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August 15, 2005
Diaper pin Laden?
Remember "innocent until proven guilty"? Well, in America not only are you guilty until proven innocent; you're also guilty of crimes that have not yet been committed until proven innocent--even if you're a baby. See, for example, this AP article:
Infants have been stopped from boarding planes at airports throughout the U.S. because their names are the same as or similar to those of possible terrorists on the government's "no-fly list."
It sounds like a joke, but it's not funny to parents who miss flights while scrambling to have babies' passports and other documents faxed. . . .
Sarah Zapolsky and her husband had a similar experience last month while departing from Dulles International Airport outside Washington. An airline ticket agent told them their 11-month-old son was on the government list.
They were able to board their flight after ticket agents took a half-hour to fax her son's passport and fill out paperwork. (Emphasis mine.)
Yes, folks, it took half an hour to determine that an 11-month-old was not a security threat.
By the way, masochist that I am, I found this over at FreeRepublic.com, where there was very little outrage expressed at all. Most of the venom was directed at the parents for giving their kids names that show up on the no-fly list. Then there was this gem: "Just ban everyone named 'Mohammed.'"
Posted by Mike Tennant at August 15, 2005 04:43 PM
Comments
This young'un may very well have been a terrorist when you consider the bio-hazard that a dirty diaper can be. (wink, wink)
It's all a matter of perspective.
Posted by: Roger Young ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.strike-the-root.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif){kind=small}
at August 16, 2005 04:45 PM
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