Lindsey
Carson,#2Consumer Comment
Wed, March 06, 2002
I just read the report that spoke about a group of middle eastern people that were observed at the airport, and I must say that I am extremely bothered by the entire report. I have been around people of middle-eastern descent as long as I can remember, and I presently work at a company with over a hundred employees, ME being the only employee who is NOT middle-eastern. I have learned many things about the customs, culture, and beliefs of the middle-east, and I think there are quite a few things that were mentioned in the previous report that should be cleared up. First of all, it is customary for the women to cover as much of their bodies as possible, because unlike American Customs, it is considered immodest to show a lot of skin. Next, it is normal for one middle-eastern man to be in a group with many middle-eastern women. It is customary to have several wives or many mistresses. The tears and anxiety that you observed amongst the women could have been about any everyday thing, including the man they all were probably sharing. Another point, is that the man almost never stands with or behind the women he travels with. That would be like showing a weakness as well as a sign of disrespect on the womens end. I also know MANY people that go onto a plane AFTER checking their bags, and bring no on-flight baggage with them. If some sort of terrorist act was about to happen and that group was involved, I would be highly suprised. You see, the women certainly would have not known about it, and if they had, their customs and culture would have forced them to remain neutral and emotionless about such intents. Also, this group would NOT have been drawing attention to themselves if they were planning to kill hundreds of people in a terrorist act. They definately would not have been in a GROUP to begin with, and I can guarantee, no one would have seen or suspected them. To me, this report seems to be nothing more than an extremely biased and uneducated presumption that any person who even appears to be middle-eastern, could be a possible terrorist...Hasn't anyone been following the news, the September 11th tragedy was performed by people from all over the world, included several AMERICANS!! There is an unfair amount of blame being placed on middle-easterns. People from North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia....HUNDREDS of people from all over this globe came together, and plotted and planned, to commit the terrorist act that is now being wrongly blamed on a small group of middle-easterns. That's why I think Bin Laden will never be found...You can't find someone that merely represent a complicated network of Interglobal terrorists....Even if he is found, what good will that do?? This is a group of thousands of interglobal terrorists, and killing one, even the leader, will be meaningless....If this group was smart enough and strong enough to commit such an act as the September 11th tragedy, what makes everyone so nieve to think that they have not already chosen and trained another leader, to take control was bin laden is exterminated? I think Americans need to take their heads out of their butts and start paying more attention!! While everyone is focusing on finding and slaughtering Bin Laden, this group could be planning something even more horrible!! We need to stop worrying about every middle eastern person that walks by, and stop heckling anyone wearing a turban, and start defending our country!! Personally, i do not want to see the next act of terrorism, which undoubtedly is being plotted at this very moment!! Show your American Pride!! I don't mean wave a flag and wear "Bin Laden, Dead or Alive" Shirts...I mean PAY ATTENTION and don't feel comforted by ANY period of time that goes by innactive. I hope that anyone who reads this will take it seriously...Don't become secure because of a false sense of security. Thank you, Lindsey Weiner