Man Questioned And Misses Flight For Speaking Tamil
A 32-year-old man speaking Tamil and some English about a sporting rivalry was questioned at Sea-Tac Airport and missed his flight Saturday because at least one person thought he was suspicious … The man was speaking Tamil, a language largely used in India, Sri Lanka and Singapore, on his cell phone at the departure gate and on the aircraft. An off-duty airline employee heard the conversation and informed the flight crew.
Parker said the man was cooperative and boarded a later flight to Texas. He told officials that he would not speak in a foreign language on his cell phone at an airport in the future.
What a songi (Tamil for wimp)! Sue, you moron; legal action is understood loud and clear in these parts! As I suggested to my family, we ought to speak nothing but Tamil in airports any more. This way, the polizei cannot accuse us of speaking some Tamil and some English. When I mentioned this to D and told him to start using the little Tamil I’ve taught him, he replied, “Right, but I’m white, I can yell whatever I want.”
Oh, the ignominy. How much more uncultured, small-minded and tattletale can this country get?
I hope some of you understand the implications of this incident from the larger perspective of the recently-passed Military Commissions Act, and its virtual dissolution of habeas corpus for foreign “war prisoners” as well as American citizens and legal immigrants. Then again, it shouldn’t have to come down to a choice between personal freedoms and safety from terrorists. As if this administration cares about working towards either.
We will not allow the enemy to win the war by changing our way of life or restricting our freedoms. ” George W. Bush, September 12, 2001
Great post, Maitri.
Holy crap. I hope that guy does file a complaint.
For future reference: see this great reference on where passengers can – and IMHO SHOULD – complain about such treatment. It varies depending on whether the conduct was done by an airline, the airport operator (usually a city or an airport authority), the Transportation Security Administration (which controls the passenger screening areas), etc.
I guess the Superrstarr does have his uses after all. Times like this call for the deployment of moves such as (but not limited to) a Mach-3 (which refers to the speed relative to sound leading to a cone and shock wave, not to Gillette, clearly no sharp tools are allowed on board) slice of the hand with folded fingers and a pointed index finger and lines such as “Phone adicha ringu, indha Sivaji adicha sangu”.
And I also have a message from “Mr. Manchugo Saar” of the airport faux pas, I might be a moron, but don’t call me Sue.