How to spot a terrorist? He yawns, stands still, perspires unusually

So you go on a date and your boy or girlfriend notices that you yawn too much. The air conditioner goes off, you start shivering and get goose bumps. “Terrorist!” your date shouts and runs off. Why? She’s read DHS’s new pamphlet.

The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness has released a new document entitled “Terrorism Awareness and Prevention” aimed at raising awareness on how New Jersey residents can help combat terrorism. It includes picking up on signs of suspicious activity including behaviors.

So what are these suspicious behaviors? “Look for signs of nervousness in the people you come in contact with.” This includes “exaggerated yawning when in a conversation,” “repetitive touching of face,” “increased breathing rate,”“unusual perspiration,” “excessive fidgeting,”“trembling” and “goose bumps.” Though some might say these are all completely natural body reactions, the document says otherwise. While pacing around and being jumpy is also listed as a potential indication of malicious intent, standing still in a rigid posture falls in the same category. So what should you do so as to not get flagged as a potential terrorist? Stand still, or gesture profusely?

This latest set of recommendation is not the first of its kind. The FBI’s Communities Against Terrorism program issued a set of flyers, which encouraged workers to report on clients that insisted on using cash and who were overly concerned about privacy. But with increasing incidence of credit and debit card phishing, some may be wary of using a debit card to pay. So protecting your bank account is apparently also a sign of terrorist activity.

And the list goes on. Last the Department of Homeland Security issued a video, in which a calm but firm narrator told viewers that “if a patron appears nervous or anxious, or insists on paying cash, contact security personnel.” The video was released as part of its “See something, say something” campaign, launched in 2010.

Now we may ask what it is that inspired these “guidelines,” if they can be called as such. Are the FBI and DHS that out of touch with life? Are they genuinely concerned with public safety, but bending the stick too far? Or maybe even trying to sow a climate of fear – making Americans see potential terrorists everywhere around them.

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Republican presidential candidate former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich yawns as he walks off the stage with his wife Callista (Reuters/Brian Snyder)
Republican presidential candidate former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich yawns as he walks off the stage with his wife Callista (Reuters/Brian Snyder)

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The President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yawns as he waits to deliver his speech during the 64th session of the United Nations General Debate (AFP Photo/Don Emmert)
The President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yawns as he waits to deliver his speech during the 64th session of the United Nations General Debate (AFP Photo/Don Emmert)

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel yawns during th 67th sitting of the Bundestag. (AFP Photo/Odd Andersen )
German Chancellor Angela Merkel yawns during th 67th sitting of the Bundestag. (AFP Photo/Odd Andersen )

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Russia′s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin touching his face (AFP Photo/ RIA Novosti/ Yana Lapikova)
Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin touching his face (AFP Photo/ RIA Novosti/ Yana Lapikova)

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Should Italy′s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi be advised to read DHS’s new pamphlet and keep his hands away from his chin? (AFP Photo / Andreas Solaro)
Should Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi be advised to read DHS’s new pamphlet and keep his hands away from his chin? (AFP Photo / Andreas Solaro)

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