The 7 Year Old Terrorist

August 28, 2008 by Holly in politics  

7 year old terrorist This apparently is the face of a terrorist, but as you’ve probably guessed already, the FBI and airport security can’t wrap their minds around it, either.

When this boy, John Anderson (who goes by Jack), was just two years old, his family was told by airport security that he could not fly on a plane to take a trip to Disney World because he was on the terrorist watch list. Two years later, the family was stopped again by airport security over the exact, same thing.

Obviously a database that was created merely to put American citizens in a constant state of fear so we submit to government ruling a lot more tame than we would normally, is doing something a little wrong to make a red flag go up when a two year old is brought to an airport and security won’t let him fly because who knows if he has relations with Al Queda.

Because the database, made by the FBI after the September 11th attack and a Government Accountability Office report said the watch list “enhanced U.S. counter-terrorism efforts.” Yes, it definitely enhances U.S. counter-terrorism efforts…by assuming we all must be terrorists. Okay, not all of us, just 400,000 of us. With 400,000 people on this watch list, I am willing to bet that there are many people who are either too young to be considered “terrorist threats,” which was the case here, or people who have no reason to be placed on such a list to begin with.

Five years after finding out this little boy was considered a terrorist, since he was not promptly removed the first time the family was stopped at the airport, it makes me very weary of the integrity of the list (obviously) and also of how well this list is being monitored. It seems as soon as a “Bob Smith” is added, no Bob Smith in America is allowed to cross a border or board a flight and the wrong combination of factors are coming up within this list that really does affect more than just 400,000 singular people who may or may not be considered a threat to America. This list affects 400,000 names that affect most people with that name. There needs to be a better way to go about doing something like this, since we obviously can do very little from stopping the government from taking our rights and liberties we like to say that we have from right under our feet. This is no longer a case of conservatives being able to say “Well if you don’t have anything to hide then it is perfectly fine for the government to spy on you using every form of technology in existence.” It is now a case of everyone being affected by a corrupt, sneaky and malicious government that like I said earlier, it is making its citizens live in a constant state of fear.

Terrorists are the new Satan–”Don’t do that, you’ll go to hell!” is so easily translated to “Don’t do that, don’t say that, don’t talk to that person because they will think you’re a terrorist.” It’s the newest form of brainwashing while the government slowly shifts us into a totalitarian government. Terrorism is the new “red scare,” nothing more and just like then, no one is safe.

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  • OK, while I may think my 2 year old is a terrorist I doubt he actually is one. But I wouldn't be surprised to find him, and other children's names on the list. Because the list doesn't work.
  • Laura
    We are used to showing up at the airport at least three hours before our flight takes off simply because my husband's name is Sean and yep, he's on the list. A 20 yr US Navy Master Chief is on the list of terrorists.
  • Yup..that better way is called "Profiling." We all know what the terrorists looked like that attacked us that day. We all know what the terrorists looked like that blew up the trains in Spain. We all know what the terrorists looked like that blew up the subways and buses in London. I think you get the hint. If there is an Arabic individual in line waiting to get on the airplanes, you pull him/her aside instead of the 2 year old blonde haired kid or the 89 year old grandmother.
  • This boy is just 7 year old, how can he be a terrorist? I can't believe it. I wonder how spread this kind of news, it involved the family too. Imagine this happen to you, it's not going to be nice.
  • If this doesn't sum up what is wrong with the current administration, I don't know what does. A little common sense people?
  • Yeah, I didn't think they even started to recruit kids until they were 3 years old. *sigh*
  • The problems in airports go even beyond that. For people who are middle eastern, they have some major problems too. I had a roommate who was from Saudi Arabia, and one of the nicest people I have ever met. We had a lot of talks about terrorism, and how he hates the way people profile him, when there are so many good people where is from. He said that everytime he comes to the US, they always pull the person in front of him out of line to be checked, and then also him, so it looks like they are not profiling. He said one time, after arriving in the US, he was not allowed to leave customs for over 12 hours with other Saudi Arabians. They were given no food, and nothing to drink, and were not allowed to leave a closed off room. After they finally let them go, they still gave no reason as to why they held them to begin with. I understand the government wants to keep people safe, but I think they can use their resources better. Saudi Arabia encourages their students to study in the US, so that they can give people a positive image of Saudi Arabians, but it seems the US is intent on giving America a bad impression of all Middle Easterners. . . . . or 7 year olds trying to go to Disney . . . .
  • two years old terrorist!!! I just can't believe. It is a shame to all. Thanks for sharing this in your post with us. I like your way of writing. Really smart. Waiting for your next post like this.
  • It is true that terrorism is making us all wary of what we say and do, it makes us watch our actions more then ever before. I don't agree though that the government is brain washing us, now it is easy to say that but when there is a future attack from terrorists we will all look at our government and say 'why didn't you do more to prevent it!' Just because we don't see the outcome of all the efforts doesn't mean they aren't there.
  • ...and meanwhile, the domestic terrorists who rape and torture our kids go unchallenged by the structures meant to protect us.

    I hope that family was eventually able to see the funny side of it and that the "terrorist catch" didn't stop their trip.
  • It is very sad to see how the world is now a days..
    But in the same hand it can be very good for all of us, that he secure is so strict in airports, but I dont really think it is fair that innocent people that accidently has the same name as someone on the FBI list, i dont think it is fair that they cannot travel, just because of that.
    Poor kid.
  • I wonder how the situation actually played out at the airport. "Sorry, we can't let you on. Your toddler is clearly a threat to national security."
  • strange. clearly there's something wrong here. i don't think any reasonable person would conclude that he actually is a terrorist.
  • This boy is just 7 year old, how can he be a terrorist? I can't believe it. I wonder how spread this kind of news, it involved the family too. Imagine this happen to you, it's not going to be nice
  • germaine
    I think the list is ridiculous... Big Brother here we are...
  • Mike
    Cant believe these kids promote terrorism...ha ha ..the real contingency is the political terrorism though
  • PS3
    This is simply crazy, nothing else can describe it. Something's gone wrong somewhere.
  • andrewwang
    Speaking of terrorism:

    George W. Bush committed hate crimes of epic proportions and with the stench of terrorism (indicated in my blog).

    George W. Bush did in fact commit innumerable hate crimes.

    And I do solemnly swear by Almighty God that George W. Bush committed other hate crimes of epic proportions and with the stench of terrorism which I am not at liberty to mention.

    Many people know what Bush did.

    And many people will know what Bush did—even to the end of the world.

    Bush was absolute evil.

    Bush is now like a fugitive from justice.

    Bush is a psychological prisoner.

    Bush has a lot to worry about.

    Bush can technically be prosecuted for hate crimes at any time.

    In any case, Bush will go down in history in infamy.

    Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
    B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
    Messiah College, Grantham, PA
    Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993

    “GEORGE W. BUSH IS THE WORST PRESIDENT IN U.S. HISTORY” BLOG OF ANDREW YU-JEN WANG
    ______________________
    I am not sure where I had read it before, but anyway, it is a linguistically excellent statement, and it goes kind of like this: “If only it were possible to ban invention that bottled up memory so it never got stale and faded.” Oh wait—off of the top of my head—I think the quotation came from my Lower Merion High School yearbook.
  • 7-year-old John Anderson from Minneapolis is on the national Terrorist Watch List?Because he pushed Tommy too hard on the playground.His July 4th birthday means he distracts other Americans from celebrating their country.John didn't pick up the blocks during playtime.
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