Long story short: A Muslim family boards a plane, has an internal conversation about where the safest seat is, passengers get jittery and have authorities haul them off the plane.
The FBI investigates, clears them of any wrongdoing, and the plane refuses to let them re-board!! WOW. We could focus on a lot of things here (passengers nervous for no friggin reason for instance), but the fact that the airline which shall go unnamed (Airtran) refused to let them reboard and refused to book them on a later flight is outlandish. This is even AFTER the FBI talks to the airlines directly to try and get them back on the plane.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/01/family.grounded/index.html
Meanwhile, a non-Muslim non-Arab guy is delivering bombs wrapped as Christmas gifts to banks and demanding tens of thousands of dollars.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/01/aspen.banks/index.html
The truth is, America, we’re not safe. Doesn’t matter if the person is white, Arab, Black, brown, Mexican, purple, plaid, Democrat, Republican, British, French, estranged cousin, or Bill O’Reilly. We’re not safe. Harping on one demographic of people is not going to make it any better either.
And specifically I’m talking about the general populace and its overt uneasiness with Muslims. Most people with the biggest fear/hatred of Muslims have never met one (yet they know specifically that they are dangerous and hate Christians… fascinating).
So, look. In 2009, do some research and learn about your local neighborhood Muslims. If you don’t have any in your neighborhood, then read a book about Islam or simply Google some information about Muslims. I promise, God won’t hate you for it and America might be a little better off as a result.
If you can’t do any of the above, then simply hold my pocket.
