Freedom of speech works both ways

Imams Stage Airport 'Pray-In' As Protest Tuesday, November 28, 2006 1 By LESLIE MILLER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Imams, ministers and a rabbi staged a "pray-in" demonstration Monday at Reagan Washington National Airport and asked an apology from US Airways for barring six Muslims from a Minneapolis to Phoenix flight last week.
The religious leaders called for an end to racial profiling, saying it was unacceptable in America.
Imam Omar Shahin, one of the six imams detained last Monday at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, said they hadn't done anything suspicious.
After they boarded the flight, a passenger passed a note to a flight attendant. The men were taken off the airplane, handcuffed and questioned.
"It was the worst moment in my life," Shahin said.
US Airways Group Inc. spokeswoman Andrea Rader said prayer was never the issue. She said the passenger overheard anti-U.S. statements and the men got up and moved around the airplane. "We're sorry the imams had a difficult time, but we do think the crews have to make these calls and we think they made the right one," she said.
Earlier reports also noted other suspicious behavior like requesting un-needed seat belt extenders. Good call, US Air! Don't budge an inch!

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, four airlines accused of breaking federal anti-discrimination laws settled with the government. (Settled? Try capitulated) Transportation Department investigations found the airlines had unlawfully removed passengers because of perceived ethnic or religious backgrounds.

The Transportation Department received a complaint about the US Airways incident on Monday from the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said spokesman Brian Turmail.
"We're going to now look into the matter," Turmail said.
The Homeland Security Department's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties said last week that it was investigating the incident.

If this isn't the stupidest thing I've heard of, it's at least in the top five. Racial profiling? GREAT! When white guys, black guys, asian guys, hispanic guys or little old ladies hijack planes and fly them into things or blow them up in flight, I'll add them to the list. Till then, deal with it. Fit the profile? Then don't draw attention to yourself. Pray to yourself. Don't be anti-American. Sit in your assigned seats And the rest of you, write your officials. You fly, you vote and you need to be heard too. Don't let the minority shout you down. If you do, they win and crashed planes will be as commonplace as hijackings were in the seventies? Remember? When our government told us not to resist because it was safer? Well, golly gee sweetums, look where that got us....