Clock-making teen transferring to another school

[n2doc]

Source: Fox

In middle school, Ahmed said, he had been called “bombmaker” and a “terrorist.”

“Just because of my race and my religion,” he said, adding that when he walked into the room where he was questioned, an officer reclined in a chair and remarked, “That’s who I thought it was.”

“I took it to mean he was pointing at me for what I am, my race,” the freshman explained.

Ahmed is not going back to MacArthur — he’s transferring to another school, said family spokesperson Omair Siddiqi of the Dallas-Forth Worth chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a non-profit advocacy organization that has been helping the family handle media calls.

Read more: http://fox2now.com/2015/09/17/clock-making-teen-transferring-to-another-school/

[Jappleseed]

1. Our country is not well.

It is in one sad state. Fear, hatred, money, all have perverted this land.

Not only do we have those in power and the media who shares that power to blame. We also need to blame ourselves for not standing on our own principles.

[RKP5637]

4. This country has changed so much since I was a kid. It's now hostile and freaky. n/t

[groundloop]

18. NO, I think this country hasn't changed enough..... It was hostile then and still is now

I was pretty young, but I still remember separate bathrooms for 'Coloreds' and 'Whites'. I remember when it was ok to tell n****** jokes.

Nope, our country has had it's warts and blemishes for a long long time. I think in a few ways that we're getting better, but there are groups of people who want to hold on to those old ways. Progress is much too slow.

[jtuck004]

22. 1971, Oklahoma City, deeply, deeply Democrat - Repubs didn't stand a chance

in that district for decades - those parents showed up at Capitol Hill High School and urged their kids to attack the black students arriving by bus. Those scared kids wound up inside a Dairy Queen across the street, protected by police and fire trucks.

I went off and got a GED and joined the Navy. It was safer...

[RKP5637]

28. Yes, that is quite true. I remember those too as a little kid and asking my parents what in the

world that was about. Also, for LGBT the difference is startling. Never, ever, ever did I think marriage equality would exist in the US or anyplace. Back then, I don't think it was even remotely on anyone's radar screen. Yes, I do agree.

I think what gets to me, likely, are the throwbacks have so much louder a voice today. Some are literally nuts and throw their bizarre beliefs nationwide. The gun culture also concerns me. I'm not bothered by responsible gun owners, but some are very questionable, and also, for example, sovereign citizen movements.

To me, 2016 will be very revealing. I do question the validity of votes, how many are rigged by machines, etc.

As you say,

"Nope, our country has had it's warts and blemishes for a long long time. I think in a few ways that we're getting better, but there are groups of people who want to hold on to those old ways. Progress is much too slow."

[jwirr]

44. And this child has three issues to deal with. This is

racial, religion and war. The people who are making his life a nightmare hate the color of his skin. They also hate his religion. And like other nationalities who have been at war with the US he is suspected because we are at war in the ME.

I would so much like to have him learn about the hatred that was aimed at other nationalities (German, Japanese) because we were also suspected of being against the US.

The Irish also faced a lot of hatred when they immigrated. And of course the Hispanic people who are immigrating now.

Ahmed, it is not you. It is us - we live in fear continually of anyone who is different than we are. But because of the hatred in the past many of us know that what that school and police did was wrong. It was wrong when they did it to us and it is wrong when they do it to others.

I hope your new school is more enlightened.

[jtuck004]

21. It sits atop the bones of 80 million we killed in genocide, so I am not sure this is worse. n/t

[RKP5637]

35. I often wonder how much better the world might be if the US paid attention to itself

and let other countries go as they might. I'm not an expert, but it seems to me, generally, wherever/whenever the US has exerted its influence and weaponry countries and those citizens have often ended up much worse or dead, or mutilated.

Much as my history professor said many years ago, and I agree, the US would be far better off if it quit running around earth trying to be the policeman of earth.

And much as President Eisenhower warned decades ago. Ike had it right and knew what the future would bring. Now, we have the MIC = big $$$$$'s, so many make big bucks off of war and destruction.

I'll stop here, but you know my drift.

[jtuck004]

43. What you said. n/t

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

47. "Our country is not well."

That's about the nicest thing that can be said about the US at this point. Bravo!!

We all know what you really mean...

[cantbeserious]

3. Texas - A Sad State Of Affairs

eom

[Paladin]

19. Yeah, because the rest of the country is one big love fest for Muslims.

[LuvNewcastle]

5. If Ahmed was my kid, I wouldn't

want him in that redneck school, either, even if he was a white Christian. It would be an unhealthy environment.

[MH1]

6. He should get to attend a very high-quality school focused on STEM

And it should be paid for by the municipality of the school and police that treated him so badly.

Too bad lawsuits take so long to get through the courts.

