When Nilanjana sent me this graphic earlier today, I have to admit that after my initial anger, my second reaction was one of resignment. After all, the arrest of Times Square bombing suspect Faisal Shahzad earlier this week brought with it the usual blanket condemnation of all things Pakistani. Even funnyman Stephen Colbert milked laughs with his emphasis on the name ‘Faisal.‘ Was it so unreasonable to think that the New York’s Metropolitan Transportation System would issue posters saying ‘If You See Something, Say Something. Even if You’re Pretty Sure He’s Just a Pakistani?’ Given the treatment of Japanese-Americans during WWII, I was not at all convinced this was a hoax. 
Luckily, both Nila and I were mistaken and this poster is not, in fact, an actual MTA poster. Gawker got it from a blog called The Daily Salty, whose author wondered back in 2007 whether or not the poster was genuine. He wrote, “Just how are people supposed to know they are Pakistani? And say not Sri Lankan? or from Trinidad?’ And of course as we all well know, folks living 10 miles apart on opposite sides of the Wagah border look very, very different (snark).
A comment on the post led to the creator, a graphic designer who created a series of gag posters as a joke. (Although it turns out it did actually get him a real job designing subway posters). Whew, good to know. Otherwise a real mutiny was about to go down up in here.
Remember: If we all get paranoid – the bad guys have won. Amid everything, we need to keep our sense of humor intact don’t we? Real mutiny is always against real injustices in this world. Good post.
Looks like TP propaganda…
The fact that certain people seem just so down and depressed over l’affaire Shahzad does at least convince me that they were sincere in thinking that Taliban-esque terrorism wasn’t really a problem and was some sort of bogey-man made up by “Islamophobes.” Now, why exactly they thought that, in the wake of successful and unsuccessful bombings in London, the Mumbai massacre, the 2001 suicide attacks on Parliament in Delhi, suicide bombing of Indian embassy in Kabul, etc., etc., carried out by exactly the same sort of people, is beyond me. There are people out there, teeming thousands of them, who want to kill people like me, like my neighbors in Delhi, and like my neighbors here in America–it’s not just some wild delusion.
The actions of a few do not necessitate being suspicious of every citizen of any entire country, religion, or skin color.
People like you scare me.
Fortunately for us, there is a high degree of overlap between “people who are willing to blow themselves up for stupid reasons in hope of martyrdom” and “people who are too stupid to formulate and execute a detailed plan.” The area that doesn’t overlap is worth targetting, but it’s also important not to fear these guys. That way the real martyrs will be the ones who die going about their business in defiance of a terrorist’s best efforts to disrupt them.
Doesn’t “even if you’re pretty sure he’s just a Pakistani” imply that being Pakistani, standing alone isn’t a problem? So, if the poster said “Even if you’re pretty sure he’s just an American.” That would imply that being an American, in general, isn’t problematic, but it could be “if you see something.” Maybe I’m being too logical, it is intended to be a joke, afterall.
Phillygirl – any person with an average iq would know that this poster is not real. and to compare the lives of pakistanis to the horrific plight of japanese-americans during the. Second world war is ridoiculous.
Phillygirl, and I mean this with the utmost respect, aren’t Christians treated poorly in Pakistan (from Constitution to daily practice)? If so, wasn’t the very formation of Pakistan the cause of trouble for your brethren? Why, then, do you identify so closely with the (new!) state of Pakistan, rather than with, say, India or just feel “dispossessed”?
When I sent Phillygrrl this image this morning, it was because it caught me off-guard, and I didn’t know what to make of it. It looked real, and at the same time, both of us knew it couldn’t be. And until we knew where it came from, it made us both a little uneasy. I didn’t have time to track down the real story this morning, so she graciously tracked down the answer to my question as to whether it was a joke and wrote a great post. (Thank you, Phillygrrl.) As for mentioning the treatment of Japanese Americans, I read it as her referring to the racial profiling of Japanese Americans and not the internment of them.
Shilpa, I don’t think this post (or the fact that she’s writing it) has much to do with being Pakistani-American… What does a Pakistani-American look like, after all? (Brown– like many of us, minus the fair and lovelies.) This guy did remind me of some friend’s dweeby brother– far from threatening, so your comment about the guy “just being a Pakistani” was exactly what I thought was the most brilliant part of the project– seizing upon people’s worst prejudices (and/or fears) and then forcing them to step back– a bit off balance.
I still believe it’s not inconceivable for something akin to this poster to actually exist. There’s a long history of ‘ridiculous’ signs such as these in America (No Jews Allowed, No Negroes Allowed, etc) and elsewhere that try to rile up citizens against ‘the other’ during times of conflict. Of course the state of Pakistani Americans right now is incomparable with the treatment of Japanese Americans during WWII, but the influence of propaganda during WWII cannot be ignored.
@wow
‘”The actions of a few do not necessitate being suspicious of every citizen of any entire country, religion, or skin color.” The thing is “few” here is relative – how many people will make a “few” ?
“People like you scare me.” So, who scares you more, people like Shilpa or people like the Faisal Shahzad ?
