‘In the Dark’Brit Singer Wants to Know Why No Longer Welcome in America

[seemslikeadream]

Sept. 27, 2004 — The singer once known as Cat Stevens says he felt immediately disconnected from his world when federal agents held him for questioning after his flight to Washington, D.C., was diverted.

"I was literally cut off from my family, from my daughter. I was in the dark," the musician, now known as Yusuf Islam, told ABC News' Elizabeth Vargas.

Watch Elizabeth Vargas' full interview with Yusuf Islam this Friday on 20/20.
Islam — who changed his name from Cat Stevens after he became a Muslim in the 1970s — was barred from entering the United States after his name was discovered on a government no-fly list on Sept. 21.

The former folk singer said United's Flight 919 — from London to Washington's Dulles International Airport — seemed routine until he heard an announcement over the loudspeaker stating the plane would be landing in a different location. With 249 passengers on board, it never crossed Islam's mind that he might be the problem.

The flight had been diverted to Maine's Bangor International Airport, where federal agents were waiting for Islam.
more
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/2020/Cat_Stevens_Vargas-1.html

[donsu]

1. Cat can get into US - just go to Mex. and walk across the border

nt

[tom_paine]

2. He's welcome in America, but that country is dead and almost buried

Imperial Amerika? As a 60s peace icon in addition to being a Muslim, he has incurred the same hatred of the Fundamnetalist Bushevik Community as Tommy Chong.

Heinrich Ashcroft must have been very pleased with the work of his minions that day!

[PurityOfEssence]

3. America has been taken over by xenophobic Christians; you're not Christian

Does it get any simpler?

Obviously, anyone who could sing "Morning Has Broken" is a danger to mankind.

Zealots hate.

(And no, that isn't meant as a dig at all Christians, or I wouldn't have added the adjective "xenophobic" to make the distinction.)

[geek tragedy]

4. A Christian totalitarian picks on a Muslim totalitarian.

He and Ashcroft deserve each other, as Juan Cole says.