For years, even before 9-11, slightly tipsy, or even sober airline passengers would get yanked from the plane for making what they thought would be funny remarks about hijackings or bombs. Remember? I always assumed it was stupid people, maybe a little afraid of flying in the first place... but still, the first thought was always, "what an idiot."
So when a Muslim decides it would be appropriate to discuss the security of sitting next to the engines while boarding, I have no problem at all with booting him, and his party off the plane:
"My brother and his wife were discussing some aspect of airport security," Irfan said. "The only thing my brother said was, 'Wow, the jets are right next to my window.' I think they were remarking about safety."
Irfan said he and the others think they were profiled because of their appearance. He said 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. Irfan, 34, is an anesthesiologist. His brother, 29, is a lawyer. Both live in Alexandria with their families, and both were born in Detroit. They were traveling with their wives, Kashif Irfan's sister-in-law, a friend and Kashif Irfan's three sons, ages 7, 4 and 2.
And who knows, did they want to be profiled? Or did they want to make the other passengers nervous? Doesn't matter. My first thought is still the same, "what idiots." Hope they have the same trouble getting back home.
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