Stephen Colbert’s character is supposed to pronounce non Anglo names incorrectly, and emphasize “funny sounding names.”
It is to be expected.
Sorry just gotta defend.
Don’t forget the children.
One day, when you’re feeling especially brave, Shilpa, I suggest you go out into the world and try talking to some people–maybe even people a little different than you. You might be pleasantly surprised.
I know this question wasn’t directed at me, but people like Shilpa scare me more than people like Faisal Shahzad because Shilpa-style hysteria and histrionics are only going escalate the conflict.
If we had reacted to the 9/11 attacks as a crime rather than an act of war, we would have a lot less people like Faisal Shahzad right about now. It’s a vicious circle. Treating these criminals like warriors rather than dumb punks plays right into their hands.
What she said. I was intrigued by the poster. I write about whatever piques my interest – be it Pakistani/Indian/American or various mixtures of either.
OK, Harbeer, thanks for the tip. One Sheikh Gilani has invited me to lunch at the Village Restaurant in Karachi. He suggested I could stay at the Metropole Hotel. So helpful. I originally said no, but I’ll follow your advice and hop back on hotmail to say “yes.” Swell. 🙂
Thanks, Nilanjana and phillygrrl–makes sense!
“If we had reacted to the 9/11 attacks as a crime rather than an act of war, we would have a lot less people like Faisal Shahzad right about now. It’s a vicious circle. Treating these criminals like warriors rather than dumb punks plays right into their hands.”
Oh come on! People like Faisal Shahzad have always been around. These days though these people have a mechanism in place that enables them to justify their deeds as a response to a higher calling and a region in this world that worships them as heros.
9/11 was an act of war – in fact the planning, preparation and funding for 9/11 was an elaborate conspiracy where Taliban played an active role.
But what if phillygirl’s IQ is above avg?
LOL
Harbeer, — you suggest “treat 9/11, and terrorism more generally, as a crime.” What does that mean, really? Should the US have sent the FBI to Kandahar after 9/11 to arrest Bin Laden? Should India send IPS to Lahore to arrest Hafiz Saeed? How would that work out?
The terrorism as a crime approach is exactly the type of approach that Holder is pursuing. Bravo to that gentleman and his posse Napolitano who stated before that the “system worked”. There has three attempted three jihadist attack on US soil since the inauguration of you know who in 09. People like Shilpa are more a threat to you (she voices an opinion that you do not like in the least) than Shahzad who planned to kill US civilians by the dozens? Now, I have seen everything.
While using the law enforcement approach to terrorism is preferable to a war footing, there is no evidence to support the idea that law enforcement approach reduces terrorism. Keep in mind, the U.S. pursued a law enforcement strategy through most of the 1990s, with occasional missile strikes. But that measured approach did not make the 9/11 terrorists change their mind.
From 2004-08, India & Pakistan were involved in extensive negotiations to settle their differences, and were very close. But that level-headed approach did not make the Mumbai terrorists turn their boats back instead of holding the city hostage for 3 days.
Terrorists use their methods to achieve certain aims, not to make a statement about injustice.
Shilpa – thank you for your alternative comments. Very refreshing to see them on Sepia.
As for Harbeer, you dont value what you have –
well said
I know this comment wasn’t directed at me, but as a lefty myself, people like Harbeer scare me more than Taliban Godzilla. Hiding in a dark corner with my favorite blanket.
shilpa is rob
shilpa is rob. too afraid to troll under his old name.
Thank you melbourne desi.
(Rumours that I am FeministX are false.)
i am shilpa shetty
Funny. I thought after all those those police beatings and tear gas nothing would scare you.
I don’t doubt, given that Manju is a unisex name 🙂
@Topic – That dude in the poster looks like a Indian grad kid, may be they should show this guy!
treat 9/11, and terrorism more generally, as a crime.
How does this work when the sovereign government sheltering the criminals doesn’t cooperate ?
India has been treating the same problem ‘as a crime’. We can see how well that is working. Not that India has another alternative. The US does.
but it could be “if you see something.” Maybe I’m being too logical, it is intended to be a joke, afterall. i think you’re not being logical enough. the poster says the exact opposite – it says that, per se, him being pakistani is that “something” one sees that requires saying something.
i am shilpa shetty i did yoga with you this morning!
Ohhh–powerful alternative read–nice! I still think mine is plausible, now it’s ambiguous. Thanks!
But the “War on Terror” has not always been around. It is this framing of “war” that makes “warrior/martyr/heroes” of them. You capture them and put them on trial–in effect, publicly humiliate them–and suddenly they don’t look so attractive to hapless, helpless teenagers the world over.
Right. For an example of how this was done previously, see Noriega’s arrest.
It’s not the opinion which is threatening–it’s the hysteria. That kind of knee-jerk, fear-based reaction just adds fuel to the fire. It promotes “with us or against us” dualism which result in drone attacks on wedding parties and civilian casualties which just escalate the conflict. Don’t care about dead and maimed civilians? What about your tax dollars then–do you know how much this war is costing us?
Bush had a memo on his desk on August 6, 2001 bearing the headline “Bin Laden Determined to Strike in the US.” That measured approach only works if you work it.
