The Sikhs, The Turbans and The Airport Security

[DrYazz]

No, not my version of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-1198072...

Should Sikhs be exempt from routine airport security checks?

If asked to remove their turban (in public or private), should they not comply like the rest of us are expected to?

[clarkey]

It's reasonable to have it done in private if requested, I don't think a Sikh should be asked to remove the turban in public. If they refuse, they don't fly.

[crankedup]

No need for them to be asked to remove it, the body scanners could be put to work.

[12gauge]

Im torn. I dont like any religion, and think a dress code should be a dress code regardless of belief. If weak minded god fearing people want to wear silly headgear in their own time, thats their choice.

OTOH, i dont have any problem with racial religious profiling, or common sense, as it used to be called. We know its a muslim problem so just target the muslims. They wouldnt go looking for Gerry Adams and his friends at Reggae venues in Brixton in the 80s just to make the numbers stack up would they?

[DrYazz]

12gauge said:

OTOH, i dont have any problem with racial religious profiling, or common sense, as it used to be called. We know its a muslim problem so just target the muslims. They wouldnt go looking for Gerry Adams and his friends at Reggae venues in Brixton in the 80s just to make the numbers stack up would they?

You are probably not aware, but both Muslims and Sikhs can wear turbans. Not sure of which brands they might be (Adidas, Nike or Jack Wolfskin) but I cannot always tell them apart.

[Victor McDade]

No they should not be exempt but there is a valid argument to say diplomats should be. I think politicians above cabinet minister level are certainly exempt.

[JensenA]

It's just the yanks being stupid - I mean he is India's UN envoy for fcks sake!
The trouble with Airport security is that it is NOT Airport Security, it is people who are employed to work on Airport Security, being managed by a bunch of muppets who simply do their job according to the rules. This means that if 90% of the population are white, 5% are black, and 5% are Muslims. Then they will frisk and search the same proportion of passengers passing through airport security. If they have searched and frisked their 'quota' of Muslims, and Osama Bin Laden walked through they wouldn't dare search him because that would be racist!
It's about time Airport Security staff were allowed to the their brains and experience, just las Customs officers are allowed, and were permitted to search just the ones they think look dodgy, the queues would be shorter and I for one would feel a damned sight safer about flying.

[audidoody]

Here's the best forum on the net currently discussing airport security


http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-safety-secur...

[SplatSpeed]

JensenA said:

It's just the yanks being stupid - I mean he is India's UN envoy for fcks sake!
The trouble with Airport security is that it is NOT Airport Security, it is people who are employed to work on Airport Security, being managed by a bunch of muppets who simply do their job according to the rules. This means that if 90% of the population are white, 5% are black, and 5% are Muslims. Then they will frisk and search the same proportion of passengers passing through airport security. If they have searched and frisked their 'quota' of Muslims, and Osama Bin Laden walked through they wouldn't dare search him because that would be racist!
It's about time Airport Security staff were allowed to the their brains and experience, just las Customs officers are allowed, and were permitted to search just the ones they think look dodgy, the queues would be shorter and I for one would feel a damned sight safer about flying.

Shhhh you will wake the Jimbo!

[jeff m]

Anybody with the slightest knowledge of history would realise that Sikhs are the least likely to assist Muslums.
Might be better to let them run the security.

[Jimbeaux]

SplatSpeed said:

JensenA said:

It's just the yanks being stupid - I mean he is India's UN envoy for fcks sake!
The trouble with Airport security is that it is NOT Airport Security, it is people who are employed to work on Airport Security, being managed by a bunch of muppets who simply do their job according to the rules. This means that if 90% of the population are white, 5% are black, and 5% are Muslims. Then they will frisk and search the same proportion of passengers passing through airport security. If they have searched and frisked their 'quota' of Muslims, and Osama Bin Laden walked through they wouldn't dare search him because that would be racist!
It's about time Airport Security staff were allowed to the their brains and experience, just las Customs officers are allowed, and were permitted to search just the ones they think look dodgy, the queues would be shorter and I for one would feel a damned sight safer about flying.

