All these posts make for an interesting read. Being a Muslim, here are my two cent. The Imams were wrong and so was the airline.
First and foremost is the safety issue. This might shock you but if you were travelling on the plane, you were safer with those 6 imams than you were with any other passenger. From the moment they bought tickets to the point they boarded the plane, they were checked twice as thoroughly. So safety issue is not a valid argument.

So does that mean America is racist? ofcourse it is just like every other country on this planet. This might shock you too but we are not that different from the rest of the world. We don't know that since 80% of us don't have passports and we have never travelled. There are some things good and better about us and somethings are not. Just like any other country. However, due to the enormouse efforts of Martin Luther King, we are less racist than any other country but we are still racist. All of us have our prejudices. The first thing you notice about a person is how they look and based on that we all presume things. It is who we are and all of us do it. This is the imperfection of mankind and it will always happen. The only way to avoid this is to understand one another.

Well does that mean are we ignorant? ofcourse we are! non muslims and muslims don't understand each other. People always fear what they don't understand. Non muslims dont understand our religion and the reality is i could give a 2 hour lecture on how peaceful Islam is and that suicide bombers have a surprise waiting since there are no 72 virgins and according to Islam they will repeatedly die in the same manner they committed suicide not to mention the punishment for killing other people. However all of my work is severly outweighed by a suicide bomber blowing himself tomorrow. People would say, he died for what he believed (no matter how wrong it is and not Islam at all) and all i did was give a 2 hour lecture. I can't blame them because if i were them i would do the same. Talk is cheap! it is what you do that defines you. Unfortunately suicide bombers decide who we are. Honestly, i don't know what to do about that.

We as Muslims are ignorant because we are ignorant of their fear of us. Yeah this country is about freedom and liberty but not for us Muslims. This would be true in any country for us Muslims. These are tough times for us. It is a reality of life and we need to accept that since life is unfair. We live in the same country but in different worlds. My fellow Muslims should understand that and do nonmuslims a favor. Understand that people fear us, right or wrong, they just do. We need to (1) address that fear and (2) not conduct in religious practices that we know will bother people. Honestly you are doing them a favor. Although praying at a specific time is important but you don't go to hell if you don't pray at that time You can always make up for it later. In short, you can't clap with one. It requires two. We all have a lot of work to do if we are to get along with one another.

This is a plot to use american's politically correctness against ourselves and wear us down to the point were we put our guard down and then the terriorist are free roam among us at will. I will support US Airways

To Tim in Federal Way. Who needs an airplane to murder others in the name of religion? Just look at the Oklahoma bombings and most recently the Iraq war. Sure they may say it was to liberate but just look at the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.You may not know this but the americans are basically viewed as christians and every thing they do they put on christianity.

Andrew,

There is nothing wrong with being ashamed of your country. But you have to admit that people here on the mainland have a little more to fear than you do on your Island paradise. Ask a New Yorker who lived through 9/11 if they believe that what was done by the airline was wrong. Ask yourself this question, Are these people praying to God for safe travel merceies or that He will have 72 virgins for each of them when they get to heaven after they blow up the plane they are flying in? You don't know and neither to I. Would it not be better to error on the side of safety than to have more deaths.

Someone please tell me when was the last time the radical Christians crashed airplanes into tall buildings, or went to other countries killing innocent people in the name of Christianity? I have been stripped searched at the airport more than once. I don’t like it but I know I have nothing to hide. We live in different times. If you don’t like it don’t fly!

linda in detroit wrote: I was on a flight last weekend and a woman sitting across from me was reading "The Lord's Prayer". Was I wrong in not reporting her to the flight crew???

Hmm.. that depends. Was she with a group of people doing the same thing, and praying loudly/dramatically? Did she and her companions make a point of boarding separately, and sitting apart? Did she and her companions purposely switch seats, from their 'assigned seats" to random seats throughout the plane? and the really BIG question: Did she REFUSE to comply with authorities? If she refuses to comply with authorities, whatever their request (to return to her assigned seat, or come with them off the plane), then not only report it, but hopefully they PROSECUTE anyone who displays this type of PURPOSELY disruptive behavior. Simple enough, huh? Just like they did with the lady who was breastfeeding and had to leave the plane, even though she was not "purposely" disruptive, she was feeding her chiid, and customers complained about it.
BTW.. the Muslims were not quietly reading the Quran... they were doing much, much more! BUT... if you'd rather fly with a bunch of loudly praying muslim men, who randomly change seats, and refuse to obey commands.. have at it. Just hope they don't take your plane into the nearest building!
You know, I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HOPE that you and your kind are on the next plane that gets hijacked.. so you can all try to sweet talk and "free love" these men out of killing all of you. Good luck with that honey.. I think you just might need it.

