The Ignorance of Inconvenience

"I don't mind some people being inconvenienced, if it means being safe."

I have heard this sentiment many times since 9/11, but it had subsided somewhat recently. Most right-wing talk had refocused on the illegal war in Iraq. However, the incident of the imams being deplaned and detained here in Minneapolis a few weeks ago brought about a resurgence of this idiotic and simplistic rhetoric.

The interesting thing about this statement isn't that it is said, or even that it is said often - people in this country say and do dumb things with regularity - but it is who says it that is worth note.

It is never an African-American saying this. It is never a Japanese-American saying this. It is never a Muslim saying that he doesn't mind being pulled off of a plane so he is late for his appointment, meeting, or even the simple act of returning home. It is none of these people who have all been inconvenienced, to be extremely liberal with the term, by this country's government already.

It is white americans who say this. Specifically, upper-middle class white americans. And even more specifically, upper-middle class white women. The same people who demand to speak with a manager when they are delayed for ten seconds, because their double-Big Mac and large fries with a side mayonaise isn't ready for them to shovel into their mouths the minute they pull up to the second window at Mcdonalds, suddenly wouldn't mind a random delay of minutes or even hours.

It is these people, who have not been inconvenienced a moment in their lives, that are so quick to question the uproar caused by anothers forced removal. If they have nothing to hide why should they complain? They can just take the next flight. These are the pathetic justifications put forth, the justifications of a simpleton. But if it is such a non-issue, why don't you and your three snot-nosed polo-wearing kids - Tyler, Tanner, and Tiffany - take the next flight? Why don't you delay your plans by four to five hours? Rememeber, it is "no big deal."

Another point that should brought up: Why did those Japanese complain so damned much about getting to go to summer camp during WWII? Why did those blacks complain so much about being slaves? They recieved free housing, free food, free clothing, and what was asked in return? Just to put in a hard days work. Neither situation seems like such a raw deal to me.

However, herein lies the rub. It is never the oppressed class that see the taking away of rights as a light-hearted matter. It is only those not effected that can view such heinous acts with such constrained glee. It is the knowledge that they will never be subjected to the policies they so fervently support which allows them to so easily rationalize the implementation of actions that have such ugly repercussions.