Was Chemical Q, is now cherish your freedom

[Anthony Abdullah]

Avoiding all political debate!
 
I have experienced similar profiling. I am African American and my last name is Abdullah. I am the most patriotic person that many of you know, even if you don't know it. Whenever I fly for work or leisure I have to make sure that I get to the airport extra extra extra early because I always have a hard time getting my ticket and boarding pass. The kiosk rejects my registration and it states "special handling required". I handled it with good humor the first eight or nine times, but now it is just getting sad. I can accept the inconvenience, it is a small price to pay for the freedom that we enjoy as Americans. What makes me sad is if that is the best effort of the airlines and the "office of homeland security" to keep us safe, we are all in trouble. It happens the same way every time, and I try to lighten the mood with humor when the unsuspecting airline clerk gets that "check out this shady character" message on her monitor. She tries to play it off per her training by saying she
 has to check something out, and I always let her know that I understand that she has to verify that I am not the Willie Anthony Abdullah from Cleveland, Ohio that they expect to catch by accident using their primitive name recognition software. A phone call or two and twenty minutes and I am on my way.  
 
What the heck is my point you say? 
I for one greatly appreciate being able to buy nitromethane, Hydrochloric acid, or books on building my own jet engine. I will never forget the people that fought and died for my rights to do so and will always be in their debt. 
 
Thanks for listening
 
W. Anthony Abdullah
Proud American   

"Martin X. Moleski, SJ" <moleski at canisius.edu> wrote:
--On Friday, February 18, 2005 3:08 PM -0500 Grow Pattern 
wrote:

>I might add that you don't know how fortunate you are
>over here, to be able to just go to a hardware store
>and buy a gallon of, Denatured Alcohol or Acetone or
>whatever.. Much harder in other lands...

A Muslim nuclear scientist from our club bought a few
quarts of hydrochloric acid from an auto parts store
to do some home anodizing. The FBI was at his door
later that evening. He laughs about it now. He
was wearing a T-shirt with a nuclear symbol on it.
The agents apparently enjoyed the tour of his hobby
shop.

Marty
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