Earlier post "Why isn't airport security tight enough to calm suspicions?".... Makes you think.

It's not so much being racist, but time and time again these radical muslim's have murdered & terrorized...we must aire on the side of caution...we cannot let our guard down, because I'm sure that is what they are counting on

USA prides itself for its "Freedom" and "Liberty" for all its citizens and for all walks of faiths. No doubt that people in this country are far more free to practice their faiths than many other nations of the world. Yet we see instances like these tarnishing the image of this country.

Instances like these bring out the ignorance and racial prejudices of the people. If some one really want to hurt bunch of people they wouldnt be obvious in doig so. These are just normal people practicing their faith in a peaceful manner and yet they get humiliated and taunted for practicing their faiths.

When some one goes through these experience they would start questioning the so called "Freedom", "Liberty" and "Equality"

We, as a nation, have lost sight of an exceedingly simple fact: nothing in this world is truely black or white...only shades of gray. The vast majority of Muslims are God fearing and peace loving people that are simply trying to live their lives in the holiest way they know how. We seem to forget that all the other mainstream religons have their own radical elements. The ultra conservative Jews who would like nothing more than to see Palestine wiped from the face of the earth. The radical Christians that strive for racial purity and the destruction of all non-white minorities. We are correct to be cautious post-911, but we must be extremely careful that we do not marginalize certain ethnic and religious groups in the process. Only mutual understanding and respect for each other will bring about lasting security for all citizens of this nation.

I was on a flight last weekend and a woman sitting across from me was reading "The Lord's Prayer". Was I wrong in not reporting her to the flight crew???

Several facts should be clear. First, those of us not on the plane do not know what actually happened, so we should with hold judgement of both the imams and the passengers and airlines. Second, we talk about Americans profiling Muslims or Arabs, but we forget that the planes that flew into the Twin Towers were Profiling Americans and all we stand for.
That means to be prident citizens we should be aware of those around us and that the peaceful Muslims should make an extra effort to ensure the rest of the "ignorant" world does not confuse the two. WHen Americans travels abroad we are told to keep a low profile. These gentlemen might have done well to follow that advice.

Richard of Tampa needs a history lesson. Christians killed more people on this planet than any other religion. Google the Crusades or the Spanish Inqusition. I would never assert that these deaths were caused by Jesus anymore than I would insist that the World Trade Center deaths were caused by Mohammed. But that doesn't stop some weak spirited people from spreading evil and fear.

Ask yourself a question. How would you have felt if you were on that plane? I do not blame the airline or any of the passengers on that plane for what happened. I am sorry but the fact is, I would have reacted in the same way. I am going to look out for my family first and foremost.

The Imans made a few mistakes. Today when you fly you need to stay in your assigned seat prior to take off. Its only common sense. Everyone knows if you look different, act different, and talk different than the people in your surroundings, you will be noticed. Again in todays world its only common sense to not stand out of the crowd at an airport. The Imans confused priviliges and rights. In the U.S. its your right to worship how, where, and when you please if its in your home or public areas. Its a privilige to fly on a private carrier,not a right. Any company can exercise their right to refuse service to a customer who has agitated staff or other customers. It is the Iman's behavior which caused their problems, had they used common sense they would not have had a problem.

This is a very sad state of affairs, when some Americans, who profess to love liberty, justice, equality and fair play will also make such virulent attacks against another group. Today it's Muslims, but in the past it was Chinese, Mexican, Polish, Italian, Asian and the list goes on and on.

America was founded on the concept of equality and justice for all, not only for those that look and think like us. Those who quote the violent history of the Muslim faith fail to mention that most religions at one time or another destroyed non-believers. The Spanish Inquisition, the forced conversion of indigenous people in Latin America, Protestants and Catholics in Ireland, and so on.

If Americans want to be intolerant of others, then be honest and get rid of the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights and all other professions of equality. Then enact new laws only for the benefit of those that profess these racist feelings. Once you accomplish this, then get rid of everybody else, including other Americans who disagree with you.

You can't have it both ways--profess justice and equality for all and be racist and intolerant of those that don't look and act like you.

