14 yr old Muslim Clockmaker

[PN-G bamatex]

The picture I've attached at the bottom of this post depicts the clock in question.

I want everyone in this thread to stop for a moment. Put yourself in the teacher's shoes. You work at a large school during an age in which public schools have become the target for various incidences of mass violence. You teach English, and thus probably don't have a real acumen for electronics. One day, at the end of class, one of your students comes up to your desk and places this on it.

What is your first thought?

I can tell you what mine would be: "bomb," pure and simple. I would see in front of me a metal suitcase filled with various wires, electrical components and a digital display that's obviously used to keep track of time in some manner. The student's race would never enter my mind. Frankly, nothing about the student would enter my mind at all. Why? Because my mind would be singularly focused on the device in front of me that looks exactly like every portrayal of a compact, portable explosive device I've ever seen on TV or in the movies, and what I would need to do to eliminate what I perceived as a threat. Regardless of all the rhetoric used in this forum, I find it incredibly hard to believe that any one of you would have a different reaction. That's not racism, it's not prejudice, and it's not malice towards anyone. That is man's most basic instinct, self preservation, taking over.

I've seen a whole lot of people on social media work really hard to try and distinguish this image from that of an actual suitcase bomb. Their entire argument hinges on a single idea: that there aren't any explosive components visible inside the suitcase... as though the average American, who has little experience with electronic components such as those pictured below and none with explosives, would be able to discern that at a glance. Frankly, I find it very hard to believe that the people who raise this argument, who often don't even know enough about weapons to distinguish between a magazine and a clip, would be able to deduce such a discovery for themselves were they put in the teacher's position. I think it's far more likely that they're simply buying into a popular argument on social media to feed their narcissistic need to feel better than everyone else by highlighting inventing an example of racism committed by an average American that they can point at and ridicule. In any case, the argument they present is crap. The fact that something that looks like a bomb doesn't have "C4" written anywhere on it doesn't mean it doesn't look like a bomb.

Now that we've put the teacher's actions in some context, let's discuss the police officer. Put yourself in his shoes. You've been dispatched to a local high school over a possible bomb threat. You've likely experienced fake bomb threats at local high schools before; unfortunately, they've become fairly frequent at many schools. You arrive at the school, go into the office, and find both the student and the suspicious device. You're likely a little better versed in matters relating to explosive devices than the average citizen simply because of experience and training. You examine the device, and are likely able to determine that it's not a bomb, although you instantly recognize the visual similarities and how it can be perceived as one. You're given the story of what happened - that a student came up and put this on the desk of an English teacher and that she perceived it as a threat - by school administrators or perhaps the teacher herself. You speak with the student, asking him questions about the device. All he'll say in response is that it's a clock, nothing more.

What are you thinking now?

Admittedly, this is a little harder to determine. We weren't there. We don't know the context in which this information was conveyed to the police officer by school officials, or the manner in which the student responded to the officer, only what he said. So much of good police work depends on the officer's ability to read the facial expressions and interpret the tone of the person he's questioning - we weren't there to witness any of those things. What we do know, though, is that the police officer felt it necessary to take the student into custody on charges of a "hoax bomb" - the crime of creating a device that looks like a bomb with the intention of intimidating someone - while his department looked more deeply into the matter, and that nobody else close to the situation felt this was out of line except, shockingly, the student taken into custody and his family. We also know that once the department had received enough information to conclusively determine that there was no intention to harm or intimidate anyone with the device, it released the student. Given the facts as they've been outlined here, I fail to see anything that suggests the arrest was out of line.

It truly amazes me how the same side of the aisle that constantly calls for increased salary and benefits for teachers, police officers and other public officials is so quick to excoriate them for making a mistake doing their job, and then use their actions to incite controversy for political gain. 

Edited September 18, 2015 by PN-G bamatex

[77]

We should just be thankful he didn't have a Confederate flag then we would have known he was guilty!

