Abuaeden

I heard someone called a "douche canoe" the other day. I chuckled.

Ding! Fifteen minutes are up.

I was reading through the posts on their page and I got the impression that a student landed on it. Possibly one of the Qatari jumpers who was getting his instructions via translator?

I should probably stop but I can't help myself.

LOL! Busted! Check the date on our friend's post. This was posted on Skydive Lake Wales' Facebook page by another jumper. https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/68588_4565420579826_636332911_n.jpg Edited to provide the source of the photo.

Actually, the iris scans are being done from inches away.. not meters. Its not like the United States where we have to be subtle. You can set up a checkpoint, require everyone passing through the checkpoint to give an iris scan and fingerprint, enter their name next to their bio-data, and send them on their way. Then if/when they're arrested in connection with an event, they're scanned and their information is verified. Are the giving the same name as they were when they were enrolled? Where were they enrolled previously? What were the circumstances of their enrollment? Was it at a checkpoint or in connection to a different event in a different area? Do some Google searches for HIIDE and SEEK. Clever, eh?

Without getting into too many details and to preserve operational security, check this out: http://www.army.mil/article/51768/troopers-deploy-hiide-system-at-border-crossing-point/ A person can be entered into the database for any number of reasons. Maybe they were detained on suspicion of being involved in some sort of anti-coalition force activity. They could have been entered into the system during mandatory bio-enrollments. Maybe their fingerprints were found on ammunitions found in a weapons cache. The system is just a mobile device to check and see if anyone has put the subject into the system and why.

I'm baffled at your complete inability to take ownership of your actions. You didn't want to get the tattoo because you thought it was offensive? Someone else told you it was ok? Grow up and take responsibility for yourself. So you wouldn't have gotten the tattoo if you knew it was offensive to more people than those who recognize sharia law? Why is it, then, when you found out people WERE offended, you wouldn't make an effort to resolve the issue? I know when I find out I've inadvertently offended someone, I do my best to make sure they understand that it was unintentional and help ensure it doesn't happen again. That is just good manners and respect. According to your own words, Betty did not force you to leave. In your mind, making a statement was more important than compromise. That is fine.. everyone has their priorities. So how about some integrity in telling your story? A better description of what happened here seems to be, "Betty told me my tattoo was offending another group of customers and asked if I'd be willing to either put on long pants or cover it with tape. I said no and left." You're right.. in England a fag is a cigarette. I'm sure you wouldn't have any problem with someone wearing a shirt that says "I hate fags" and then claiming its an anti-smoking shirt he got from a trip to London when he gets kicked out of a business. Stop trying to sell the line that the word kafir is a simple declaration of non-belief. Your claim that it means "one without faith" in America is even more absurd. Americans are who have turned that word into what it means now. I think I've sufficiently demonstrated how the word is used in America earlier in this post. Enough about that. Finally, next time you tell this story, leave out the part about being a vet. Your behavior is embarrassing. You had a good run, but its over now. The whole story is coming out and people familiar with your antics are coming forward. I hope it was worth it.

The fifteen minute timer was about to ding.. you know SOMETHING had to be done.

/facepalm

Well, I can see this topic has been sufficiently beat into the ground. I've been lurking around the forums off and on for a few years now.. this topic was the first that prompted me to join the conversation because it dealt with so many things that are relevant in my life.. Arabic, tattoos (I have a couple Arabic language tattoos myself), skydiving and the Army. On a happier note, I should be home, back in the States, in a little over a month. I had already planned a vacation with the family down in the Orlando area in June. I'll be staying in Davenport and I just checked.. SLW is less than 20 miles away! I had already planned to spend at least an afternoon at a Florida DZ and it would be awesome if anyone from this thread, whether we agreed or not, wanted to meet up there for some tasty beverages after the beer light. -zack

I could point out that I am doing it, currently in Afghanistan, and have been for almost 16 years now but that would only serve to reinforce the idea that the jumpers veteran status is somehow relevant to this issue. Its not. Military service is not a free license to be a jerk.

Don't get sucked into believing that his tattoo was an innocent declaration of non-belief. It is a provocation, nothing more. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4467380#4467380

So here we go. I took about five minutes to find some images for those who believe the fun jumper was simply trying to tell the world he's not Muslim. THIS is how the word 'kafir' is being used. Notice the font is identical, to include the abnormally long space between the 'K' (the thing that looks like a less-than sign on the right side of the word) and the "A" (the vertical line connected at the bottom) in the word 'kafir.' http://carryingthegun.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/majorleagueinfidel.jpg http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0168/7224/products/DECAL_INFIDEL_5INCH_large.jpg?243 http://img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/5607637/il_fullxfull.256168832.jpg http://product-images.highwire.com/2349177/infidel--ak.jpg http://rlv.zcache.com/ar_15_infidel_poster-rc6787addad4e4f709afefdd9b9eb6413_wi3_400.jpg http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSvtSWHFne8MlEse_QJHHtCIqewyX2xbadeChuGAj6klYK1c_D4 http://www.decalvantage.com/images/source/rifle_gun_infidel.jpg http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTpgYWtPwnDULsb4IA0rFt15XWt0aU1jH2FJdSCsqkVufkumBP6

Actually, in this instance, if he worked at the DZ, along-side another employee who was a Muslim, and the DZ did not require him to cover-up his tattoo, the Muslim employee could bring a discrimination claim against the DZ for creating and/or tolerating a hostile work environment. OK, pay me. Unless, of course, the Muslim employee were a combat vet with a Purple Heart and an ARCOM with "V" device himself. Then the only logical course of action would be to post something on his blog.