You’re wrong. India also has the war “alternative.” India can go to war with Pakistan just like the US went to war with the Taliban and Iraq. They’re just not that dumb.
If you think these wars are good long-term solutions to the fact that people want to kill Americans…well, I hope you’re right. I really do. Somehow, I doubt it.
We made the mujahideen, after all. We made bin Laden. And we supported the Pakistani military. Now we’re supporting the Northern Alliance and other brutal warlord dope smugglers. We will forget this all as soon as the next celebrity scandal breaks, but 20 years from now, the kids who are being orphaned as we speak, who will be raised in effed up orphanages by sadistic jerks who have no qualms about indoctrinating and using these kids to further their own political gripes…those kids are not going to forget.
War as a solution to terrorism? Yeah, right.
Professional Pakistani-American Males Extremely Angry with Faisal Shahzad http://wp.me/pIP1s-4x
See also: http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2010/05/06/pakistani_terrorist_personal_essay
Truthify much? FBI and IPS are not military forces. See Operation Just Cause and Operation Nifty Package.
the lying and duplicity? disgusting that rob feels the need to masquerade this way and troll on sepia.
I’m not sure what you’re getting at. I don’t know anything about IPS, but I know that the FBI primarily operates within US borders. I recognized Shilpa’s mistake but I just thought it was a petty distinction and let it stand rather than split hairs about which agency would have jurisdiction.
Do you think that you completely discredited my point with these links? I beg to differ. We got Noriega and we got out–my point still stands.
Harbeer, You care more about the supposed hysteria that a jihadist might generate than the fact that a loony tunes tried to kill innocent civilians in Times Square. You care more about deranged frenzy based on a solid incident than the fact that a number of loony tunes are trying to kill innocent civilians in a free society. You care more about a possibility than what actually occured. Yes, the Afghans bear no individual agency. They are just a plaything of US policies. Pakistan, yes, they are just stooges of US policy – they influenced Afghan society badly but it is still our fault because we gave money to them. Maybe, if the US did not support the mujahideen, Pakistani Army would still have funded them? Novel concept where the US does not screw everything up.
India has gone to war with Pakistan 3 times. They only stopped because Pakistan has nukes. Afghanistan had no nukes and the Taliban harbored Osama Bin Laden whom they were not willing to give up. India is a great follower of real politik.
Uh, generating hysteria is precisely their aim (killing civilians is just a means to that end). See Yo Dad’s comment, number 1.
What actually occurred? An idiot put a really poorly conceived “bomb” in Times Square. I care about that. I’m glad he was foiled.
But if you want to talk about what “actually occurred,” let’s also talk about civilian deaths which are actually occurring in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan under this equally ill conceived, equally idiotically executed “War on Terror,” which you and Shilpa and others seem to be calling for more of.
My, I am glad you care about what this buffoon l did.
What actual solution do you propose other than calling “War on Terror” a stupid name? What is your alternative to drones? What proposal in your eyes will lead to less civilian deaths?
Terrorism existed before the “War on Terrah” and it will continue if we cut it off right now. One would be hard-pressed to argue that crushing Al Qaida was not a worthwhile goal though. I don’t have issues with the War on Terror so much as issues with counterproductive time and money sinks (Iraq) that got wrapped up into the mission.
But regardless of that, by no stretch of logic is the sane response to geopolitical bumbling to attempt to blow up a bunch of random innocent people for no strategic gain. What exactly do these guys think we’re going to do if they blow up another one of our buildings?
Regardless of how oppressed or put upon they feel, the fact is that the US has shown admirable restraint in carrying out this war. One can complain about errant drone-strikes and torture at Abu Gharib because it’s worth it for us to maintain high standards and conduct our warfare as humanely as possible. Attempting to blow up random innocents, however, will only succeed in wearing thin America’s fraying patience. If that tie ever broke America would drop enough ordinance on top of Iraq, Iran, and AfPak to make Operation Rolling Thunder look like a Sunday picnic.
Trying to act like terrorism is a rational or even understandable reaction to our actions abroad is foolish. It’s actually the single worst thing a Muslim can do if he cares at all about the welfare of other Muslims.
i don’t doubt you did yoga this morning, but it was not i with whom you did him. perhaps, if he’s not too tired, yoga fire can pop in and clarify.
A proper gentleman is, above all else, discreet.
Thanks, Yoga!
Remaining calm in the face of terror and making a measure, reasoned, appropriate response.
From today’s Houston Chronicle:
<
blockquote>The more orderly and calmly Americans react to the misfits who would do them harm, the more we diminish them. Treating apparent losers as scary enemies of the republic only blows air into their bubble of grandiosity. […]
How do you define ‘a measured, reasoned, appropriate’ response? And how would that response lead to less terrorism? – Hasan, the Underwear bomber and Shahzad never mentioned hysteria after terrorism as a concern. My original question was what proposal do you think would lead to less civilian deaths in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq?
Yeah, am rather curious what this mysterious “reasoned, appropriate response” would be? In Oct 2000 when the USS Cole was bombed , Clinton did what you say, i.e nothing. How successful would you say that response was ?