961–970 of 986 posts
A tech company I worked for a while back wanted to send me to the States, and also China to do some work. I refused on both requests because of stories like this I've heard. I just tell them it's because of family commitments, which is always a handy excuse. Other countries I would never go to are Russia, Saudi Arabia, UAE and pretty much anywhere in Africa. It's pretty sad actually, but I guess I'm way too paranoid.
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Truthfully, I don't see why you'd be significantly more traumatized by this event than any other act of terrorism that happens across the globe unless you lost loved ones. To that end, I don't see why anyone else on this globe should have been any less affected, thus making the point that you happened to be an American at the same time that 9/11 occurred more or less moot. If the pain is simply an empathy to the inno…
I am not going to sit here and explain to you the concept of (emotional, geographic) proximity. If I am correct in surmising that you are trying to pick a fight about Americans feeling "special" compared to the rest of the world (which I sure don't), you'll need to find some other sparring partner. Cheers.
In reality, there was no need to use that statement. If your point is valid, it should stand on its own merits without the need for you to attempt to convince through emotion by answering a question that nobody was asking.
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TSA does more than just airports "With little fanfare, the agency best known for airport screenings has vastly expanded its reach to sporting events, music festivals, rodeos, highway weigh stations and train terminals." http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/06/us/tsa-expands-duties-beyo...
That thought is terrifying. I was afraid I was going to be put on the no-fly list afterwards and would have to travel back to NYC by train (a four-day trip). Even before this experience I used to avoid flying in favor of taking the train. I don't know what I'd do if the TSA became commonplace at train stations.
This article has very little to do with Ramadan...Muslims don't fly more often during Ramadan than the rest of the year, do they? 9/11 didn't happen during Ramadan. Take a look at this objectively. A brown guy, traveling alone, tested positive for explosive residue while going through a TSA checkpoint. After some brief questioning, they determined that there was a 99% chance that he wasn't a terrorist. How stupid wou…
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It depends, some other possible explanations could be that the US justice system is that much more effective or that US inhabitants are that much more disobedient to the same laws than those of other countries. Not saying that's the case, just wouldn't be so quick to dismiss anything. US can indeed be said that are among the most free countries, but that doesn't really say anything without clarifying who we are compa…
"could be that the US justice system is that much more effective" If the effectiveness of a justice system is seen in terms of rate of incarceration, then the society that takes that view does not sound particularly as though it believes in freedom as a fundamental value, but rather prefers values like retribution and security through deferment to authority. " US inhabitants are that much more disobedient to the same…
There are certain behaviors that the society has to be protected from, right? After all, freedom doesn't mean much if i.e. you can be attacked, killed or have your properly stolen without consequences. Incarceration might not be a particular effective method, but how else do you propose such cases should be dealt with?
it becomes patently ridiculous to try and justify it by claiming people in the US are that much less moral than other people
Not saying that people in the US are "less moral", as this could create the wrong impression, still US do appear to have significantly higher rates in homicides and violent crimes. I.e.
"In 2004, there were 5.5 homicides for every 100,000 persons, roughly three times as high as Canada (1.9) and six times as high as Germany (0.9)"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_the_United_States#Inte...
"I know you don't subscribe to these stances and say that they are just other possible explanations
The reason that I am looking for other possible explanations is that I don't feel the massively higher number of incarceration that you are mentioning is reflected by a similarly massive difference in the laws, culture and practices of the US compared to other developed countries. I mean, simply put, what are the things that in the US would get you in jail and they wouldn't in, let's say, the UK? Somehow I don't feel they are that many to justify a massive difference in incarceration numbers.
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I'm a religious American Muslim who fasts every day of Ramadan every year. So, what you're saying is that if I am Muslim, it's Ramadan, I'm fasting, and I'm traveling for religious purposes - that's suspicious? What your religion or ethnicity is, or how religious you are, or what your specific religious practices are - none of these should even be a factor to consider in security to the TSA/police/FBI/etc. I find thi…
who fasts every day of Ramadan every year Muslims calling Ramadan "a fasting month" is a serious devaluation of the word "fasting". It's not actual fasting if you only eat at night. It's fasting if you don't eat for at least full day. Say, eating once or twice only every other day. Also, doing this for one month in a year is another sham. How very useful!
Contrarian perspective: He fits a certain profile. Triggered a bunch of attributes (address move, chemicals on him, etc.). The 9/11 attackers walked through the scanners with knifes. The Boston bombers were flagged, but still traveled freely. After both attacks people were laughing at the stupidity of the enforcement agencies, uselessness of the TSA, etc. Here, the process worked. His account is subjective, everyone…
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If the US is nowhere near being an authoritarian police state, at what point will US become a authoritarian police state? When they have kill lists without any trial, jury or judge? When they keep prisoners in jail indefinitely without a trial? When they torture prisoners? When state officials lie to the public? When state officials lie to public representatives? When the secret police interfere with lawyers communic…
Dunno. When it becomes illegal to oppose the current government? When there is any political ideology it is illegal to espouse that does not involve directly inciting people to commit crimes? When it becomes illegal to stage mass protests about anything? When the media is directly owned by the state, as it is in many places? When journalists and activists are jailed, as they are in many places? When the media feels i…
As long as you're in a "free speech zone".
> When the media is directly owned by the state, as it is in many places?
Since the US is basically a corporatocracy, we're already there.
> When journalists and activists are jailed, as they are in many places?
Already happening. Assange abroad, Barrett Brown here in the US.
> When the media feels in any way uncomfortable roundly criticizing the government?
That's been happening here for years. Why does the US not have it's Jeremy Paxman?
> (3) Political mobilization is fine. No repression.
You're joking, right? The Occupy protests in Texas? Infiltration of protest groups and false flag events? Tch.