Preaching to the choir

By now, you may have read about the family of 8 who were kicked off a flight to Orlando yesterday after arousing the suspicions of a couple of other passengers who overhead some snippets of the family's conversation. The shocking, attention-gaining topic was one I know I've had, even on planes before, and one I think most of us have engaged in at some time or another: what's the safest place to be sitting on the plane in case of an accident.

Read more about the incident here and here.

For having the nerve to engage in conversation on a plane, the family was removed from the plane, interviewed by the FBI, and unable to fly on the airline (AirTran) even after being cleared of any wrong-doing. I've been reading a lot of comments and blog posts suggesting that the family should have known better than to discuss airplane safety on an airplane. Of course they would get kicked off for talking that way, they say. (Digression: wouldn't actual terrorists intent on destroying an airplane NOT engage in this kind of conversation so as not to draw attention to themselves? But logic didn't really enter into this incident.) I've even read some comments suggesting that the family was looking to draw attention to themselves, was hoping for their 15 minutes of fame and a basis for a law suit. Let's be honest, though. This conversation wouldn't have drawn any attention had the family not had dark skin and worn Muslim garb (I believe the women were wearing head scarves). My mother and I could have this exact conversation and no one would even notice.

In the past few months, I have heard many people say one thing we have to acknowledge about the Bush presidency is that it has kept us safe from terrorist attack. I disagree with that premise and I think this case highlights what the real legacy of the Bush administration will be on terrorism. The administration has succeeded in fostering a culture of fear that leads to neighbors eavesdropping on neighbors and to innocent American citizens being pulled off planes. This is not safety. Not if every Muslim American or American of middle-eastern descent has to monitor public conversations so as not to risk being misconstrued and reported to the FBI.