Not common sense and definitely not American

Muslim group: two imams pulled from plane bound for North Carolina

Atlantic Southeast Airlines removed 

two imams from a flight headed to North Carolina, ostensibly because passengers felt uncomfortable with their presence of the pair -- both clad in Islamic attire according

to CNN news.  Facts:

• Ostensibly the men made passengers "uncomfortable" according to the pilot.
• The men were screened twice prior to boarding
• After the men boarded and the flight left the gate, it returned and the pilot requested TSA to remove the men.  TSA did so.
• The men were screened again by TSA.
• Officials tried to get the men back on the plane but the pilot absolutely refused to fly with them aboard.
• Initial news reports said the TSA boarded the plane and asked the passengers if anyone was concerned.  No one responded.

Would this have happened to a rabi, orthodox jew, or Catholic priest?  Common Sense thinks not.  These men were singled out not because they posed any threat.  They clearly did not.  But because they were dressed differently, dressed as Muslim clerics. 

Common Sense is proud to be an American.  There are many many reasons for this pride, not the least is America's committment to human and civil rights.  Common Sense is disgusted by the behavior of the pilot and Atlantic Southeast Airlines.  Both should be ashamed and charged with civil rights abuses and held financially liable for what is clearly an abridgment of these men's civil rights.  The pilot ought to be fired.  America is better than this.  We need to start acting like it.

Related articles, courtesy of Zemanta:

• Tudor Bosman: Muslim group: two imams pulled from plane bound for North Carolina - CNN.com
• Muslim group: two imams pulled from plane bound for North Carolina - CNN International
• Muslim religious leaders told to leave U.S. domestic flight after pilot refuses to take off with them aboard
• Group: 2 Muslim men pulled from plane bound for North Carolina
• SMH: Pilot Kicks Two Muslim Men Off Flight On Their Way To Anti-Prejudice Conference

MLK quote

The simple truth is that MLK didn't actually say this.

I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy.

Here are some references:

• Anatomy of a Fake Quotation - Megan McArdle - National - The Atlantic
• Change of Subject: Some real thoughts on a half-bogus quotation

That said, the quote is interesting.  It appeals to the notion of "love thy enemy."  It appeals to our better gentler self.  It confronts the unseemly demonstrations around OBL's death.

But, how relevant is it in the real world?  Should the death of evil not be a cause for joy?  Should we turn the other cheek on evil that forfeits the lives of innocents and denies their basic humanity?

Common Sense is glad bin Laden is dead.  I hope that the women I know who lost her finance on 9/11 will finally find closure.  I'm glad that the families of my dead colleagues have finally received some measure of justice.  When evil that has no regard for innocence or humanity is destroyed the world is a better place.  That's just common sense.

Celebrating bin Laden's death

Ahmad Fuad Rahmat, "Why Are Americans Celebrating Osama's Death?" 
Stop Public Celebrations of Osama's Death

The inevitable backlash over bin Laden's death have arrived.  These are two rather thoughtful examples.  Common Sense has also received several posts concerning the celebrations, characterizing them negatively.

Common Sense has mixed views in this regard.  On one hand there is an essential sameness between the US celebration of bin Laden's death and the celebrations in some radical Muslim societies over the events of 9/11.  Common Sense's reaction to one is revulsion but to the other a mixture of fundamental agreement and cautious concern.  That's a personal reaction of course, not an objective evaluation of either.

Celebrations of this sort are in many ways simply human.  While we are all human, as a species we remain generally tribal.  When my tribe triumphs I quite naturally feel pride.  Celebration is not far behind.  In this way such celebrations are just expressions of humans being human.  That makes them understandable.

The two links are interesting but in Common Sense's view fail to grasp the essential issues.

Consider John McWhorter's  

I will experience my joy at bin Laden's death as a private sentiment best gotten past as quickly as possible -- and all lusty, communal "Ding dong, the witch is dead" celebrations of his death as unfortunate.

Is bin Laden's death simply "unfortunate."  Common Sense wonders when did the death of a mass murderer become unfortunate.  Common Sense has seen real evil disguised as a human first hand.  Common Sense wonders should such people retain an absolute right to life?  Most of the world, including much of the western world, continues to recognize the death penalty in law.  Underlying the death penalty is a recognition that some people forfeit their right to life by their actions.  Is execution of a murderer "unfortunate?"  While Common Sense has reservations about such executions, they are on balance not "unfortunate" but just.

Being part of a civilized just society requires rather more than two arms and two legs.  It requires an acceptance and participation in the essential norms of civilized society.  Bin Laden rejected those norms and actively participated in the terror death of thousands of innocents.  His death is thus just.

Ahmad Fuad Rahmat's remarks

The triumph can only lie in the feeling of redemption: Americans can finally convince themselves that the War on Terror has been, after all, worthwhile.  Bin Laden's death lets it all make sense: they can now proclaim that the deaths of millions of Muslims, the sacrifices of thousands of American soldiers, and the depletion of America's own wealth in the process, have not been in vain.

also miss the mark focused as they are on the cost of the War on Terror and the notion of its justification/redemption. 

Does the War on Terror make sense?  Common Sense thinks that depends on what you think it is.  Do the Iraq and Afghanistan wars make sense?  That's certainly a valid question given the state of their governments and marginal success the US has had at establishing a civil society in what was previously a largely lawless tribal region.  Common Sense notes that there are not many examples of military imposition of a civil society where one did not previously exist.

But the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are not the only part of the War on Terror.  The US intelligence community has been remarkably successful in thwarting terror activity in the US and elsewhere.  Surely that part of the War on Terror is just common sense!

As to Mr Rahmat's notion of redemption.  Common Sense notes that there is no redemption nor, for that matter, justification necessary when an elected government in a democratic society acts consistent with the wishes of its citizens.  Here Rahmat's concern seems to Common Sense rather political.  As such they are not so much about celebrating an enemies' death as objecting to a political decision.  While questioning that decision is certainly reasonable attaching that  question to the celebration of an enemies death is little more than a crude attempt to change the topic.

Just a Common Sense POV.

Osama bin Laden dead

Common Sense notes with great relief and no little satisfaction that Osama bin Laden is dead.  Make no mistake about it, that's good news and the world is definitely a better place without him.  But Common Sense thinks that while the news is good, it's not as simple as many think.

First, Common Sense notes that while killing a man is easy enough, killing an idea is extremely difficult.  Think not?  Consider the radical Jew Jesus of Nazareth that was killed a few thousand years ago.  His ideas lived on.  While Osama bin Laden is dead, the threats posed by radical violent Islam remain.  The ignorance, poverty, and hatred that fuel it remain.  Until these are changed the radical violent Islam will remain a threat.  That's just common sense.

Second Common Sense is concerned by the cheering crowds of young people chanting USA while holding up a finger to signal that "we're number one."  Don't misunderstand, bin Laden needed to be found and captured or killed.  But the threat posed by radical violent Islam isn't a game.  The US didn't just score a game winning touchdown.  While the accomplishments of finding and killing bin Laden is laudable all the US has done, in a fundamental way, is to find and kill a sick old man who is a symbolic leader and murderous international criminal.  Sadly, we are not much safer today than we were yesterday.  That too is just common sense.

While we're in the neighborhood, Common Sense notes that the greatness of a country is not defined by its ability to find and kill terrorist but rather by its ability to create a just and equitable civil society.