US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#1
Posted: 1/21/10 at 2:50pm
SERIOUSLY!?
I have no words. Actually, I have one. IGNORANCE.
LaGuardia Flight Diverted: Security Concerns Over Praying Teenager
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#2
Posted: 1/21/10 at 3:23pmPolitical correctness gone amoke. Too much awareness training on how not to offend Muslims and not enough awareness training on offending anyone else. Hope this man sues the airline.
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#2
Posted: 1/21/10 at 3:29pm
And while we're speaking of stupid airlines, take a look at this one.
A man is suing British Air because they treat all men as if they were pedophiles. Their policy is that a man can't sit next to an unaccompanied minor. I hope BA is put out of business because of this.
Link
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#3
Posted: 1/21/10 at 4:15pmGiven that the praying teenager was neither detained nor arrested I'm not sure exactly what he'd sue the airline for.
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#4
Posted: 1/21/10 at 4:17pmBut I hope the British Air passenger sues the marmite out of them.
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#5
Posted: 1/21/10 at 4:23pm
"Given that the praying teenager was neither detained nor arrested I'm not sure exactly what he'd sue the airline for."
Being singled out for his religious beliefs. Public humiliation.
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#6
Posted: 1/21/10 at 4:26pmI missed that part in the two accounts I read.
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#7
Posted: 1/21/10 at 5:26pm
I'm just going to ask this and please put your Political Correctness and "what I 'should' say" aside for a moment:
If you aren't Jewish and (I am but even most Jews wouldn't) didn't know what he was doing, given the past 10 years, wouldn't YOU be alarmed? With all we've seen and heard about the people who do choose to terrorize us in the sky, can you honestly say with absolutely no hesitation that you wouldn't be concerned?
And this flight was going to Kentucky? Was this a Kentucky based flight because I'm willing to bet some good money that your average Kentuckian isn't that aware of Jewish prayer rituals.
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#8
Posted: 1/21/10 at 6:57pm
Well I would love for this teenager to come forward and tell his story because I've read several versions at this point.
The "device" clearly has LEATHER STRAPS you wrap around your arm. I have read some articles misleadingly and incorrectly call them WIRES. Really?
Then while most articles do say he tried to explain himself and was very cooperative, there are others I have read that painted him as a monster writing that "The man's device allegedly malfunctioned and he was quickly overpowered by passengers and the airliner's crew".
That is defamation of character and more than reason to sue in my opinion.
Jordan, I can't answer your question because I am very familiar with this prayer ritual and would actually feel SAFER knowing someone on board of my faith was praying for a safe flight. I suppose it may alarm some but what a waste of everyone's time and energy, not to mention the poor guy who I am certain was not trying to appear threatening at all.
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#9
Posted: 1/21/10 at 7:21pm
What I want to know is why this kid felt it was so desperately necessary that he put on tefillin and pray right at that moment. A flight from NY to Kentucky is what - two hours? He couldn't wait? I'm sure G-d would have understood.
At least half of the problem lies with this kid, because he, like so many Orthodox Jewish kids today, is very likely grossly undereducated about the outside world. He has never been taught to have some perspective on the world events of the past ten years, and to have some sensitivity about how the outside world views personal religious practices.
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#10
Posted: 1/21/10 at 7:41pmUnfortunately this is in fact the world we live in today. Humbugfoto is right. Right or wrong, PC or un-PC, it's just not something you can do anymore without consequences.
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#11
Posted: 1/21/10 at 8:04pm
If you didn't know what it was, I could easily understand that teffilin might look like something dangerous. I think it's great that kids are into religion. After all people don't see religion as important as they used to.
Should flight attendants be trained on every religious practices that might take place on a flight? No. Maybe the kid should have told them that he was going to be praying with the teffilin during the flight.
I do not think that he should have to wait to get to his destination to pray. He wasn't doing anything dangerous. He is obviously observant and this morning prayer with teffilin is important to him. It's not like it was Shabbat and he was lighting candles on the plane (which would not be safe). This act of prayer was harmless. People may be more vigilent and worried when flying but that shouldn't stop people from doing what they feel they need to (with all safety precautions taken).
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#12
Posted: 1/21/10 at 9:01pm
I think if people choose to be religious, that's great, but why do they have to flaunt it?
Updated On: 1/21/10 at 09:01 PM
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#13
Posted: 1/21/10 at 9:30pm
I think it's more about being a bit sheltered like humbugfoto alluded to and not so much about purposely "flaunting it". And I agree with SweetQ that he shouldn't have to wait to pray to make it convenient for others.
I want to make clear that I do understand why people are cautious. And I understand why some people jumped to conclusions. I don't blame them for wondering what the heck he was up to, but I do think it's a sad sign of the times when a simple misunderstanding can't be cleared up before a bomb threat is concluded.
What I think pisses me off the most is that each time something like this happens, the people who are the real threats probably have a chuckle that they've got us scared.
Updated On: 1/21/10 at 09:30 PM
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#14
Posted: 1/21/10 at 9:31pmWow Phyllis.
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#15
Posted: 1/21/10 at 9:39pmWell, if it makes people uncomfortable, right?
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#16
Posted: 1/21/10 at 9:56pm
Are you saying that by praying, he's flaunting something?
I'm not sure what you're saying but if it's that he shouldn't pray if it makes some people uncomfortable, well- that's just too bad isn't it? Not very tolerant, are they?
I'm sure there are things about lots of people which make others uncomfortable. It makes me uncomfortable to see pants on the ground.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/3/05
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#17
Posted: 1/21/10 at 9:59pmJane - I think PRS was mocking an oft heard comment about gays from certain religious folk.
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#18
Posted: 1/21/10 at 10:04pmOn a side note tefillin make for fun bondage foreplay.
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#19
Posted: 1/21/10 at 10:05pmQ - oh, I see. I didn't get it. Thanks.
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#21
Posted: 1/21/10 at 10:19pmI'm sorry then, Phyllis hon. I really am so slow at times. I don't know if it's old age or I'm just out of it.
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#22
Posted: 1/21/10 at 10:30pm
I think it was the horn that raised the concerns.
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#23
Posted: 1/21/10 at 10:46pm
First look at the boy...
Tifflin, Tifflin, Tifflin
US Airways diverted over teffilin!?!?#24
Posted: 1/21/10 at 10:53pmOh, Jane, it's not you! I make dumb jokes and expect everyone to get them.
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