Man fired for hobby? They can do this?

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Man fired for hobby? They can do this?

Post by Professor Smooth » Wed Jul 20, 2005 2:04 pm

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/07/15/rapper ... index.html

HOUSTON, Texas (AP) -- When Bassam Khalaf raps, he's the Arabic Assassin. His unreleased CD, "Terror Alert," includes rhymes about flying a plane into a building and descriptions of himself as a "crazy, suicidal Arabic ... equipped with bombs."

Until last week, Khalaf also worked as a baggage screener at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

"I've been screening your bags for the past six months, and you don't even know it," said Khalaf, who also said Thursday that he is not really a terrorist and that his rhymes are exaggerations meant to gain publicity.

Andrea McCauley, a spokeswoman for the regional Transportation Security Administration office in Dallas, said the agency checks criminal records before hiring screeners, but it does not investigate what people do in their spare time.

"We have eyes and ears in the workplace," McCauley said. "Once we discovered these Web sites, we fired him."

An Internet search of Khalaf's name brings up Web sites that feature his obscene, violent and misogynistic raps that threaten to fly a plane into a building on September 11, 2005.

Khalaf, 21, was hired on January 16 and fired July 7, according to a TSA termination letter that cited his "authorship of songs which applaud the efforts of the terrorists on September 11th, encourage and warn of future acts of terrorism by you, discuss at length and in grave and alarming detail various criminal acts you intend to commit, state your belief that the U.S. government should be overthrown, and finally warn that others will die on September 11, 2005."

Khalaf, who was born in Houston and is of Palestinian descent, said working as a baggage screener was the best paying job he's ever had. He said he hoped to use any extra money he earned to produce his CD.

"I kept my music and my job separate. I told a couple of people who I thought was cool with me at work that I rapped, but I never sat there and told them lyrics or anything," said Khalaf. "I guess somebody probably told them that I had a Web site."

Khalaf said his terrorist-themed rhymes are more about marketing. He called his songs art and pointed to other rappers who have rhymed about terrorism. He specifically cites Eminem's song, "My Dad's Gone Crazy," which discusses blowing everything on the map up except Afghanistan and says: "There's no tower too high, no plane that I can't learn how to fly."

"Controversy sells," Khalaf said. "It brings a lot of attention. Everybody wants to label all Arabics terrorists just because a couple of people messed up. Well, I'm going to play along with that character. I'm going to let you think I'm one."


So, let me get this straight, because of something that did not, in any way, effect his job, he got fired? I'd have to think that this would be an open and shut "wrongful termination" lawsuit...in any other country.

Judge: What's the problem?
Rapper: I got fired because I write music.
Judge: Do you sing at work?
Rapper: No.
Judge: Does this effect your job performance in any way?
Rapper: No.
Jugdge: What do you rap about?
Rapper: How great terrorists are.
Judge: What?!? Damn, man! I don't even want to take the time to distinguish fiction from reality! If you write fictional lyrics about terrorism then you wave any and all rights INCLUDING the first ammendment! Anyone who disagrees with me too!
Rapper: Right. Well, thanks for more lyric material...
snarl wrote:Just... really... what the **** have [IDW] been taking for the last 2 years?
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Post by Denyer » Wed Jul 20, 2005 2:35 pm

He may be contractually obliged to not bring the company into disrepute, which would be the case once the site was publically linked to him.

It wouldn't be open and shut in parts of Europe, due to restrictions on hate speech. The US doesn't have those (for the most part) but also doesn't have the level of employee protection that's the case here.

Either way, he'd likely be fair game, whether claiming ironic use or not.

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Post by Professor Smooth » Wed Jul 20, 2005 2:44 pm

This sounds close to a mostly Republican company firing someone for being openly Democratic.
snarl wrote:Just... really... what the **** have [IDW] been taking for the last 2 years?
Brendocon wrote:Yaya's money.