[peacebird]

7. The lawsuit should pay for his years at MIT....

[tavernier]

8. That's not who I thought he was.

Is what the officer claims he said. And I too think the clock looked like a rigged up bomb much more than a clock. I understand the hyper fear of officials these days because of recent events involving school violence.

It's a crazy world anymore. If it had been a bomb that had exploded, we would all be questioning why the school and the law hadn't followed this boy, because his classmates had referred to him in the past as bomb maker. But on the other hand we (me as well) angrily scream, "He's a child!" But the Boston bomber was a child too.

So, how to handle similar situations in the future? Over react? Under react?

[rosesaylavee]

10. I thought that way too until someone pointed out

that if they really thought it was a bomb, why wasn't the bomb squad called in, why did the police put the 'bomb' and the kid in their squad car? No, this was a racist act perpetrated by both the school and the police on this one smart, dark-skinned teen.

[ehrnst]

12. If they thought it was a bomb, why didn't they follow bomb protocol ?

and evacuate, isolate the item, instead of picking it up and carrying it with them to the office?

I expect them to act in accordance with what they thought was going on - if they thought it was a bomb, they absolutely did not act appropriately, and if they thought it wasn't a bomb, they absolutely did not act appropriately.

It was gross negligence any way you look at it.

[Demit]

13. Do you have a link to a story quoting the officer that way?

I've only seen reports that report him as saying, "Yeah, I thought it was him." Thanks.

[tavernier]

20. The police chief was interviewed last night

and said that the boy heard the exact opposite of what the officer had said.

I'm not defending the stupid actions here: The child's parents should have been called immediately. Obviously they didn't think it was a bomb on inspection, at which point they should have released him and still called the parents. I think any parent would understand why this would be a concern in a school these days, and the whole thing could have been handled reasonably and intelligently.

If we label every cop a racist, it's as bad labeling every Muslim a terrorist.

[Demit]

23. Oh, how about that.

I'm glad the police chief who wasn't there cleared that up for us.

You know, "Yeah, I thought it was him" doesn't really sound like "That's not who I thought it was." The two statements would be said with an entirely different intonation.

I'm going with the boy who was wrongly detained, on what he heard when he was hustled into the room to be interrogated, instead of the police officer and police department that now has to save face.

[enough]

14. How to handle? Very simple. If you think there may be a bomb,

follow the protocol for a suspected bomb. They did the exact opposite, kept the "bomb" in the school with everyone else, then sent the "bomb" away in a police car along with police officers. They never thought there was a bomb.

[blackspade]

15. And that cop would be a liar.

Given all the other facts in this case that sounds like yet another lie that 'officials' have floated out there.
Who did the cop think it was then?

[TBF]

16. They knew it wasn't a bomb -

From Daily Kos yesterday:

Thu Sep 17, 2015 at 03:17 PM PDT
"They didn't think he had a bomb."

I said: it's sad they thought that kid had a bomb.
She said: they didn't think he had a bomb.
I said: yes, they thought he made a bomb and even called the police.
She said: They just wanted to humiliate a little Muslim boy. They didn't think he had a bomb.
I said: Don't be a conspiracy theorist. They might be a little prejudiced, but I'm sure they thought he had a bomb.
She said: OK.
But they didn't evacuate the school, like you do when there's a bomb.
They didn't call a bomb squad - like you do when there's a bomb.
They didn't get as far away from him as possible, like you do when there's a bomb.
Then they put him and the clock in an office: not like you do when there's a bomb
Then they waited with him for the police to arrive, and then they put the clock in the same car as the police.
Then they took pictures of it.

I said: Damn.....They never thought he had a bomb.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/17/1422329/--They-didn-t-think-he-had-a-bomb

[jeff47]

25. The Boston bomber was 20 at the time. 20 is not a child. (nt)

[Taitertots]

45. It can't be a bomb it's too round at the top, it needs to be pointy

It's not going to scare people, they will just think it is a robot's dildo. You better consult professor Popeye.

[sunnystarr]

46. No Evidence only Coulda Beens

Once they opened the case it was evident there was no evidence that this was a bomb. No evidence that it was a "woulda been", "shoulda been" bomb. That jumping to the conclusion that maybe it "coulda been a bomb" was exactly like jumping to the conclusion that Mohamed "coulda been a terrorist."

There was nothing that "coulda" been detonated. Like any form of explosives. You know ... the stuff that makes it a bomb!

So many cops so little evidence. What to do.

Getting a "Mohamed" to admit he was a terrorist would sure be a feather in their cap.



Our schools have sanctioned "coulda beens." Even when the child is proved innocent they still apply punishment.

The police feel they've lost the game if they don't leave with a feather.

Parents need to be insisting what educators SHOULD do.

[tavernier]

49. I was well prepared for being dissed

all over the board. I still say that in this climate of uncertainty, adults, police, officials, have to take into consideration that anything might be possible. If it had been a true threat to many lives, there would have been many questions as to why it wasn't handled more aggressively.

