How much is "See Something Say Something" really worth in the US?

2015-11-30T14:10:57-05:00

In mid September Ahmed Mohamed took an “experiment” to his high school in Irving, Texas to show his teacher. It was a “digital clock” he'd made from a pencil case. The 14-year-old was arrested after the school called police because the devise looked suspicious. Mohamed says, "I built a clock to impress my teacher but when I showed it to her, she thought it was a threat to her". Take a look at the picture of his clock device and consider what you would have done.

In a climate of ongoing terrorist attacks we are told to be proactive, and if you “See Something Say Something” becoming our new mantra. But what happens if you do say something? Attorneys for the family of Ahmed Mohamed have sent letters demanding $10 million be paid to the family by the city of Irving, and $5 million from the school district. REALLY!??

With the “War on Terror” involving radical Muslims, lone wolves and unknown sleeper cells and our own government tells us to be proactive should a devise that looks questionably causes any alarm, regardless of where it is or who has it in their hands?

In California a kid was suspended for wearing a shirt with a US flag on it to school during Cinco de Mayo. In NY a kids was suspended for wearing an NRA shirt to school. Vancouver, WA suspended dozens of kids for praying. And in Evans, GA a kid was suspended for wearing a Pepsi shirt on Coke day.

I know these suspensions pail in light of what this "clock kid" took to school, but there was no suspension. Some say that on the grounds of his race and religion his actions were excused, and has now made the teacher and school a target for being racist and Islamophobic. Was the school and teacher's alarm to a suspicious devise warranted or was their reaction based more on the kids race and or religion? Should their alarm cost the taxpayers in Irving, TX the $15 million dollars that's being demanded fair?

We live in a time when good Muslims are seemingly afraid to take a stand against these extreme Muslims activity, where terrorist attacks from lone wolves and sleeper cells have become too common and threats of more attacks right here in our Country are said to be imminent. With all this in mind, how much is "See Something Say Something" really worth to US, and should WE be penalized for having to have it this way?

One last question to ponder. Is this lawsuit a form of Political Correctness "PC" turning this Muslim kid into a victim by successfully shifting the narrative from his bad judgment to a matter of racism and Islamophobia?

Response by SGT David T. made Nov 30 at 2015 3:45 PM

2015-11-30T15:45:23-05:00

I like my clock better: http://www.amazon.com/LEGO-9003530-Figurine-Alarm-Clock/dp/B000KFCZGC

Amazon.com: LEGO Kids' 9003530 Star Wars BOBA FETT Figurine Alarm Clock: Lego: Watches

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 30 at 2015 3:48 PM

2015-11-30T15:48:19-05:00

It's a catchy phrase. However, it really hasn't created any safety

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Nov 30 at 2015 3:53 PM

2015-11-30T15:53:07-05:00

That thing doesn't look much like a clock. My guess is that he would have had hell trying to enter the White House or the capitol with it.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Nov 30 at 2015 3:56 PM

2015-11-30T15:56:33-05:00

It is more like "See something, say something" unless you might offend someone's sensibilities, religion, national origin, race, sex, sexual orientation etc etc etc. Never mind, keep it to yourself.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Nov 30 at 2015 4:01 PM

2015-11-30T16:01:05-05:00

That does not look like a clock. Better safe than dead.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2015 4:23 PM

2015-11-30T16:23:58-05:00

Taking the person completely out of the equation, if I saw that picture alone, my first thought would be bomb. That said, could if have been handled better? Of course, but that kid also isn't owed anything. I heard in a separate article that he is suing for something like 14 million dollars. Suing who, the public school? Because we all know they are way over funded...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2015 5:39 PM

2015-11-30T17:39:30-05:00

There is a lot of paranoia out there, that said anyone who knew anything about electronics should have been able to tell that this was a clock. Yes, bombs often have clocks as well... however the absence of anything that goes boom should have been enough to make people realize that this clock in a case posed no threat to anyone.

If it had been your average White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) kid would he have been treated like a terrorist or would no one have batted an eye? Bigotry is never acceptable, and a school system this dysfunctional deserves to be punished. Hopefully the kid and his family are able to move somewhere where the kids religion or race will not be a factor in how his school treats him.