[JWB]

The boy didn't invent anything,all he did was wire up some electrical components to a digital clock to give a countdown! this is not a clock!

[BS Wildcats]

The boy didn't invent anything,all he did was wire up some electrical components to a digital clock to give a countdown! this is not a clock!

But Yobammy said........

[EnlightenedMessiah]

The picture I've attached at the bottom of this post depicts the clock in question.

I want everyone in this thread to stop for a moment. Put yourself in the teacher's shoes. You work at a large school during an age in which public schools have become the target for various incidences of mass violence. You teach English, and thus probably don't have a real acumen for electronics. One day, at the end of class, one of your students comes up to your desk and places this on it.

What is your first thought?

I can tell you what mine would be: "bomb," pure and simple. I would see in front of me a metal suitcase filled with various wires, electrical components and a digital display that's obviously used to keep track of time in some manner. The student's race would never enter my mind. Frankly, nothing about the student would enter my mind at all. Why? Because my mind would be singularly focused on the device in front of me that looks exactly like every portrayal of a compact, portable explosive device I've ever seen on TV or in the movies, and what I would need to do to eliminate what I perceived as a threat. Regardless of all the rhetoric used in this forum, I find it incredibly hard to believe that any one of you would have a different reaction. That's not racism, it's not prejudice, and it's not malice towards anyone. That is man's most basic instinct, self preservation, taking over.

I've seen a whole lot of people on social media work really hard to try and distinguish this image from that of an actual suitcase bomb. Their entire argument hinges on a single idea: that there aren't any explosive components visible inside the suitcase... as though the average American, who has little experience with electronic components such as those pictured below and none with explosives, would be able to discern that at a glance. Frankly, I find it very hard to believe that the people who raise this argument, who often don't even know enough about weapons to distinguish between a magazine and a clip, would be able to deduce such a discovery for themselves were they put in the teacher's position. I think it's far more likely that they're simply buying into a popular argument on social media to feed their narcissistic need to feel better than everyone else by highlighting inventing an example of racism committed by an average American that they can point at and ridicule. In any case, the argument they present is crap. The fact that something that looks like a bomb doesn't have "C4" written anywhere on it doesn't mean it doesn't look like a bomb.

Now that we've put the teacher's actions in some context, let's discuss the police officer. Put yourself in his shoes. You've been dispatched to a local high school over a possible bomb threat. You've likely experienced fake bomb threats at local high schools before; unfortunately, they've become fairly frequent at many schools. You arrive at the school, go into the office, and find both the student and the suspicious device. You're likely a little better versed in matters relating to explosive devices than the average citizen simply because of experience and training. You examine the device, and are likely able to determine that it's not a bomb, although you instantly recognize the visual similarities and how it can be perceived as one. You're given the story of what happened - that a student came up and put this on the desk of an English teacher and that she perceived it as a threat - by school administrators or perhaps the teacher herself. You speak with the student, asking him questions about the device. All he'll say in response is that it's a clock, nothing more.

What are you thinking now?

Admittedly, this is a little harder to determine. We weren't there. We don't know the context in which this information was conveyed to the police officer by school officials, or the manner in which the student responded to the officer, only what he said. So much of good police work depends on the officer's ability to read the facial expressions and interpret the tone of the person he's questioning - we weren't there to witness any of those things. What we do know, though, is that the police officer felt it necessary to take the student into custody on charges of a "hoax bomb" - the crime of creating a device that looks like a bomb with the intention of intimidating someone - while his department looked more deeply into the matter, and that nobody else close to the situation felt this was out of line except, shockingly, the student taken into custody and his family. We also know that once the department had received enough information to conclusively determine that there was no intention to harm or intimidate anyone with the device, it released the student. Given the facts as they've been outlined here, I fail to see anything that suggests the arrest was out of line.

It truly amazes me how the same side of the aisle that constantly calls for increased salary and benefits for teachers, police officers and other public officials is so quick to excoriate them for making a mistake doing their job, and then use their actions to incite controversy for political gain. 

bro.. Tldr.

