Ever wonder just who is really on those “terror watch lists” you hear about? Like when the former pop-singer Cat Stevens (above) was turned back from landing in America a year or so ago. Here’s some news about what it takes to get on that list — nothing having to be with being a terrorist, that’s sure. (from boing boing)Professor Walter F. Murphy, a Korean war hero and McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence (emeritus) at Princeton, was delayed while flying because he’s on a “terrorist watch list.” The check-in clerk told him that he was probably added because he gave a speech that was critical of the president (who dodged his military service).
“I presented my credentials from the Marine Corps to a very polite clerk for American Airlines. One of the two people to whom I talked asked a question and offered a frightening comment: “Have you been in any peace marches? We ban a lot of people from flying because of that.” I explained that I had not so marched but had, in September, 2006, given a lecture at Princeton, televised and put on the Web, highly critical of George Bush for his many violations of the Constitution.
“That’ll do it,” the man said. “
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