Muslims Put of Plane in Memphis

Nabil Bayakly, chairman of Muslims in Memphis, said, “Both of them are good friends of mine, and I know how mild-mannered they are. I think the pilot has been really obstinate.”

“They are imams,” Bayakly said. “They are religious figures. They usually wear the traditional Muslim gowns and head covers. Just like what the pope would wear or the Orthodox Jew would wear.”

What really happened on that flight?  Were these men conducting themselves in way that made other passengers uncomfortable?  Were their actions obnoxious or dubious?  We might not ever know but, these questions have answers.  As an after thought, there’s another question that weights heavy on my mind: Do we really care?  I do think so; I take this situation lightly as a personal decision of the pilot.  I also think that Nabil’s word “obstinate” is a poor choice and hangs on a thread of arrogance.

I don’t see this as an attack on Muslims, Al-Islam, or as a sign of heighten fears in the aftermath of Osama bin Ladin’s assassination.  Look, let’s be real about this; we’re Americans, you can get thrown out of anything.  We’ve thrown each other out of cabs, buses, hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, trains, you name it.  If one is thrown off an airplane then, that’s the biggest throw off of all.  Now, it’s against the law to throw someone out because of religion, race, national origin, sex, age, handicap, sexual orientation, or color of skin. These guys were thrown off the plane; they should dust themselves off, complain, change air service, and get over it. 

Nabil expressed his thoughts about this traditional (Muslim) religious garb but, in reality it’s not religious at all; it’s traditional and not “traditional Muslim” at all.  And, it’s absolutely not equal to the pope’s garb or that of the orthodox Jews.  All Muslim don’t wear the same style of clothing; everyday to every affair.  Wearing these traditional clothing isn’t a sign of ones religious conviction; in fact, no apparel does that.

Many years ago before the attack on 9/11; an African guess and dignitary, Cheikh Hasan Cisse of Senegal, West African visited Memphis for the first time.  Security wanted to search his traditional belongings I objected for two reasons; one, this man was a diplomat and two, these belongings were carried with him for religious reasons, they were religious books and artifacts among other things passed down to him by his ancestors for hundreds of years that he carried with him everywhere in world.

Cheikh Cisse agreed to allow security to search this bag.  Later, I wrote a letter to the Airport’s President and administration.  They wrote back a very apologetic response and ask that I let them know when Cheikh Hasan Cisse arrives in Memphis.  I’ll stand with the Memphis International Airport any day on this issue.

African-Americans & The Osama Death Conspiracy?

The American people respect all religious beliefs therefore, under the tenets of Al-Islam and its Sharia, natural law; an autopsy isn’t to be performed on a Muslim’s body and it must be buried immediately. Osama Bin Ladin was found guilty by congress, our administrative, Presidential, institution, and public opinion; his punishment was death. He had every opportunity to come clean, by standing before the world community giving up his failed organization, Al-Qaida, and emphatically denying all charges of murder and war.

On the contrary, ten years ago; he stood before the world and declared war on America or from his Islamic point of view; jihad! Americans mustn’t play into the hands of people who smile in our faces and ready, with ease, to place a dagger in our backs. We accepted the war/jihad of Al-Qaida and Osama but, they must understand; that when the fighting starts American troops, men and women, lives are on the line; they’re willing to give their lives just to get a chance, at your throats.

There isn’t any conspiracy here; Osama is dead, he knew the price that he must pay to launch his ‘New World Order”. President Obama’s orders were in line with the will of the American people; he didn’t fail them.

African-Americans; they must grow up fast, give up those old emotions, think of their power when viewing the world, accept and understand that because one’s skin isn’t white like that of American Caucasians does mean that he or she is your friend or think as they do. Many of these people want to see your nation totally destructed and rebuilt into a nation like theirs’, of which you wouldn’t have any place but, another inferior one. Think, Al Qaida and Osama wouldn’t have given a second thought to killing Americans including black Americans; they would enter into your homes, kill you, and your babies with bombs; like they have throughout the world. They’re killing people of their own religious beliefs; Muslims; men, women, and children.

My appeal to African-Americans, brothers and sisters, and those who think as we do, wakeup and defend President Obama against those who want to start their own “New World Order” like the right-wing GOP, Tea Party, Palin, Trump, and others out there who want to see our world, America, made much different from what we want. Today, inside America; we have much bigger political issues to debate than an Osama conspiracy. Nevertheless, until America raises her oppressed and forgotten, African-Americans would forever have doubt.

President Barack Obama's Remarks about Osama Bin Ladin