Henry Rollins is Not an Islamist
A paranoid passenger seated next to former Black Flag frontman Henry Rollins got nervous on a flight to Brisbane when he saw the rocker reading “Jihad: The Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia”, a book about Islamic fundamentalists. The passenger contacted the authorities after the plane landed and Henry is now being investigated by the Australian governement.
“Days later I received an e-mail from a woman who I guess figured out who I was and found me,” Rollins told PAGE SIX after his spoken-word show at Town Hall the other night. “I had been named a ‘person of interest.’ Basically, they get calls like this every five minutes, and I’m probably on the ‘who cares’ list, in that they’ll probably let me into the country again. But the fact that this guy could be that ignorant and call me in on this for a book . . . I was angry. Because of the fact that the guy wouldn’t confront me. I like confrontation. If I’ve offended you, let me know. Don’t call it in and not leave your name. I just think it’s pretty weak.”
Henry is totally right. If I get caught reading The Smurfs, does it mean I want to turn blue, wear a stupid hat and go live in the forest in a mushroom house? I don’t think so.
3 Comments, Comment or Ping
jacko
I too would have reported Rollins to the authorities. Not as a possible terrorist, but as a self-important, talentless jackass.
Feb 21st, 2006
thesuperheavy.com
I LIKE Henry Rollins. He’s cool, smart, creative – end of story.
As far as his reading a book freaking someone out on a plane – do you really think someone who wanted to cause some damage is going to read their ‘terrorist training manual’ en route??
Give me a break…the guy was reading; a normal leisure activity for anyone, and considering his reading material I’d say at a level far elevated from what many have been reading these days (A Million Little Lies?) at least he’s educating himself, expanding his understanding of global issues.
We’re all freaked out by the stories the western media feeds us, buying into their fear-frenzy – looking over our shoulders as we go through customs to see if we can profile someone, but the reality is it just doesn’t work that way.
Terrorism is an equal opportunity employer and it’s not something that can be pinpointed in choice of reading material (ie-Patriot Act).
Good for Rollins for picking up a book with some weight and a big spanking to the drama queen on the plane next to him who thought he was saving the world.
Feb 22nd, 2006
Phil
Your comment is very insightful.
It seems lots of people suffer from a post-911 paranoia when they’re up in the sky. Someone I know recently told me he got scared when he saw another passenger reading a Muslim history book. Like you said, I doubt potential terrorists would read their “how to crash an airplane handbook” en route.
Feb 22nd, 2006
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