We have yet another case of passengers being thrown off planes because of a message on their clothing. Arijit Guha and his wife were returning from a funeral on Delta at the Buffalo-Niagara Airport when they were told that his tee-shirt mocking the TSA made passengers and employees feel “very uncomfortable”. Guha is an Arizona State University graduate student.
They were told that before they could fly they would have to allow a full search of their luggage because of the tee-shirt. He would then have to remove his tee-shirt. He was singled out by a Delta supervisor and three TSA agents as well as multiple Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority transit police. All over a satirical tee-shirt.
Even after having their belongings screened numerous times, Guha and his wife were still barred from the flight because they would alarm passengers.
They were then pulled aside for more questioning and Guha was questioned about where his brother lived since it was the brother who bought the mocking tee-shirt.
Notably, the police also said they were suspicious why Guha’s wife did not use his surname.
I have previously written about the legal myth that it is a crime to make a joke at an airport — the basis for thousands of passengers being arrested or placed in temporary custody.
This case adds a free speech dimension to the usual lunacy over airport security. Here TSA agents are interrogating a passenger over a tee-shirt critical of their own agency. Moreover, all too often the “discomfort” of passengers is cited as the basis for harassing or barring individuals. Even if true, it is grossly unfair to force passengers to meet the lowest common denominator of sensibilities of other passengers who may be reflecting their own prejudices or lack of senses of humor. Honestly, how likely is an Al Qaeda operative to seek to destroy a plane in Buffalo wearing a tee-shirt taunting the TSA?
The harassment of a critic of TSA should warrant the closest investigation of this case. If these allegations are true, there should be some discipline meted out by both Delta and the TSA.
Nick. I would venture to say the El Al guys probably gleened 5 times the intelligence from your dad than the secret service ones did just by striking up friendly conversation with him. It’s their job to know everything. And, no offense intended, it was also their job to size up your dad and determine if he was a security risk. Plus they did it in a way your dad found friendly and was certainly more enjoyable for the El Al agents also. Being friendly, more times than not people open themselves up and from a LE standpoint I found this to be a very useful tool.
THe SS agents should have put their ego aside and been more engaging, they would have served their cause better.
If you poke a stick at a dog enough, the dog might bite you. Then, you can have the dog put down. How ‘right’ of you. Or you can opt to stop being a moron and speak the dog’s language– be gentle. You won’t get far in life if you are constantly howling your rights at the moon, while others learn the dance and enjoy it. Feel poked by my comments? Don’t bite.
Nick,
Anybody can pluck cherries or raisins. Only a few can pick the significant ones. You have the gift. That is what counts, not this weeks prize.
We’ll never get one here, and I would return it if I did. Not out of disrespect, but realizing the odds then would know the electronic voting machine had failed.
idealist, Thanks. However, Vegas has the odds @ 150-1 against another vote other than yours.
Seriously, they suspected the wife because her name wasn’t the same? Well, I’d be screwed then; I didn’t do the proper patriarchal thing and take my husband’s name either…..for 35 years I’ve apparently therefore been a potential terrorist!
DONE!!
“And change the guards too, they are spooked too.” Well kinda:
“Ax falls amid Newark TSA chaos
By JOSH MARGOLIN
Last Updated: 3:31 AM, June 27, 2012
Posted: 2:27 AM, June 27, 2012
“Nine security screeners at Newark Airport are being fired and 30 more are under investigation after federal officials found serious lapses, The Post has learned.
“Several of their screeners were sleeping on the job or not screening bags properly,” an internal memo says. The probe began last fall.
TSA spokesman David Castelveter confirmed a probe “involving possible screening-protocol violations by TSA officers at Newark.”
The latest embarrassment to the agency took place Saturday, when a JFK Airport terminal had to be evacuated and hundreds of passengers marched back through security because one agent failed to realize a metal detector had been unplugged.”
Right you are gene….
MikeS as usual sees the big picture from his helicopter. And change the guards too, they are spooked too.
Nick,
That whole comment is worth this week’s number one spot. That is not the first mention of reading people; by even the El Al security people.
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Bron,
Don’t be surprised that you get number two nomination.
