ShaneEngelking wrote:
mikesrc, racism is NOT cool.
As for the Kuwaiti people, sad that they have lost more of their freedoms. We here in the USA have been loving giving them away in the last ten years. Airport molestation anyone?
Umm the point I was attempting to make with my post above was that the Kuwaiti people, much like the (most of) rest of the arab world, doesn't actually have many of the freedoms that you take for granted. They also have state-controlled media, and don't understand that news over here isn't put out by the government. For example, a show like SNL or any late-night talk show in the format that you see in the US cannot exist over there, because you aren't allowed to criticize government or its officials....
So, I am surprised that they allowed DSLRs in the public in the first place...
As for your airport molestation, I don't think I will fly to the US if I can help it, as I will have to fly back.. The interstate system will be my friend!
ShaneEngelking wrote:
mikesrc, racism is NOT cool.
As for the Kuwaiti people, sad that they have lost more of their freedoms. We here in the USA have been loving giving them away in the last ten years. Airport molestation anyone?
You only get molested if you refuse the full body scan, fit a profile or make the rent-a-cops angry. I'm not saying I like either and I don't think we handle the threat of terrorism intelligently (why do we always test for the last things the terrorists tried instead of the next things they might try), but when you have the likes of the "underwear bomber" and the "shoe bomber", what choice do they really have? There are plenty of crazies in this country who might also try to blow up a plane, if it were easier.
In the time immediately after 9/11, when they were profiling more, I was traveling alone a lot. I have a beard and at that time, I happened to be wearing a fashion of tab collar shirts, which in retrospect, must have made me look like a Muslim cleric to someone who doesn't recognize a NewYork Jew. I got pulled out of line and questioned a lot and my camera bag was emptied and inspected all the time. (I quickly stopped wearing those shirts.) I'm certainly no threat to anyone, but there was logic behind checking me out.
Some people think we should use the techniques that are used in Israel, but from what I've read, it's actually worse: they ask detailed and intense questions of everyone and they're particularly hostile to non-whites. You have to get to the airport four hours in advance of your flight. I don't know how they feel about camera bags, but I suspect they don't let you carry them on the planes.
The same people who are complaining how terrible the full body scans and the pat downs are would be the first to complain that the government isn't protecting them if a terrorist got through and successfully set off a bomb.
And what freedoms are we giving up? Seems to me that most people in the U.S. do whatever the fk they want most of the time. I'm more concerned about the invasion of privacy by corporations than the invasion of privacy by the government.
ShaneEngelking wrote:
mikesrc, racism is NOT cool.
As for the Kuwaiti people, sad that they have lost more of their freedoms. We here in the USA have been loving giving them away in the last ten years. Airport molestation anyone?
Whatever they are, they are not a race. They are a collection of numerous peoples bound over time by a language and a culture. If someone made a similar remark about Norwegians, you couldn't label them as racist.
j.liam wrote:
How is it racism? Arabs are not a "race".
Thats like saying hating Jews is not racist because it is not a race. Arabs are Semitic people from Arab countries. To make a statement like "Screw those Arabs" is an anti-Semitic remark.
Umm the point I was attempting to make with my post above was that the Kuwaiti people, much like the (most of) rest of the arab world, doesn't actually have many of the freedoms that you take for granted. They also have state-controlled media, and don't understand that news over here isn't put out by the government. For example, a show like SNL or any late-night talk show in the format that you see in the US cannot exist over there, because you aren't allowed to criticize government or its officials....
To think that the government doesn't control the media to some extent in this country strikes me as a bit naive.
It can be construed as a bigoted remark but is not, per se, racist. Semantics do matter because they mean specific things.
The comment was ultimately uncool and pointless but the context, i.e., others risking their lives for Kuwait's liberation from a vile despot only to see the redeemed stifle freedom, is depressing.
j.liam wrote:
It can be construed as a bigoted remark but is not, per se, racist. Semantics do matter because they mean specific things.
The comment was ultimately uncool and pointless but the context, i.e., others risking their lives for Kuwait's liberation from a vile despot only to see the redeemed stifle freedom, is depressing.
Again, the story has been completely debunked. The ban never existed. If you follow the original link, you'll see that the site retracted the story.
And I don't see the point in debating "per se" racism vs. bigotry. Neither should be tolerated here, don't you agree?
Neither should be tolerated because neither legitimately adds to the dialogue. However, the two intolerances are quite different, have resulted in different historical consequences and should never be confused. Also, the context & subtext of the original comment, given what was thought to be the situation, was relevant. Whether or not the story was true, sadly, Kuwait has not transformed itself into a more enlightened place despite the great collective sacrifices on its behalf.
On Saturday, November 20, 2010 the Kuwait Times published an article titled 'Multi ministry camera ban frustrates artists' in which incorrect information was provided. The newspaper regrets failing to verify the information. The article wrongly stated that a ban on DSLR cameras was implemented by the Ministries of Information, Social Affairs and Finance. This information is false. In a follow up investigation, it was proved that no such ban has been issued. We regret this error and deeply apologize for any inconvenience caused."
