In the Sept. 23 Mirror, the Opinion piece #IStandWithAhmed is filled with opinions, but is lacking any substantive information that could lead to a serious attempt at a critical analysis of the incident. Like much of current media, the reader is manipulated first to “feel something,” then “believe something” and then to “act / respond to something.”

On Friday, Sept. 25, I was able to view detailed color images of what many are calling Ahmed’s “invention.” Anyone with basic training in electronics or experienced specifically with timing circuits could immediately recognize that the device appears, at first glance, to be the remains of a commercially available digital alarm clock. I have not seen images of all external sides of the “invention,” and I have not seen any images demonstrating that the repackaged clock is functional.

In short, Ahmed did not invent the device displayed in the images; it appears that he merely disassembled a clock and repackaged the components.

Several questions are yet to be asked and answered. Does the repackaged “clock” still work? Was this a class project or simply a spontaneous “show and tell” for Ahmed? Did Ahmed alert any teacher beforehand that he was bringing the device to school? How did the teacher discover the device? Precisely how did Ahmed respond to the challenges and questions from authorities? Has Ahmed never seen, heard or read the public service message “IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING?”

Maybe the most important questions are, who is driving this media circus and why? Did not a single person at NASA, Microsoft, or the White House think it appropriate to examine the images that are readily available in the media or analyze the device itself before engaging in nothing other than obfuscation and possibly propaganda?

And your Opinion piece mentions an invention, Islamophobia, stereotyping and racism, even white supremacy, without any foundation that this incident was anything of the sort, or anything other than, potentially, an overreaction to a legitimately perceived danger. You mention the media response to the incident, but nowhere do you mention, nor have I seen detailed reports of Ahmed’s response.

There may be more to this story, but no one seems to be looking for it. Instead, Ahmed is a celebrity for the moment and for no obvious reason, justified by the facts in the matter detailed to the public.

Kenneth J. Borowski, Ph.D.

Adjunct Instructor of Chemistry

About The Author

-- Online Editor-in-Chief Emeritus-- Digital Journalism

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