Response by MSgt Joe Tafoya made Nov 30 at 2015 7:13 PM

2015-11-30T19:13:45-05:00

When I was 14 (1965) this device would probably have won the science fair. Now days everyone is so uptight and paranoid that things that were normal may now look suspect. Things that are suspect are causing over reactions and consequenses that are overblown. I agree with being alert and keeping our 'eyes' open and being suspicious if something is not 'normal' looking. The question is; do we have cause someone grief after we found out there was no intent for harm just because someone else's paranoia calls out an alert? When something is suspect, it should be brought to attention. If something turns out to be harmless, after verification, is there need for 'consequence,' especially if there was no ill intend?

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Dec 1 at 2015 3:51 AM

2015-12-01T03:51:10-05:00

No apologies, I would have turned his a$$ in too...

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Dec 2 at 2015 6:47 PM

2015-12-02T18:47:48-05:00

Having read more about the incident, I think it was deliberate, intended to cause a stir.

Response by PO1 Richard Knox made Dec 2 at 2015 6:55 PM

2015-12-02T18:55:48-05:00

Let's face it, asking for $15 million dollars is ridiculous. As for how things unfolded for this kid, it's great that it was only some crazy looking clock. In reality, none of us were there. And at this point to discount the actions of the many authorities that were there and charged with the safety of the whole school is like standing in France today with all the expert advice on how they could have prevented that attack from happening.

We are military trained with many benefits that civilians at large do not possess. The old adage "better safe than sorry" is something most everyone has lived by at one time or another. Our schools are set at a hair trigger to react in today's climate. And as quick as some are to criticize the school and authorities, I'm sure that had this situation be positive with a detonation they'd consider any child lucky if not taken out of school that day in a body bag.

Hysteria? Maybe. But with how our culture and world has changed so dramatically over the past decade, it go to reason that people can and will be offended when precautions are consider higher than one's sensitivity or "armchair" critical expert opinion. Being military trained, we of all people should know that you only get dead once and taking anything questionable for granted could not only cost you, but those around you as well. Sorry kid. Use better judgment next time your here and enjoy Qatar.

Response by PO1 Richard Knox made Dec 3 at 2015 11:07 AM

2015-12-03T11:07:39-05:00

For the intellects I challenge you to look deeper and consider two words, "Motive" and "Intention". This kid's motive or intention are two things not one of us can really answer to. Same holds true with the teacher and authorities. The best we can do here is speculate. My question initially aimed at whether the school and authorities were following a "safety first" type protocol put in place with consideration to today's climate of homegrown terrorists attacks, active international terrorists threats and recent school massacres; and whether this kid's family was really due the $15 million dollars in damages their attorneys are demanding.

The answers to this post have been interesting, enlightening and divided. Some would assume nothing of the case and go on while others would apply more scrutiny and even sound the alarm. Some think it better to be safe than sorry while others think the teacher and authorities over reacted. Some think the school and authorities were rightly being proactive and other think of them as racists, intolerant bigots targeting the kid because he was Muslim. Where is the right answer when you can't really answer to a person's real motive or intent?

Digging deeper there are many, more fundamental questions to consider here. Like, where is the balance found between good judgment, sound logic and the safety of all? Can the mantra "SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING" honestly be use to limit the carnage and death attacks on our public or is it a carefully crafted tool meant to abuse Muslims and others? In other words, how do we maintaining the dignity and respect to all Race, Color and Creed while being responsible to and for public safety in awareness to the actively threats and actions of those individuals and groups actively out to kill US and destroy our Country and way of life?

We have always been and still are a great, resolute nation with a disciplined military, charity and humanity second to none. We didn't get here without facing, answering and working through some tough issues just like this. So beneath the surface of the name calling, derogatory digs, politicizing and taking the issues too personal what answers can we find together here?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2017 12:54 PM

2017-04-11T12:54:45-04:00

I too think that it was meant to be a threat and that his parents had put him up to it as a prelude to making a bomb timer and I praise the teacher for calling the police