Below, we see two Americas: one driven by the yearning to learn, by equality, by justice…the other by prejudice and fear.

“14yo Muslim boy arrested in Texas for bringing a ‘bomb’ to school. Except it was a homemade clock.“

President Obama extends invitation to Ahmed Mohamed to bring the clock he was arrested for to the White House (twitter.com)

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

“I love this tweet because Pres. Obama is shaming Irving ISD and police without even mentioning them.” Also: Obama Invites Arrested 9th-grader Ahmed Mohamed to the White House, Social Media Explodes with Support (makezine.com)

 

14 year old Muslim student reaction to being arrested for bringing a clock into school:

“He just wants to invent good things for mankind,” said Ahmed’s father, Mohamed Elhassan Mohamed, who immigrated from Sudan and occasionally returns there to run for president.

Police led Ahmed out of MacArthur about 3 p.m., his hands cuffed behind him and an officer on each arm.

“It made me feel like I wasn’t human.”

In addition to calling police, Ahmed said the principal suspended him for three days.

Ahmed, his father, and attorneys with CAIR said they plan to meet with the principal and the police chief Wednesday

  “Other items bravely confiscated by Texas police.” (i.imgur.com) This just in: Father of the 14-year-old arrested for bringing a clock to school ran for president of Sudan, advocating for women’s rights, freedom of the press and fighting terrorism. (youtube.com) #IStandWithAhmed: Scientists and the public surge to support boy arrested for homemade clock (washingtonpost.com)

Irving Police spokesman Officer James McLellan told the station, “We attempted to question the juvenile about what it was and he would simply only tell us that it was a clock.” The teenager did that because, well, it was a clock, he said.

Best part of the CNN article. Bonus:

Hi @IStandWithAhmed ! I’d love you to join us for our science show Generator in Toronto on 28 Oct. There’s a ticket waiting for you. — Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) September 16, 2015

And: Zuckerberg invited him to Facebook:
You’ve probably seen the story about Ahmed, the 14 year old student in Texas who built a clock and was arrested when he took it to school.
Having the skill and ambition to build something cool should lead to applause, not arrest. The future belongs to people like Ahmed. Ahmed, if you ever want to come by Facebook, I’d love to meet you. Keep building.