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Post by Denyer » Wed Jul 20, 2005 2:47 pm

Not even slightly. If a Republican proclaims an intent and desire to murder the customers of the firm they're employed by, they'd very likely also be out on their ear.

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Post by Impactor returns 2.0 » Wed Jul 20, 2005 3:00 pm

its a bit ******* stupid tho init? honestly...

If I wrote disturbing rhymes about my boss, outside work or not, and he read them, "hey boss I want to kill you in a nasty way" - and I got fired, id hardley be surprised.
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Post by Professor Smooth » Wed Jul 20, 2005 3:09 pm

Denyer wrote:Not even slightly. If a Republican proclaims an intent and desire to murder the customers of the firm they're employed by, they'd very likely also be out on their ear.
Insert random "Republicans DO intend to murder everyone but nobody seems to care" joke.

The way I see it, it's fiction. The guy's writing fiction. We don't go around giving Stephen King problems because of some of the nasty stuff he writes, do we?

Uh...do we?
snarl wrote:Just... really... what the **** have [IDW] been taking for the last 2 years?
Brendocon wrote:Yaya's money.

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Post by Señior's Covenant » Wed Jul 20, 2005 3:14 pm

If that's your take chalk it up to a conflict of interests I suppose.
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The "i" in "Señior" from "Señior's Covenant" is intentional and part of a stupid & cheesy inside joke from '02. Thank you for your concern.

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Post by Impactor returns 2.0 » Wed Jul 20, 2005 3:41 pm

I work at infant school - heres my hobby rhyme.

I want to touch small kids, I want to touch them in thier private places...

Hey man its just fiction!!
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Post by Professor Smooth » Wed Jul 20, 2005 6:29 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:I work at infant school - heres my hobby rhyme.

I want to touch small kids, I want to touch them in thier private places...

Hey man its just fiction!!
Yes, it's just fiction. I see no problem with it. I can see where there may be some concern over it, but I see no problem.
snarl wrote:Just... really... what the **** have [IDW] been taking for the last 2 years?
Brendocon wrote:Yaya's money.

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Post by Señior's Covenant » Wed Jul 20, 2005 6:31 pm

I'd have a concern over someone who raps about molesting children living in the area of a school.

I'd have a problem with them working there.
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Muchas gracias to Mob for the Sig, proving why he's called 'King'.

The "i" in "Señior" from "Señior's Covenant" is intentional and part of a stupid & cheesy inside joke from '02. Thank you for your concern.

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Post by Impactor returns 2.0 » Wed Jul 20, 2005 6:55 pm

yes I work in the local kiddy school

and at night I write novels on child abduction and kiddy fiddling.
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Post by Professor Smooth » Wed Jul 20, 2005 6:57 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:yes I work in the local kiddy school

and at night I write novels on child abduction and kiddy fiddling.
Two completely seperate things.
snarl wrote:Just... really... what the **** have [IDW] been taking for the last 2 years?
Brendocon wrote:Yaya's money.

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Post by Impactor returns 2.0 » Wed Jul 20, 2005 7:07 pm

in the same sense I can even write 'fiction' about how I directly want to fiddle with my own pupils, and still this is just fiction and so its ok.
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Post by Professor Smooth » Wed Jul 20, 2005 7:09 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:in the same sense I can even write 'fiction' about how I directly want to fiddle with my own pupils, and still this is just fiction and so its ok.
Yes.
snarl wrote:Just... really... what the **** have [IDW] been taking for the last 2 years?
Brendocon wrote:Yaya's money.

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Post by Impactor returns 2.0 » Wed Jul 20, 2005 7:13 pm

well not in my school yard!
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Post by Professor Smooth » Wed Jul 20, 2005 7:21 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:well not in my school yard!
What if it had no bearing on the job or yard at hand?
snarl wrote:Just... really... what the **** have [IDW] been taking for the last 2 years?
Brendocon wrote:Yaya's money.

