Have We Crossed The Line On ‘See Something, Say Something’?

It was a public service announcement campaign developed in New York after the horrific events of 9/11 and quickly spread nationwide.

The chilling commercials would show someone sitting on a New York City subway train, or a bench at a crowded park, and discreetly slip a backpack under their seat – and then calmly walk away, leaving the backpack behind.

The implication was that it was full of explosives, prompting the tagline, “If you see something, say something,” an admonition to do your part in being observant against terrorism.

A Citizen’s Militia, of sorts.

And while I have a strong belief in "See something, say something," you have to wonder if we haven’t crossed the line at some point in recent weeks after another horrific act of terrorism, the mass killings in Paris.

FACT – Just this week, a Southwest flight en route from Indianapolis to Los Angeles was diverted to Kansas City, a decision made by the flight crew who felt that three passengers who did not follow crew instruction upon takeoff exhibited “suspicious behavior.” A spokesperson for the FBI’s Kansas City office said the decision was made "out of an abundance of caution.” The passengers were removed from the flight, interviewed, and cleared. They were rebooked on another flight.

FACT – In another incident earlier this week again involving a Southwest Airlines flight, a Philadelphia man called police after he said he was racially profiled during the boarding process at Chicago’s Midway airport. Maher Khalil said he and a friend were asked to step aside after a fellow passenger gate agents that he was afraid to fly with the two men after hearing them speak Arabic. After questioning from police, they were allowed on the flight.

FACT – Last week, a Spirit Airlines flight was scheduled to leave Baltimore-Washington International Airport when "a passenger alerted a flight attendant of a passenger engaged in suspicious activity on board," airline spokesman Stephen Schuler said.

Police say they were told the passenger was watching a news report on a cellular device at the time, and several other passengers told NBC Chicago and the Chicago Tribune that the passenger in question and three traveling companions looked of “Middle East descent.” The plane, which was taxiing at the time, returned to the gate in a decision made by the captain. Four people were interviewed and released by Maryland Transportation Authority Police, who found no wrongdoing.

Our paranoia has overtaken our concern and sensibilities, plain and simple. How the interpretation of watching a news report suddenly leads to being removed from a flight is insane. Let’s not kid ourselves – those four could have been watching Tom & Jerry cartoons on their smartphones but because they had "the look" they were getting detained. There’s no two ways about it.

Ever hear the phrase "flying while brown"? It’s been around since 2001 and the 9/11 attacks. It’s a colloquialism used in the Muslim community for the way those with "that look" are treated when they fly.

It actually inspired this spot-on YouTube video.

But, overall, there’s really nothing funny about it. There’s nothing funny about being removed from a flight, interrogated by police, having an entire flight delayed, having to rebook … all for watching the news on your cell phone?

We should be careful.

We should be concerned.

We should perform our due diligence as citizens.

But we are starting to cross that fine line, on the wrong side, of being vigilant.

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