My past postings should tell that I'm the last person to be anti anything (except perhaps bush and cheney, ugh), but I can understand why we this world is now a bit different. When I grew up, no kid who took a squirt gun to school or kissed a classmate was considered a terrorist or a pervert, but these days the rules have changed.

My heart aches for this little boy who is labeled as being different and dangerous... I was an immigrant from Germany in 1950 and remember being called a Nazi...

My head aches for the teachers and police officers in school systems that have to be constantly aware that someday they might be Breaking News.

isnt there some middle ground anymore where we can understand that there aren't a bunch of terrorists fighting a bunch of bad cops? Sometimes it is just a kid who should be allowed to tell his side, and some policemen who just tried to keep people safe.

[sunnystarr]

50. I immigrated from Germany in 1950 too

You weren't by chance on the Europa?

In the early 50's we lived in an orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn. My step-father was the superintendent of 2 apartment buildings. I was about 9 and really didn't understand anything yet. Like why Stanley wasn't allowed to play with me. He did give me my first kiss after all lol. And there was the garbage placed outside our door with the message "Get out you dirty Nazis."

[tavernier]

51. I don't know the name of the ship.

It was a commercial vessel for the most part, and the passengers were pretty much filler. 😄 Mom said that the ocean was so rough, the only people not seasick and able to eat were the cooks and me. But both she and my father are gone now, so I can't tell you the name of the ship.

[sunnystarr]

56. You were lucky

I think it took 10 days. We traveled to Belgium to board the ship. I was sick the whole time lol and still suffer from motion sickness.

[tavernier]

57. I lived on a boat in the Florida Keys

for 15 years, so no problems there. 🚣😄

[appleannie1]

9. Once you know it is not a bomb, end it. Instead they put him in handcuffs in front of the whole

school, signalling to the other students that he was someone to fear. If they thought for a minute that is was a danger to the other students, they would have had a fire alarm and cleared the school. Instead, they treated him like a criminal and drew attention to him in front of the other students. That is not the proper way for people in authority to act.

[blackspade]

11. Good. That school doesn't diserve him as a student.

[LostOne4Ever]

17. Hope he finds a better school!!!

[font style="font-family:'Georgia','Baskerville Old Face','Helvetica',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]This whole incident just screams out for this meme:[/font]

[jeff47]

26. :facepalm:

The kid's just starting to figure out how things work. That inherently requires starting with things that already work.

[fbc]

27. He's a 9th grader

not a 4th grader

[jeff47]

30. And?

Guess what? There isn't an age cut-off where you must start playing with electronics.

Stop being an elitist douchebag.

[fbc]

32. "playing with electronics" is really pushing it.

He didn't cut or splice a single wire. He didn't solder anything. He removed the innards of an electronic device and stuck it in another box.

Something like this would require about the same skill and effort:

[jeff47]

34. And I'm absolutely sure I can beat whatever age you started.

Does that mean I can shit on your initial efforts too?

Back away from the "I'm a REAL geek" bullshit. The kid's tinkering. That's a good thing, no matter when it starts.

[Petrushka]

54. How to do it --->

---snip---

...Ahmed Mohamad did not invent, nor build a clock. He took apart an existing clock, and transplanted the guts into a pencil box, and claimed it was his own creation.

---snip---

http://blogs.artvoice.com/techvoice/2015/09/17/reverse-engineering-ahmed-mohameds-clock-and-ourselves/


Gadzooks!

[fbc]

29. I mean maybe if he meant "make" in an arts and crafts sort of way...

But certainly a 9th grader is mature enough to know that the taking of electronics from their original container and putting them in another container does not mean he "made" that item.

[jeff47]

31. So your incredible technical skills mean you can't find the "edit" link?

What's the appropriate age cut-off for realizing a post can be edited?

[n2doc]

37. It always amazes me how people manage to miss the point

Some folks just gotta try and toss a stink bomb into any discussion.

[fbc]

39. I'm sorry if a little bit of truth damages the narrative of this story

[n2doc]

40. There is truth, and there is meaningless trivia.

Sorry your truth falls in the latter category, in my opinion.

[ReactFlux]

36. yet it impressed MIT and the JPL

but what do they know

[fbc]

38. No it didn't

I guarantee that nobody at MIT looked at the "design" of this clock and was impressed.

[ReactFlux]

41. bwahahaha...

you're too funny, cya.

[byronius]

42. 'grumpy old curmudgeon' -- I didn't invent those words.

Just put 'em together. See how that works?

[Angry Dragon]

48. ???????????????????????????

[PoliticAverse]

53. Source of your claim that "it impressed MIT and the JPL"? n/t

[Gothmog]

33. This young man needs to change schools

[PoliticAverse]

52. Yes, I think so. n/t