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Post by Señior's Covenant » Wed Jul 20, 2005 7:28 pm

Then it wouldn't be an issue as it is now. It might still be an issue, but in a differing way.

It would be a concern if someone working at a 7-11 liked to write pedophile poetry in their spare time and this was something public.

It would be a problem if the same person were suddenly teaching a Kindergarten class or working in a day care center.

It would be a concern if a man of middle eastern descent living in America in these times of Bushdom rapped about flying planes into buildings and bombs in his spare time and this was something public.

It's a problem, apparently, if the same guy is working in an airport.

It's a conflict of interests, and rather distasteful in my personal opinion.
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The "i" in "Señior" from "Señior's Covenant" is intentional and part of a stupid & cheesy inside joke from '02. Thank you for your concern.

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Post by Impactor returns 2.0 » Wed Jul 20, 2005 7:30 pm

[quote="Señior's Covenant"]
It's a problem, apparently, if the same guy is working in an airport.

It's a conflict of interests, and rather distasteful in my personal opinion.[/quote

yup, thats how i feel, why work at an air port and then rap about 9/11 esque highjackings? - its not right.
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Post by Professor Smooth » Wed Jul 20, 2005 7:43 pm

Señior's Covenant wrote: It's a problem, apparently, if the same guy is working in an airport.

It's a conflict of interests, and rather distasteful in my personal opinion.
Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:'s distateful. But I doubt there's a conflict of interests. Rapping about flying planes into buildings does not suggest that he would, himself, want to fly planes into buildings.
Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:
yup, thats how i feel, why work at an air port and then rap about 9/11 esque highjackings? - its not right.
Whenever someone resorts to, "its not right," the debate is pretty much over. "Right" is different for everyone.

Bottom line, leaving all child molestation stuff and Stephen King stuff out.

This guy worked in an airport.

In his spare time he's trying to build a music career, much of which has subject matter offensive to a large number of people (and happened to involve airports/planes/etc)

So he got fired from said airport.

How is this fair? Have you listened to what passes for mainstream rap these days? Nearly all of it is about killing/raping/other illegal activities. Should all aspiring rappers be fired from their respective places of employment?
snarl wrote:Just... really... what the **** have [IDW] been taking for the last 2 years?
Brendocon wrote:Yaya's money.

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Post by Señior's Covenant » Wed Jul 20, 2005 7:56 pm

Professor Smooth wrote:Whenever someone resorts to, "its not right," the debate is pretty much over.
Or, you know, not.
Professor Smooth wrote:"Right" is different for everyone.
And I'll always be of the belief that's a pathetic way to try and counter an argument. If some guy suddenly walked into where you were and jammed a fork into your neck simply because he thought it was the right thing to do and for no other reason than that it still doesn't make it right in the acceptably civil sense of the word.

Not to mention I'd stand firmly in saying letting someone who writes and sings songs about raping young children in detail work in an environment full of children a wrong thing, as opposed to right, as it would seem highly negligent to me.
Professor Smooth wrote:Bottom line, leaving all child molestation stuff and Stephen King stuff out.
But what for? It should apply to all correct? Is somehow the idea of mass murder more savory than the molestation of a child?
Professor Smooth wrote:This guy worked in an airport.


And if nothing more maybe the airline figured once word got out people might not be comfortable in flying with an airport facility that employs someone who glorifies terrorism, murder, bombings, etc. Fictional or not.
Professor Smooth wrote:In his spare time he's trying to build a music career, much of which has subject matter offensive to a large number of people (and happened to involve airports/planes/etc).