A business associate and I returned to New York yesterday from Minneapolis, via US Air. On the flight, a Muslim imam sat directly behind us. Prior to takeoff, he spoke loudly in Arabic while talking on his cellphone. Heads turned. When he continued talking after the announcement to turn off cellphones was issued by the flight crew, more people looked his way, but nothing was said to the flight crew. Then, prior to takeoff, when he began singing, in arabic, people again looked nervously in his direction. Having flown for over 40 years, I can say I have never heard an individual sing on an airplane for as long as did this imam. In fact, I've rarely heard anyone sing on an airplane. I was a bit nervous, and so was my business associate. But this imam was small, and we were far back in the plane, so we felt sure we could deal with him if necessary. I decided that although I could have expressed concern to the flight crew, I figured that would only get him what he wanted: apparent discrimination which is actually nothing more than prudent care being taken by fellow passengers. No one wants to allow the next band of muslim fundamentalists to take over a plane and crash it into a building. Another post sarcastically referred to Christians praying in a restaurant. Well my friends, when was the last time you saw anyone fly a restaurant into a building? We live in troubled times and the difficulty of respecting all points of view will only become more challenging as time goes by. Our plane landed safely and I'm sure the imam was very sorry that his singing did not cause the authorities to be alerted. How would a well-behaved Jew be treated on his parents' national airline? Would a Jew even be allowed to travel on a national airline domiciled in a muslim country?

God forbid we could have taken the 9/11 hijackers off of those planes. It is so much worse to hurt the feelings of 5 imams that to kill 3000 people. (I am being sarcastic in case you hadn't noticed.) People need to get over their feelings and perceived social injustice. The reality of planes crashing into buildings or exploding over the Atlantic what we should be concerned about.

Way to go American Airlines! You have my support, so keep up the good work and profile if you have to. It's very unfortunate, but that’s the world we live in today...No more Leave it to Beaver, it's know leave it to Americans. Do we need to keep going over these issues, let’s take a look at all the violence and killings that are done in the name of Islam, or there God Allah. .Muslim’s that choose to travel here in America need to practice some wisdom and start by considering American feelings and maybe by not praying in the terminal before a flight, they could have prayed at the hotel before they left to the airport, hello! They also should consider the feelings of American's and how there religion is seen today and it’s not about love they neighbor, they teach hatred and killing of the infidels and I am sorry folks, but that’s pretty much most Americans today.
I read the article and I would have been very uncomfortable about getting on that flight to….
Way to go American Airlines! Safety first....
When in doubt leave out!

Paranoia does not equate to "legitimate fear." Murder has been committed in Christianity's name, yet do we distrust all Christians automatically? No. Murder has been done in Islam's name, yet do we distrust all Muslims? Apparently different rules apply. The vast majority of Christians have never killed someone for their religion. The vast majority of Muslims have never killed someone for their religion.
Apparently the only people who get have the right to be presumed innocent of a crime are people that we like.

Why isn't airport security tight enough to calm suspicions? Racial profiling houldn't even be considered; TSA should conduct thorough safety checks on everyone before flights.
Profiling has never benefited anyone. In fact, it encourages animosity and separation between the profiled race and the non-profiled. Just what we need...more hostility?

My feeling is that I refuse to judge a whole religion based on the actions of a few. I am sure that my Catholic friends would not like to be judged based on what the Irish Republican Army did to Great Britian (and that has happened since 1972). I know that as a Christian I do not want to be associated with David Koresh (sp?) or Jim Jones.
There are some other comments that I would like to address: 1. "Allah" in their language means GOD. 2. The phrase "anti-U.S. sentiments" is too vague. I have stated my objections to President Bush and our government many times. Are these "anti-U.S. sentiments"? 3. I don't recall if these gentlemen were from the U.S. or not, but had they been they would have been within their rights to speak their mind about Saddam. Just because we do not agree with them does not mean they do not have the right to say it.

Fear or ignorance? Pete Williams is guilty of constructing a false dichotomy. The correct answer is of course "smart". When a nation is at war with
an enemy whose motivation is a religion which requires the death or conversion of all non believers, and that enemy has already killed 3,000 of your fellow citizens with commercial airplanes, hightened vigilance is called for. The Koran teaches that it is okay for these same Imams to lie to non believers, so who are you going to believe?

"Go back to 1972 to present, all of the major terrorist activity (with the exception of Oklahoma City) was committed by Muslim men 17 to 40 years of age."......"Run, Rudolph, run!" Get the point?

Andrew- it's not easy trying to be a good American - while living in this country. Keep defending our rights and the rights of our countrymen, and to hell with cowards and haters. "All evil requires to succeed is for good men to do nothing."