The purpose was to be able to have a citizen army available to be called up to defend the country. That is true, although not entirely. The Second Amendment also served to ensure the people had the means to overthrow a corrupt and unjust government as the American colonists just had. But don't take my word for it, take it from one of the framers of the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, as he wrote in Federalist 28: "If the representatives of the people betray their constituents, there is then no recourse left but in the exertion of that original right of self-defense which is paramount to all positive forms of government, and which against the usurpations of the national rulers may be exerted with infinitely better prospect of success than against those of the rulers of an individual State. In a single State, if the persons intrusted[sic] with supreme power become usurpers, the different parcels, subdivisions, or districts of which it consists, having no distinct government in each, can take no regular measures for defense. The citizens must rush tumultuously to arms, without concert, without system, without resource; except in their courage and despair."

The jumper was not being discriminated against any more than barefoot people are by "No shoes, no shirt, no service" policies. A private business has the right to deny service to anyone, for any reason. Now, if he WORKED at the DZ and was fired because of his religious preference, then there is a case for discrimination.

Nobody is saying that the jumper doesn't have the right to wear the tattoo. Its not like anyone called the police or threatened to have him locked up. THAT is what freedom of expression/religion means. The DZO offered a compromise that would have presumably resolved the issue. The jumper didn't feel like he should have to or was unwilling to compromise. The DZO made a business decision.. time will tell whether or not it was a good one.

"But I really don't get why people expect to be treated differently because they were in the military." This. I agree completely. I'm involved in a discussion on FB about this very topic. I resent that the author feels the need to lead his article with a summary of his military service. If this is legitimately a freedom of speech/expression issue, his prior military service is irrelevant and only seeks to evoke sympathy.

I'm not saying my opinion is more valid than anyone elses, but I am an Arabic linguist and the Arabic language has been my profession for the last 16 years. I only mention it because it has given me an opportunity to see the word's place in modern lexicon. The word may mean 'non-believer' in a doctrinal sense but in Post-9/11 Iraq and Afghanistan it evokes images of anti-Islamic military occupation. Saying you got the word inked on your leg to tell people you aren't Muslim is like saying the reason you joined the Westboro Baptist Church is to let people know you aren't gay. Every language is full of words that have multiple meanings. For example, the word "spook" has its dictionary definition but has also been used as a racial slur. In Arabic, the term "Haji" is an honorific, used to address people who have (or assumed to have due to their advanced age) made the pilgrimage to Mecca according to the tenents of Islam. American soldiers turned the word into a slur (urbandictionary.com has some examples if you're interested) similar to 'nip' (from WWII), 'slope' (from Korea and Vietnam) and 'skinny' (Somalia). All of those words have other meanings but have taken different, inflammatory usages with time. Do a Google image search for "infidel" and you'll see the results are decidedly militaristic and anti-Muslim. I think the swastika example is a good one. Originally it meant one thing but it has come to symbolize something completely different and much more offensive. I don't have a problem with the tattoo itself but I also don't have a problem with the DZO exercising their right to refuse service to anyone they feel is hindering their business. If the skydiving community decided to boycott that DZ based on the management's policy, I support that too. All I'm saying is that you can't make a conscious decision to display a potentially offensive tattoo and be surprised when people are offended. The tattoo is little more than a taunt and he got exactly what he was looking for.. a reaction.

Many also do it because they have the intelligence and integrity to know that voting for a new benefit for themselves is not necessarily what's in the best interests of the country as a whole. Stop making sense! This is a political discussion! Seriously, someone pointed this article out to me when trying to convince me that anyone who is opposed to the current health care reform bill is just being spiteful. Can you imagine where civil rights legislation would be in the US if people didn't vote for what was right and only voted for their best interests?

I remember that morning well. I turned on the TV to see the coverage and immediately thought of a classmate of mine whose brother was an astronaut. As he described it (back in 1999), his brother had finished his training and was "waiting for his name to be called." I hopped online to check the names of the crew and sure enough, my classmate's brother, Willie McCool, was on the shuttle.

I chose Skydive the Farm to do my AFF over 2 closer DZs because of it's amazing reputation. The friendly, professional staff was very welcoming to a new skydiver. I'll continue to drive the 3 hours from my house to this DZ until work takes me elsewhere. Thanks to everyone at the Farm!