 

kidding, skimmed what you said and I agree 

[stevenash]

Ahmed withdrew from Irving ISD today.

[77]

" Well bye"

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

Ahmed withdrew from Irving ISD today.

good for Irving ISD and the child & family. 

[HurricaneCal]

I would be willing to bet that if I had this "invention", we'll call it a clock, in my car and got pulled over that if the policeman asked me if it was a bomb and I said no then quit talking, I'd be carried away in hand cuffs.

[BS Wildcats]

I wonder if Yobammy had a son, would he look like Ahmed.

[BLUEDOVE3]

Nope....The Holy Spirit made sure that God's Word was available to all of us in it's Perfect form........not one contradiction can be found in it when it's taken in context and people aren't trying to "interpret" it.......in fact, the passage of Scripture I just quoted shows you to be wrong.......so you either believe His Word, or you don't....there is no middle ground and no room for opinion or interpretation........

 

 

Why are there two descriptions of Jesus' genealogy in the Bible?

Edited September 28, 2015 by BLUEDOVE3

[stevenash]

THis whole thing was a contrived set up to begin with

[RETIREDFAN1]

Why are there two descriptions of Jesus' genealogy in the Bible?

One is through Joseph's line and the other is through Mary's........that one was easy......:P

 

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Edited September 28, 2015 by Colmesneilfan1

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

@dallasnews: Let's let Ahmed go back to being a kid | @JFloyd_DMN

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[Hagar]

The bottom line on the topic, if my children were in that school, I'd be congratulating that teacher.  And IMO it doesn't matter what color he, or she is, what religion, what sexual preference, or any of the other bs absurdity someone might want to throw at me.  Better safe than sorry. 

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

@12NewsNow: Ahmed Mohamed seeking $15 million in damages  

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[baddog]

@12NewsNow: Ahmed Mohamed seeking $15 million in damages  

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Planned from the get go.

[BS Wildcats]

@12NewsNow: Ahmed Mohamed seeking $15 million in damages  

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what a joke

[Hagar]

I think he should get 15.   I just hope it's in a Maximum Security Facility.

[stevenash]

I think he should get 15.   I just hope it's in a Maximum Security Facility.

Sir, you are now officially an Islamaphobe!!!!

[Hagar]

Sir, you are now officially an Islamaphobe!!!!

lol, sn I think you'd be amazed at how many of those "phobe's" you could hang on me, but this may be the one I'm proudest of. 

[baddog]

I never once saw where this clock was a science project or something assigned for extra credit. Has anyone, anywhere expounded as to what a great feat it was to "invent" this clock. Were mommy and daddy behind this invention?

I believe that they foresaw the events leading up to this lawsuit. They knew with all the school shootings and the threat of terrorism combined how this supposed clock invention would be received. They also figured the charges would be dropped since no one could question the innocence of a kid. They also knew there would be backlash to his presence after the ordeal and moved for sympathy's sake. Then comes the lawsuit. I think the parents should be sued for allowing their kid to cause such a frightening situation by bringing that clock that looked so much like a bomb (of course, none of them thought it looked suspicious) to a school.

Should they somehow win this suit, will it set a precedent so that we can no longer question a muslim carrying a suspicious bag or briefcase, or something resembling a bomb should be thought of as just a clock? 

I truly hope this never happens, but let a kid bring a bomb to school and blow up one of your kids ( I hate to make this personal but sometimes it is the only way to get the true feeling) then will we hear how the school did nothing to protect them?

[77]

A judge should laugh this out of court but they wont because there is so much money to be made by the lawyers!

[tvc184]

I always liked this cartoon and it pretty much sums up the way I feel about this entire incident.

[baddog]

I always liked this cartoon and it pretty much sums up the way I feel about this entire incident.

LMAO!!!

tvc, what do you think of my post above? Am I crazy or do I hit some valid points that some may overlook?