Thread: USA: Lawsuit Filed re Student Detained at Airport for Arabic Studycards

Unreal, Amerika is plunging the depths of paranoria, bigotry and sheer idiocy, just when you think they cannot get any worse.

Originally Posted by MustavaMond

Neither the federal agencies nor the Philadelphia police could be reached for comment.

Can take a little time to make up a politically correct comeback

Federal agents detained and interrogated a U.S. college student at the Philadelphia airport simply because we was carrying a set of English-Arabic flashcards

Terrorists - 1,235
US - 0

Good on the yanks!!

Yep -- abrogating their own personal freedoms, living in a constant state of fear and paranoia...

That'll learn them terrorists and show them who is boss!

Terrorists - 1,834
US - 0

I believe that a major part of the problem is the absolute morons they have hired to 'enforce security' at America's airports. They hire them away from Burger King, dress them up in black fatigue uniforms, and put them in an immigration booth or cruising along the lines looking for 'terrorists'. I entered the US through LAX about two years ago; it was the first time I had been in the US in several years. Just for the purposes of profiling, I am American by birth, white, at the time 59 years old, and a retired US federal government employee. When I hit the immigration booth, I was asked, "Why are you coming to American?" I responded, "Because I am an American, and I felt like it." I was then asked, "Why do you live in the Philippines?" I responded, "Because I choose to do so." He then said, "But this is the greatest country in the world, isn't it?" I responded, "Depends on your perspective." At this point, a supervisor, who had been within earshot, came over and told him to stamp my passport. Unreal.

Federal agents detained and interrogated a U.S. college student at the Philadelphia airport simply because we was carrying a set of English-Arabic flashcards, a lawsuit alleged on Wednesday.

big fuss about nothing, the yank should have known better than to carry such stuff in his hand luggage through an airport during these paranoid times, looking for a lawsuit and some compensation from the outset i would say.
no doubt lippy to the fbi as well in order to wind them up.

i'd probably get the same welcome in saudi if i tried entering with a bible.

Originally Posted by taxexile

i'd probably get the same welcome in saudi if i tried entering with a bible.

Don't you see how that invalidates your argument? Or did you really mean to say that the US is a backward, medieval, religiously intolerant country?

Originally Posted by Agent_Smith

Originally Posted by taxexile

i'd probably get the same welcome in saudi if i tried entering with a bible.

Don't you see how that invalidates your argument? Or did you really mean to say that the US is a backward, medieval, religiously intolerant country?

LOL +++++

Good one!!

Just want to point out that while the border guards might be bad from time to time, they are different from the TSA, which is idiotic and annoying at pretty much all times.

are they completely retarded ? oh wait, Americans

Don't you see how that invalidates your argument? Or did you really mean to say that the US is a backward, medieval, religiously intolerant country?

it doesnt invalidate my argument at all, in the usa these students will get their day in court and be exonerated, and if their lawyers are devious enough they might get a cheque at the expense of the taxpayers as well.

the whole thing is a storm in a teacup, some loudmouth students pushing their luck with security guards looking for some fun to relieve the boredom of their duties and suffering some slight inconvenience as a result, in saudi you would just be punished , severely.

The US Government has hired absolute morons to staff the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security and they deserve to be sued every time one of these clowns violates anyones rights. I personally would like to see more of the clowns who abuse their authority in these jobs forced to pay judgments out of their own pocket instead of it being done with taxpayers money.
Freedom means the right to be "left alone" by Government. Without that, you have nothing.

Originally Posted by taxexile

...some loudmouth students pushing their luck with security guards...

That's quite an assumption and inference to be making. It's equally as valid to say the guy was innocently carrying the cards.

Actually it's more likely that the guy wouldn't have had the first inkling of the strife they landed him in.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

I believe that a major part of the problem is the absolute morons they have hired to 'enforce security' at America's airports. They hire them away from Burger King, dress them up in black fatigue uniforms, and put them in an immigration booth or cruising along the lines looking for 'terrorists'. I entered the US through LAX about two years ago; it was the first time I had been in the US in several years. Just for the purposes of profiling, I am American by birth, white, at the time 59 years old, and a retired US federal government employee. When I hit the immigration booth, I was asked, "Why are you coming to American?" I responded, "Because I am an American, and I felt like it." I was then asked, "Why do you live in the Philippines?" I responded, "Because I choose to do so." He then said, "But this is the greatest country in the world, isn't it?" I responded, "Depends on your perspective." At this point, a supervisor, who had been within earshot, came over and told him to stamp my passport. Unreal.

At least the supervisor had a little intelligence. The Worst I've encountered on 2 separate occasions entering the USA are the "females with an attitude" who feel compelled to harass any single male travelling from Thailand or any other country known for sex tourism. Very difficult to keep your patience with nonsense such as that.

Yankerikkka truly defeated.

Actually it's more likely that the guy wouldn't have had the first inkling of the strife they landed him in.

correct .....but only if the guy had been in a coma for 10 years before arriving at the airport !

I suppose, comes back to the issue of paranoia I guess.

Me personally though, prior to this I would've thought you'd have not a worry in the world over carrying some flash cards for language study.

Originally Posted by taxexile

the whole thing is a storm in a teacup

Yes it is, because the TSA overreacted to some Arabic flashcards. Items that are neither prohibited nor dangerous.

Items that are neither prohibited nor dangerous

If you flung them just so you might be able to inflict a nasty papercut on someone that, if left untreated, could become infected and cause discomfort.

F'king terrorists!

Jeez, I often travel with both Arabic and Farsi language books, dictionaries and even flashcards! (I am attempting to become a multi-talented polyglot...)

I think if I travel to the USA I better restrict this to just Spanish

Simon

^Spanish... Spain... Home of the Basque Nationalist group the ETA, declared a "terrorist organisation" by the US!?

Are you crazy man?? That's rubber-glove treatment at the very least!

^Not to mention Mexican drug cartels, Colombians, etc, etc. Plus illegal aliens. You're fucked for sure. Take Canadian flash cards; they're always neat, clean, tidy and safe.

Originally Posted by BobR

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

I believe that a major part of the problem is the absolute morons they have hired to 'enforce security' at America's airports. They hire them away from Burger King, dress them up in black fatigue uniforms, and put them in an immigration booth or cruising along the lines looking for 'terrorists'. I entered the US through LAX about two years ago; it was the first time I had been in the US in several years. Just for the purposes of profiling, I am American by birth, white, at the time 59 years old, and a retired US federal government employee. When I hit the immigration booth, I was asked, "Why are you coming to American?" I responded, "Because I am an American, and I felt like it." I was then asked, "Why do you live in the Philippines?" I responded, "Because I choose to do so." He then said, "But this is the greatest country in the world, isn't it?" I responded, "Depends on your perspective." At this point, a supervisor, who had been within earshot, came over and told him to stamp my passport. Unreal.

At least the supervisor had a little intelligence. The Worst I've encountered on 2 separate occasions entering the USA are the "females with an attitude" who feel compelled to harass any single male travelling from Thailand or any other country known for sex tourism. Very difficult to keep your patience with nonsense such as that.

We have some of those bitches in Aus. _ I always lent them rant and then say - "and your point is " ? - pisses them right off.

Originally Posted by britmaveric

Good on the yanks!!

Guess it's a case of " If your not in the gang , don't wear the colours"?