An American Muslim Journal

So, is it okay to profile young black men so long was we're nice to them? What would Asra Nomani say?

If I understand Asra Nomani right, she thinks its okay to profile Muslims because, in her view, a lot of terrorists are Muslims.

Here is Ms. Nomani in her own words:

Profiling doesn’t have to be about discrimination, persecution, or harassment. As my debating partner, conservative columnist Deroy Murdock put it: “We are not arguing that the TSA should send anyone named Mohammad to be waterboarded somewhere between the first-class lounge and the Pizza Hut.”

And let me make sure I understand this correctly - it's okay to profile someone on the basis of his race or religion so long as he isn't tortured?  Okay, so maybe that was hyperbole by Ms. Nomani but what she's saying is that Muslims should accept profiling as long as they aren't physically harmed.  Is that right?  Or is she saying that folks can't eat Pizza Hut food in the first-class lounge?  I don't get it.

If profiling is lawful, then why don't we allow our police departments to use it when fighting all sorts of crimes?  

Would Ms. Nomani also argue in favor of profiling all young black men - politely of course and without waterboarding them - as they enter public spaces like a movie theater or a public park to check for weapons?  What about random frisks of all young black male pedestrians in inner-city neighborhoods? Again, it would be without rendition or torture so is it kosher?

Umm, I don't think so.  I don't think even my man Juan Williams would go here and we know how nervous he gets when he sees Muslims on airplanes.

I don't think Ms. Nomani is the "Uncle Tom" she's portrayed as in some parts of the American Muslim community, but I do think that this was a particularly weak argument.  I wish Ms. Nomani would use her talents and the public stage she's given to articulate more thoughtful ideas.  This one failed miserably.

 

Gosh Darn It Juan! See what you're enabling!? Guy got kicked off a plane for bowel issues...

Thanks for nothing Juan Williams!  Thanks to your insipid comments about Muslims in "Muslim garb" on planes, a Muslim fellow with bowel issues got kicked off a flight in Memphis.  And the only thing explosive about him may have been his diarrhea.  How embarrassing.

According to the Associated Press:

Authorities searched the plane but found nothing amiss. An estimated 80 passengers left the plane during the search, and it flew to Toronto some two hours late.

Apparently the guy caught the attention of the crew because of his "Muslim garb" and then, when he was in the bathroom for a long time they started to worry about explosions.  It just seems the explosions were non-lethal and non-flammable.

The man and his wife and child were allowed to fly out a few hours later on another flight.  Hopefully the next flight crew was advised of the passenger's GI issues.

So not cool...