I don't quite get where you're coming from by using the words "happened to involve". It's like saying "There's this one dude who works in a burn victim unit. In his spare time he's trying to build a music career, much of which has subject matter offensive to a large number of people (and happened to involve him claiming the desire to set the ward on fire/tossing lit matches at patients/etc)". The reason it's offensive is simply due to the subject matter of terrorist-like acts performed on airports/planes/etc.
Professor Smooth wrote:How is this fair? Have you listened to what passes for mainstream rap these days? Nearly all of it is about killing/raping/other illegal activities. Should all aspiring rappers be fired from their respective places of employment?
Fine by me to the one's that do. I think it utter stupidity and **** to rap about such things and praise such behaviors and attitudes.
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Muchas gracias to Mob for the Sig, proving why he's called 'King'.

The "i" in "Señior" from "Señior's Covenant" is intentional and part of a stupid & cheesy inside joke from '02. Thank you for your concern.

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Post by Denyer » Wed Jul 20, 2005 8:41 pm

Professor Smooth wrote:In his spare time he's trying to build a music career, much of which has subject matter offensive to a large number of people (and happened to involve airports/planes/etc)
It's the "happened to" that creates relevancy.
Professor Smooth wrote:Have you listened to what passes for mainstream rap these days? Nearly all of it is about killing/raping/other illegal activities. Should all aspiring rappers be fired from their respective places of employment?
Are the subjects of the song the customers of their employers?

Incidentally, yes, I am behind restriction on hate speech where it constitutes incitement to violence.
Señior's Covenant wrote:And I'll always be of the belief that's a pathetic way to try and counter an argument. If some guy suddenly walked into where you were and jammed a fork into your neck
Conversely, you're resorting to hyperbole and exaggeration for the point... a closer analogy would be "a guy is on stage talking about jamming forks into peoples' necks."
Señior's Covenant wrote:The reason it's offensive is simply due to the subject matter of terrorist-like acts performed on airports/planes/etc.
But isn't the grounds he'd likely be sacked for. They'd be looking for breach of contract.
Señior's Covenant wrote:one dude who works in a burn victim unit
http://www.amateurtransplants.com/

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Post by Señior's Covenant » Wed Jul 20, 2005 9:00 pm

Denyer wrote:
Señior's Covenant wrote:And I'll always be of the belief that's a pathetic way to try and counter an argument. If some guy suddenly walked into where you were and jammed a fork into your neck
Conversely, you're resorting to hyperbole and exaggeration for the point...
Yeah, I tend to do that don't I.
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Post by Autobloke » Wed Jul 20, 2005 9:51 pm

Who the hell would want to buy his music anyway? Except for terrorists and fanatics who want to relive past 'glories'?
I doubt HMV will start a new music genre section for his CD.
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Post by Impactor returns 2.0 » Wed Jul 20, 2005 9:54 pm

mouth off about the boss, you get fired.
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Post by Autobloke » Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:03 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:mouth off about the boss, you get fired.
Did you see that TV show about Friends Reunited ruining people's lives a few months ago?
Some guy rubbished his job by saying it was boring. His boss was being nosey and entering employee names into the site to see what they said about themselves and read the comment. He concluded that the bloke wasn't committed to his job and sacked him.
Was that fair?
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Post by Impactor returns 2.0 » Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:12 pm

I wouldnt employ someone who wasnt commited to his work.
same difference?
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Post by Autobloke » Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:15 pm

I suppose, but people bitch about their jobs all the time. It doesn't means that they aren't doing their best.
And perhaps his job WAS boring.
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Post by Impactor returns 2.0 » Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:36 pm

I wouldnt employ someone with that attitude
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Post by Autobloke » Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:46 pm

But he already was employed. If the boss had turned him down for this reason at an interview then I'd not be so bothered.
One of my previous jobs was boring (cutting plastics and glass for the technology industry) and I told the guy who OWNED the company this fact on a regular basis. It WAS a boring job, and he couldn't deny the fact - or really sack me for my opinion because it was true.

(waits for 'I wouldnt employ someone with that attitude' stock answer) :)
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Post by Impactor returns 2.0 » Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:54 pm

calling a job boring, or bitching about your boss is one thing, saying your gonna do a 9/11 whilst working at an airport is another thing.
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