Let me know where I can buy one.
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Geez,
The crap you people put up with for security in name only. Adn a bad case of chrinic paranoia to boot.
Ah the perfect strategy for a terrorist is to wear an article of clothing that will ensure suspicion, have that person detained, while the real terrorist boards the aircraft. I think they should have cancelled the whole flight on the grounds of its’ being compromised.
Ahemmm, Sweden belongs to Schengen too. Gives us a few Rumanian prostitutes and beggars, but you have to take the good with the bad. (Stunning girls)
Muslim visitors have to tolerate our customs too. Even the English speak an intelligible dialect when visiting us.
I would hope everyone would buy a T-shirt mocking the TSA and Homeland Security and wear them when they fly.
Except that eagle needs to be a moronic chicken with the caricature of Janet Nappypablano for its face.
I hope they sue the heck out of Delta and the TSA if they can.
The TSA is worthless. However, we need security. The problem is if we use criteria ala El AL some folks would be yelling, “profiling.” My old man worked for Pratt&Whitney aircraft. He was a mechanic and then lead foreman in the overhaul dept. Engines come in and as he would say, “we rebuild them so they’re better than when they came off trhe assembly line.” When they worked on Air Force One engines the Secret Service was there. When El Al had engines in the plant, EL AL security was there. My dad said the EL AL were MUCH better. The SS would just look and be aloof. The EL AL guys would chat it up w/ mechanics. After they got to know my old man they would ask him new mechanics on the floor. They were professionals. Good cops can spot body language and demeanor that is hinky. As we know, 80% of all communication is nonverbal. Security is part science, part craft. The TSA is 0 for 2 in those departments.
Just came back from Europe again, flew to London, then Switzerland, Austria, Germany, then flew to Barcelona and on to Madrid, back hoem to NY via London..what sounds like a nightmare for American travelers unfamiliar with Europe actually wasn’t a big deal..the best part was checking in at a self-service terminal in Munich, just entering my booking code (no ID necessary!), then a 2 minute wait at the security check (with friendly well paid professionals treating you respectfully), no taking off shoes and just a metal detector to walk through (no additional pat down or handheld metal detector), and then entering the plane again just showing my boarding pass (no ID!)..Schengen is AWESOME!!!
just in case you guys want to make fun of “socialistic” and “bureaucratic” Europe again, I suggest a look in the mirror first…
Something about his name said that he was dark-skinned.
That helps in profiling.
Did they erase/copy his laptop, smartphone, pod, notepad, magazines, stains on his briefs. how he parts his hair. what he ate last week……?
Ameeerrrrriiicccaaa. Home of the Slaves.
Worth repeating.
Gene, my thoughts exactly.
We’re living in the United States of Moscow…..
The only valid reason for passengers to be alarmed by the guy would be:-
They simply do not trust the TSA to have properly screened someone that had been singled out for special screening.
Logically, this should mean that they do not trust the TSA to properly screen anyone at all.
What on earth were they doing on that flight? It’s dangerous!
“Even after having their belongings screened numerous times, Guha and his wife were still barred from the flight because they would alarm passengers.”
*Some* of the passengers on the flight *might* have been aware that he had been wearing the t-shirt and/or that there was some fuss. Presumably this fuss would only have been noticeable at the general screening area – as opposed to the gate.
Now that an army of agents has thoroughly searched and questioned him, he is probably the most trustworthy and non-alarming person on the flight.
If I were on that flight, it would be less unreasonable to be alarmed about that little old lady in row 10.
Paranoia.
“They hate us for our freedom” to be abused by a bunch of freaks.
Airport security theater, meet the theater of the absurd.
Theater of the absurd, meet airport security theater.
Yeah, taking someone off their flight for wearing a t-shirt that makes the TSA look like the ridiculous intrusive ineffective and unnecessary impediment to travel that they are really went a long way to removing the (rightful) perception that the TSA are a ridiculous intrusive ineffective and unnecessary impediment to travel now, didn’t it?
Geniuses.
Repeal the Patriot Act. Dismantle the DHS. Dismantle the TSA.
Restore common sense. And the Constitution while you’re at it.