Stupidity Is a Virus

Jamie: 6th Apr 2006 - 08:50 GMT

isn't it just. i'm glad i don't look "a bit foreign"

EvilGentleman: 6th Apr 2006 - 10:42 GMT

It just goes to show how much racial profiling has become the norm, although it is not supposed to be this way. I am assuming that since Mr Mann's given name was Harraj, that he was of "non-European, non-Christian extract", and thus liable to be a suspect.

When will this racist xenophobic bullshit ever end? Next thing you know, it will be left-handed people or pug-nosed people who are considered threatening, so we will have to build concentration camps for them, so that the rest of us can sleep soundly at night.

Do people on this planet ever learn? I guess not. Fire up the ovens Adolf, here we go again...

Tyfoid Kid: 6th Apr 2006 - 13:11 GMT

That taxi driver must have really good ears. Most of Immigrant Song is pretty hard to understand unless you know the words. He probably didn't like his tip so he thought "I'll show this guy."

Catherine Penfold-Waxman: 6th Apr 2006 - 13:29 GMT

Strewth! What the feck is happening? How ignorant do you have to be to condemn someone for their choice of very mainstream music? These days, London Calling or The Immigrant song is hardly revolutionary (and I LOVE the Clash, btw). Jello Biaffra was right. Last scream of the missing neighbors.

elaine: 6th Apr 2006 - 13:35 GMT

fear? mass hysteria? moral panic? anyone? anyone??? help! help!

jack: 6th Apr 2006 - 14:27 GMT

elaine is correct it is mass hysteria but then again it was racial profiling. are the taxi drivers being trained to be suspicious of mideastern people. my thought is if this guy got through all the detections before boarding why would his choice of music be questionable? it means one thing, we are inpregnable! terrorists can still get to us and kill innocent people. i'd better leave my glen miller and artie shaw music home. also my beatles, chicago, cream and jefferson airplane, my favorite.

elaine: 6th Apr 2006 - 14:36 GMT

they don't need to be trained to be afraid of middle eastern people, this is the thing about moral panic, create a climate of fear and just watch it multiply. it's like a virus.

Peter: 6th Apr 2006 - 14:59 GMT

geez. considering that i just finished reading fahrenheit 451 this morning, im totally ripe for some good alienating, dystopian news fodder... thanks sine.

so... is Durham Tees Valley Airport in some redneck/back-woods part of the uk or something, or was this cabbie just an ignorant asshole?

and, for real... he must have radar ears. considering the hundreds of times ive heard the immigrant song, theres no way in hell i could have ever placed "the hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands, to fight the horde, singing and crying: valhalla, i am coming" amongst its lyrics.

time to don the tinfoil hats, indeed! zapatopi.net/afdb

Jamie: 6th Apr 2006 - 15:28 GMT

The North Eastern conurbation of Teeside? Redneck? Backwood? never! heh

grange: 6th Apr 2006 - 15:33 GMT

if there going to arrest people for their choice of music . Then lets start with Shania Twian /Celion Dion listeners ... I think their up to something ...

Peter: 6th Apr 2006 - 15:35 GMT

well, there you have it... "non-metropolitan county" and "the largest continuous area of de-industrialised land in the whole of europe"... say no more!

Elicar: 6th Apr 2006 - 15:45 GMT

www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1109&ArticleID=1418323

Mr. Mann is of Indian descent and is a mobile phone saleman.

jack: 6th Apr 2006 - 17:04 GMT

if you want to read a great book read, the kite runner.