By the same (illogical) logic as exhibited in this event, wouldn't someone be more dangerous with a Koran?

It is well known that seasoned terrorists are notorious for travelling with books featuring sticks of dynamites on the cover.

Where have y'all been?

PS customs held me for two hours at the border a month ago because the background photograph on my laptop is a UA 747-400. They were also somewhat tickled by the chemical formulas on my notebook.

I would guess that it really was a Tom Clancy book: DEBT OF HONOR. In the book, a Japanese fellow who hates America because his family committed suicide on Saipan during WWII rather than be captured

Bruce

Restaurants and bars are not common carriers, but airlines are. At least under US law, that puts them in a special category. In return for certain benefits (immunity from many lawsuits, enforcement of contract of carriage even when passenger is unaware of them, etc.), they give up certain rights that most businesses have. One of these is the right to refuse service arbitrarily. A common carrier must accept a person's business unless they can specifically demonstrate why they should not.

Reading a book doesn't qualify as irresponsible or juvenile. A ham-handed & officious over-reaction by security "professionals" qualifies as both.

And keeping a harmless guy with a book off a plane doesn't make flying the slightest bit more safe. Quite the opposite, tying up security staff on such nonsense just leaves more opportunity for real mutts to get by unnoticed.

As for the knee-jerk media-bashing that's become the new craze ... sorry, no sale. CityPaper isn't to blame for the arrogance and incompetence of the security folks in this mess. God bless the press for telling the story.

From a story on how airlines are now profiling passengers:

Airline-security personnel say the evolving profiling system is likely to take into account such factors as how an individual�s ticket was purchased, the clothes the passenger is wearing, the person�s nationality, travel history, and even the book that he or she may have just purchased at an airport shop. In addition, travelers are likely to be subject to closer surveillance at airport terminals and searched more routinely.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/646421.asp

The other day I saw a guy reading a book that was full of terrorist acts, war, even decimation of the entire planet's population save one family. He was wearing all black in what seemed to be a cult-like fashion. In fact, it turned out, he didn't even buy his own ticket, his "church" did. I was very scared and wanted him locked up for daring to take that book on my airplane.

It was, of course, a priest reading the bible...


[This message has been edited by kokonutz (edited 10-23-2001).]

I assume that was just a bad joke . . .
That same book (if you choose to believe in it) also gives a plan of salvation.

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In regards to the guy being refused boarding for reading a book, I would have been furious had I been there watching this take place. In my speaking out of course, I would have been kicked out too!

There are a lot of changes we need to make in this great country. We seem to be sitting in a wet soap dish, heading down a slippery hill. Will we become worse before becoming better ?

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Got points ? Got smiles !

[edited for spelling error]

[This message has been edited by Stephen loves Starwood (edited 10-23-2001).]

Saw a similar thing last week. A guy whose reading material was full of acts of terrorism, war, killing, bombings, rape, murder and worse. But before boarding he finished reading it and put his newspaper in the trash.

Hey, if anyone is willing to share with us exactly what irresponsible thing the guy did to be denied boarding, I'm certainly willing to hear it.

So does The Monkey Wrench Gang. But the plan is for your planet rather then your soul...

FlyAAway, I commend you on your insight!

There is a lot, we have not been told here, that contributed to the matter or our legs are being pulled.

It is interesting how fast people bought the story without all the facts.

Honestly, do you think the young man exercised good judgement. I acknowledge, straight-up that the guy has the right to read the book, but he is exposing himself. And for what?

Ham-handed and officious? Arrogant and incompetent? You can't quantify that.

CityPaper is not to blame.....I will give you that, but I would love to have at least one other source to include an eyewitness.

Just one man's opinion.

If you do not think the response to the particular book was predictable and preventable, then no explanation is necessary. In this environment, it will raise eyebrows and garner unwanted attention. Would you carry the same book through the security checkpoint?

What if we staffed the checkpoints with professionals earning high 6-figure incomes, like surgeons and attorneys. Would these intelligent, educated, and highly discerning individuals wave the guy through? If not, are they ham-fisted? Officious? Arrogant? Incompetent?

If this gentleman sat across the aisle from you while reading that book, would it be O.K?

I am very curious where you would draw the line.

If you think the guy exercised responsible behavior, I will respectfully disagree.

I will not comment on the individual whom I do not know or the book, which I have not read.

I will however concede that there are in fact many people who do consider thoughts and ideas (as might me contained in a book for example) to be dangerous and are fearful of such things.

Cheers!