Shhhh you will wake the Jimbo!

No he won't, but you will. Shhhh.

[Jimbeaux]

jeff m said:

Anybody with the slightest knowledge of history would realise that Sikhs are the least likely to assist Muslums.
Might be better to let them run the security.

That's a truism.

[audidoody]

jeff m said:

Anybody with the slightest knowledge of history would realise that Sikhs are the least likely to assist Muslums.
Might be better to let them run the security.

The Merkins don't do religious groups/sects very well. I'm sure I've read that Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld had no idea what Shia and Sunni were before they decided on their Iraq adventure.

The average TSA droid regards anyone with a cloth on their head as the next Mohammed Atta.

[Gargamel]

12gauge said:

OTOH, i dont have any problem with racial religious profiling, or common sense, as it used to be called. We know its a muslim problem so just target the muslims. They wouldnt go looking for Gerry Adams and his friends at Reggae venues in Brixton in the 80s just to make the numbers stack up would they?

What if y'know it was a Moslem Terrorist cleverly disguised as a Sikh ! Imagine. Also some people have invented this thing called LYING, need to be careful with that too.

Also it is well known that Gerry loved a huge bifta of an evening and was best friends with someone call Jahrule and 'chalky' Zion

[Bing o]

audidoody said:

I'm sure I've read that Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld had no idea what Shia and Sunni were before they decided on their Iraq adventure.

Bet they had the album though!

[MilleniumFalcon]

JensenA said:

It's just the yanks being stupid - I mean he is India's UN envoy for fcks sake!
The trouble with Airport security is that it is NOT Airport Security, it is people who are employed to work on Airport Security, being managed by a bunch of muppets who simply do their job according to the rules. This means that if 90% of the population are white, 5% are black, and 5% are Muslims. Then they will frisk and search the same proportion of passengers passing through airport security. If they have searched and frisked their 'quota' of Muslims, and Osama Bin Laden walked through they wouldn't dare search him because that would be racist!
It's about time Airport Security staff were allowed to the their brains and experience, just las Customs officers are allowed, and were permitted to search just the ones they think look dodgy, the queues would be shorter and I for one would feel a damned sight safer about flying.

I cant speak for now, but 10 years ago, when I worked airport security, I could search whoever I chose, (except those exempt of course) the only quota being the random searching of 1 in 5 passengers. It was up to the individual to pick, based on profiling (not as in racial, but in mannerism and actions). If i wanted to search someone, for example, i thought they looked 'dodgy', they would be searched. Although of course this just relates to UK airport security.

With regards to turbans, i can remember either scanning them with a hand held metal detector or offering them a private area to remove it. Dont recall ever having much of a problem.

Edited by MilleniumFalcon on Tuesday 14th December 11:29

[audidoody]

Gargamel said:

12gauge said:

OTOH, i dont have any problem with racial religious profiling, or common sense, as it used to be called. We know its a muslim problem so just target the muslims. They wouldnt go looking for Gerry Adams and his friends at Reggae venues in Brixton in the 80s just to make the numbers stack up would they?

What if y'know it was a Moslem Terrorist cleverly disguised as a Sikh ! Imagine. Also some people have invented this thing called LYING, need to be careful with that too.

Also it is well known that Gerry loved a huge bifta of an evening and was best friends with someone call Jahrule and 'chalky' Zion

Is this some kind of Sikh joke?

[Jimbeaux]

It is now.

[Justices]

Bing o said:

audidoody said:

I'm sure I've read that Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld had no idea what Shia and Sunni were before they decided on their Iraq adventure.

Bet they had the album though!

Ridiculous.








yet, hilarious.

[BliarOut]

Sikhs seem to pretty much keep themselves to themselves around these parts, I can't say I've ever had a run in with one. Anyway, surely the Kirpan is more of a worry than a simple turban?