” said documentary film maker Folke Rydén, who was traveling with the Prince as part of the filming project.
Special bonus British terrorist:
Jay Cowper, the tiny terrorist, the huggable hoodie.
The shop, which serves the well-to-do Huntington area of York, is only a five-minute walk from the family home but it was a cold and windy night so Jay was wrapped up in a brown Next jacket with a furry hood.
Mrs Cowper said: “No sooner had they got inside than the shopkeeper said to my husband, ‘Could you ask the little boy to remove his hood?’
“My husband said, ‘He’s only two and a half, I don’t think he’s going to rob you!’“
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Technorati me!
raincoaster 
You couldn’t script it could you.
These things happen because common sense isn’t terribly common in public service but as for the shopkeeper in York………….
If I was the mother I would have walked out and taken my business somewhere else. I think there’s more to this little story than meets the eye.
Well, if you read it you will see that in fact they did walk out and take their business somewhere else, but what upsets them is the idea that a commercial enterprise can tell people how to dress, and also that there are a lot of pensioners in the neighborhood who have no cars and use this store regularly. They don’t have any alternatives but to bow to the ridiculous dress code, and the store did in fact throw out a granny a few weeks ago for wearing a hoodie.
Don’t go to the Royal Bank in New West with a ball cap and/or shades on, either.
It wasn’t the hoodie that got the grandmother tossed. It was when she exclaimed ‘yo’ and flashed a gang sign.
Actually, I’m all for more kids being thrown off of the plane as terrorists.
Little fuckers kick my seat one more time…
A half hour of surfing this morning on Maher Arar and I finally come across the picture that made my heart melt…the first one with Mr. Arar and his children. Having stayed up late last night to write a post on this man, it was that picture I couldn’t shake from my mind all day yesterday. We murdered this man. I’m linking to Raincoaster, and commend you for the outstanding presentation you have put together here on this issue. Your inclusion of that particular picture tells me we happen to think alike. I hope you’ll have some time to read my post on him and perhaps throw up a link to deadissue here. Looking forward to your viewing your future work here!
The Murder of Maher Arar:
http://deadissue.com/archives/2007/01/23/the-murder-of-maher-arar/
Peace – DI
Sorry – I’ll be sure to post the link as ‘raincoaster’, lowercase.
When we lose our common sense, all is lost!
Is that the same store that threw a granny out.
Wan**rs ain’t rude enough.
CAIR and other Muslim action groups file lawsuits if America profiles old, smelly men in dirty nightshirts and headdresses. Who are you kidding? See more at sadbastards.wordpress.com.
hey I checked out the link to the screaming 3 year old and her full address is published in the article….. that’s a big no-no here in the land of oz. then again, we’ve left david hicks to rot in guantanamo so maybe we’ve got our priorities all wrong
Mick, you are indeed a sad bastard. Or rather, a sad wanker. Who do you think YOU are kidding?
I dunno Metro: of all my friends, you’re probably the shiftiest-looking one. You probably went to that bank for no other reason than to get money, and don’t think the couldn’t tell.
Deadissue, thanks for that. It is a great photo; it’s by Bill Grimshaw, and if you click on it you’ll get a link to his website. He’s got more photos, plus photos of other men in his situation. I wouldn’t say Arar is dead, though; his human rights were stomped on, and they’re attempting to do it again, but he’s fighting. I think it would be wrong to allow the experience to dehumanize him in your eyes or in anyone’s: he’s as vital now as ever, perhaps even moreso.
gah. I’m about ready for a hostile coup people. Whose with me? I’ll even do it left handed to be better satisfied.
My parents went to Mexico for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary a couple years ago. No problems there or back (back being Vancouver), but my Dad had to go to Alaska the next week on business, and he tans very darkly (so darkly indeed, that my exchange student Uni roommate was prompted to ask ‘is he…not white?’).
He was still very dark from the southern vacation, and US customs practically strip-searched him and his laptop. I just about trecked up there and unloaded a massive can of ass-whoop on those fackers. Mess with my pop’s will ya! *raises fist in cartoon fury*
No comment because my opinion will be very unpopular here.
What, you support tantrum-throwing toddlers? Never be afraid to state an unpopular opinion here; it’s what the blog is for.
Well, if you must know, I teeter on this profiling thing. That’s why my boyfriend thinks I’m closet Republican – [wishful thinking on his part]. But getting back to the point, isn’t it a waste of time not to “somewhat” profile? I mean, let’s call a spade a spade, grandma in her wheelchair is not going to drop a bomb, nor is yours truly going to blow up a place unless they run out of vodka.
On the other hand, certain groups would eventually catch on and recruit people who aren’t suspect…so really, I’m sort of torn on this.
And I suppose I’m biased since I upgraded to first class while flying back from the Bahamas and they stopped me to search my bag, thus allowing the plebs to walk right past me. Bastards!
Okay girl, I have a message for you Canadians on my blog. Apparently Canadians know exactly what a terrorist looks like – LMAO, and I’ve got some work related tips for you as well ;-)
Now, now, you’re making assumptions about the nationality of various people posting here. I count three different nations, five if you count your country of birth and mine. Six if you count the suburbs as a different country, which I do.
SG, as someone who used to work in retail and who had to keep a keen eye out for shoplifters, I know the benefits and limitations of profiling, racial and otherwise, but I don’t think any of these things are profiling issues. As Fark said, if Arar didn’t have a reason to attack America before he was kidnapped and tortured for two years at their request, he sure does now. And toddlers and Swedish royals? Maybe some gay security guard just wanted to frisk him, but while I think we could all understand double-checking the passport info when faced with a scruffy-looking twentysomething using a diplomatic passport, I don’t see the justification for throwing him in jail “just in case.” There isn’t one, even under profiling guidelines.
I agree with that , Raincoaster.
That Swedish royal isn’t gay, is he? Just curious.
I sure as hell hope not. If he gets within arm’s reach of me, I certainly do my damndest to find out. You may rely on me. Yowzuh!