But I don't see how you can say there's no grounds to make accusations of ignorance and cowardice. Being unaware of what a bomb looks like is clearly ignorance, and being so terrified that you get an innocent kid arrested for it is clearly cowardice.
No need to react so much in the other direction either, making this kid an ambassador of "freedom to pack electronics in a case and bring it to school" or whatever.
He made an error of judgement going against his teacher's advice, and a ton of bricks came down on his head way too hard. Hopefully everyone can learn something from this.
But you can't deny that "radicalization of young Muslims" isn't a thing these days. No point of covering your ears and insisting everyone wants to get along.
Radicalization of young Muslims is among the reasons why acts based on bias against young Muslims by authority figures in society is especially problematic, as those acts contribute rather directly to such radicalization, and directly serve the propaganda interests of those actively seeking such radicalization.
This would be problematic if radicalization of young Muslims wasn't a particular concern, but it doesn't become less problematic because such radicalization is a real thing, it becomes more.
The point I was making about young Muslims - I wish it weren't true. But it is true.
Arresting 14yo kids isn't a solution, but neither is patronizingly inviting him and his suitcase clock to the white house.
I'd love watch the video of him checking into whitehouse security with his suitcase clock...
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/10BF6/production/...
Why should we not make this kid an ambassador of "freedom to pack electronics in a case and bring it to school"? That sounds like a pretty good freedom, and one worth fighting for. Kids should feel free to bring their (non-dangerous, no need to bring in guns or actual bombs or whatever) interests to school to share them. You might even broaden the horizons of some fellow students (and who knows, maybe even a teacher or two).
I tried to provide a balance point to this discussion, mainly due to the fact that packing the clock into the suitcase wasn't smart (even for a 14yo).
Google 'suitcase bomb' and you'll get endless results. Google 'Arduino enclosure bomb" and you won't get much.
I'm not convinced the kid didn't know it was looking like something from a movie, and I think he was aiming for that look, but he won't admit it. Why do I think this? Because I was 14 once too, and studied electronics just like him. Something that looked like a Suitcase bomb is something I'd want to show my friends.
His clock was mains powered too. Awful design even for a 14yo.
