August 13, 2006
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Ragheads in Flight Not too long ago, I was surprised to hear Matt make a derogatory comment about "ragheads." I was surprised because Matt is usually not one to make vague generalized statements. He knows that many different religious people wear head coverings such as turbans, and was he specifically trying to deride Islamofacist terrorists? Or was he making a comment about everyone who wears a turban? Because I know him well, I know he meant the former.
Still. . .
On Monday, a good friend of mine is going overseas to see his family. So to celebrate his finishing residency, we all went out to lunch at an Italian restaurant. Both he and my other friend are going to start their new jobs in the fall -- one in private practice, one in a community health center. I admire them both and will miss them terribly.
Since both of them are going on plane trips soon, they mentioned to me that you are no longer allowed to take liquids on board planes. This clinches my vow to never fly again. Two weeks ago, when I went to California, I brought my own water and soda, because I hate paying $3 for a 12 oz. pop which is mostly melted ice. I even brought my own bag of fried chicken (a la "Sanford and Son") and a Tupperware full of blueberry muffins that my dad made the day before I left. I shared them with a graduate student from Kenya in the Dallas airport. My theory is that if everyone brought food on planes, we could have some awesome potlucks.
But, now, not allowing me to carry my food and water with me, and yet not serving meals? No thanks.
I feel even more sorry for my friends who are flying overseas in the near future. 16-hour flights with no mouthwash allowed? Makes for a stinky inflight experience.
And to top it all off, my Sikh friend informed me that the day that he is leaving for India is the day that some numbskull Islamofacists decided to declare a bomb threat.
So, I fear for my friend's safety. Not from racist airline people, as white people always complain about, because I know they'll treat him fairly, but from a bunch of radical "raghead" nincompoops who feel that the only way to make a point is to threaten working people's lives.
At lunch, my friend and I almost got into an argument about gun ownership. He is very much like my dad, in that he believes that guns are not safe to have around, if you have children, as he does. I am more like my grandfather, as I believe there is a time and place for gun ownership in the private sector. Then again, I am not Sikh, so I don't believe that there are always peaceful means of conflict resolution. I have no doubt that if confronted with a terrorist on a plane, my friend would give his life to protect his family in spite of the fact that he doesn't believe in violence.
So, I have only seven words for the Islamofacist terrorists who are making life difficult for my Sikh friends.
Touch my friends, and you are dead.
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