Kafkaesque police capture boy & grill him for not saying his clock is a bomb

In a Kafka novel, a man is accused by the police of a crime that’s too top-secret for them to discuss or reveal which government department has brought charges against him – and that’s the whole novel. In a similar circumstance, 14 year old Ahmed Mohammed from Irving, Texas brings a home-made clock to school to show his engineering teacher and she accused him of making a bomb to threaten her. The police arrive to handcuff, arrest and then grill him for hours because Ahmed wouldn’t say that his clock was something other than a clock. Because it’s a clock.

Yes folks, this really happened to one of our country’s brilliant young students. But next, Pres. Obama saved Ahmed’s day with his Tweeted invitation to visit the White House. At his press conference on Sept 16 Ahmed said, “Yes!” he intends to accept the invitation. The New York Times reports:

“Cool clock, Ahmed,” President Obama said on Twitter. “Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It’s what makes America great.” Mr. Obama’s staff invited Ahmed to the White House for Astronomy Night on Oct. 19, an event bringing together scientists, engineers, astronauts, teachers and students to spend a night stargazing from the South Lawn.

Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America great.

— President Obama (@POTUS) September 16, 2015

Ahmed’s response to America is sweet:

Thank you for your support! I really didn't think people would care about a muslim boy. #Thankyouforstandingwithme #IStandWithAhmed

— Ahmed Mohamed (@IStandWithAhmed) September 16, 2015

Ahmed also mentioned at his press conference that he’s still suspended, the police still have his property … he intends to transfer to a different school, but hasn’t picked one out yet and that he’s not willing to speak with the Irving Police Chief without his attorney. Smart young man 🙂 .. watch for yourself.

Some other interesting reports by The Dallas Morning News and PBS.

Updated 17 Sept to include news and video of the 9/16 press conference and the PBS article.