We empower the state to use force to protect citizens from harm. In the specturm of excessive use of force, needlessly handcuffing someone ranks at the bottom. Who cares? Apologize and move on. I resent the monday morning qbs harping over minor crap like this when they ask the state to recognize and act on perceived threats. Minor overzealousness in the pursuit of student safety is not a moral outrage. See how easy it is to have a discussion without insulting people?
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lN5Lj_74u38" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Who cares? The makers, engineers, and builders that recognize one of their own. I do resent the Monday Morning QBs who harp over major technological innovations without 1) contributing 2) even understanding where they come from. They come from kids like Ahmed who give a s**t and build things regardless of BS like this. If you can't understand the maker movement, don't pretend to grandstand on the innovations they will build for you. That's the point I want to make here. If you want to make a point about the state trumpeting terrorism (a statistically improbable way of dying) as a phony excuse to make excessive force acceptable, that's a whole other discussion we could have. If you're insulted by my observation that you can 1) grandstand on words and 2) be unmoved into action on essentially the same line of thought, well, maybe you should act on that.
As I have now actually read the story from CNN, BBC, and others (sorry Dallas), I am beginning to realize that it is not just a clock - it is an alarm clock. In fact, it is the electronic portion of an alarm clock installed inside a metallic-looking pencil box. Across the inside of the lid is a large red digital-display. Being an alarm clock it probably has a timer, and most timers count down, not up. The kid could potentially cause a disturbance if the timer is set and, when opened up to show a teacher or student, goes off. That might actually be frightening for someone. That being said, I can understand why the school would be upset with him after a teacher (the engineering teacher) instructed him to put it away and not show anyone. Though, I wonder why he didn't instruct him to disconnect the power source from the alarm clock.
What about his point when he asks why victims of actual crimes (even caused by the government) do not get invited to the White House, but a kid that possibly got treated somewhat unfairly does? Does the selection process for these kinds of things reveal a bias? Also, I got a "funny" anonymous rep - REEKO, was that you?
I may have a timer component to it, or just like most digital clock with an alarm, an alarm without a timer. Also, the story is the alarm went off, and then he had to show it by instruction of the English teacher. So if there is a timer counting down, it wasn't seen counting down to an alarm.
Cuban's account doesn't really paint much deeper. Unless I know how the kid really is, the thought or suspicion he's being "handled" is still a stretch. He's still a 14 year old geek who could be anti social and not the coolest cat there is. To you, anti-social might mean trenchcoat mafia. To me, it could be someone who doesn't care about other people and are more into his interests and hobbies. That he'd want any kind of recognition from teachers wouldn't be suspicious at all. Always good to hear Maher kneejerk about Muslims and not surprising he calls the student a 14-yr old man. Big shocker when I think Matthews had it right, since I generally don't like Matthews. Is that what his culture is known for? Not that I'm saying all his kind are land stealing, slave owning/raping hoaxters...
All I'm saying is to a non-expert in homemade bare digital clocks in a briefcase, I can see the issue. The result was over the top yes but it wasn't like he brought it in on a piece of plywood.
As unfortunately as it is, there are too many victims. It's the norm to hear of a victim every day. It's so normal that we don't expect any special action toward it. And it involves a criminal component to it, one that doesn't represent the government nor the state, typically. In this case, it's a kid being treated as a criminal by the school and PD, both are direct component of the state and government. Another recent case is the Houston's cop being shot execution style leaving back a young family. Obama called the mom. The cop work for the state and government, so that seems like an appropriate response. But for something like a murder victim at the hand of some random criminals, why would we expect the POTUS to get directly involve?
It's not a bookcase. It's a small pencil case. If they truly don't know what it was and think it's a bomb, they would take caution and evacuate the school, lock down the device and call in expert to handle it. They may not know exactly what it was, but they knew it wasn't a bomb. They made an assumption that it was more than what it was, and based on that assumption, treated the kid as a criminal. The issue is that.
Tell you what, since you seem to be a professional in what people should assume how about you make an exact copy of what he made (hey there are links that show you how!)go to the airport and show it to random people. Post pics of the results.
if you want YOUR kid to be treated like this , interrogated accused and handcuffed for no reason then fine. The rest of the people don't. Let's say that this story didn't break out and the POTUS didn't get involved and the kid remained suspended. Do you have any idea how catastrophic it would be (and prob still is) for his psyche? The rest of the classmates seeing him in handcuffs, being treated like a terrorist. Being written on his school record. I am outraged at any form of police brutality either physical or mental even more so when it is against innocent little kids. If you find it normal in your world,then I am sorry for you.
Not catastrophic at all. If anything this could be more damaging. These zero tolerance rules and strict no BS police enforcement is in place because of actual tragedies. No one is saying anything about the school safety policies they asked for after Columbine, VTech and sandy Hook though. Would you roll the dice taking that thing through airport security in the same bag as your valuables? I wouldn't. The real reason this is a big thing is because of race religion and a new reason to **** all over Texas.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vpAKfSYueMI?rel=0&showinfo=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
How do you know all of this - timers are rare, he was instructed to show it to his teacher, and the clock was not counting down? According to the BBC story he made the clock to show his teacher but another teacher became involved when it "beeped". I am not exactly sure if that means the alarm went off or not.
how exactly it wouldn't be catastrophic?? Destroying his reputation in school, making him go through humiliation and interrogating without parents and sent him to detention center AND suspending? How the heck is that not catastrophic for the psyche of an INNOCENT child? Zero tolerance rules on EXACTLY WHAT? Making devices? Technology? Innovation? Science? Yes I would role the dice taking it into the airport security. This is the most ironic thing. Just a week ago I had 10 ppl in this forum telling me it's absolutely normal to bring a loaded gun in the airport in your handbag, just you would have to leave. No arrest no interrogation nothing. But here you are being scared of carrying a clock that is in your absolute right to carry.
Link to 10 posts saying this was normal? I remember that thread and most were saying dwight was dumb and lucky he didn't get arrested. As the most extreme gun rights advocate on the forum, I don't feel bring a loaded gun to the secure area of the airport (an illegal act) is normal. Bringing it unloaded in a locked case should be.
