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| Australian kicked off flight for anti-Bush T-shirt | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 22 2007, 08:16 PM (567 Views) | |
| JanaW | Jan 22 2007, 08:16 PM Post #1 |
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Australian kicked off flight for anti-Bush T-shirt Airline staff takes issue over message calling president ‘number 1 terrorist’ Updated: 9:35 a.m. CT Jan 22, 2007 CANBERRA, Australia - An airline passenger barred from a flight for wearing a T-shirt labeling President Bush a terrorist has threatened legal action against Australia’s flag carrier Qantas. Allen Jasson, 55, an Australian IT expert who lives in Britain, was stopped from boarding a London-bound Qantas flight at Melbourne Airport last Friday for wearing what the airline said was an offensive T-shirt. Airline staff said the T-shirt of Bush with the tagline “World’s number 1 terrorist” could have upset other passengers and demanded it be changed for another. But Jasson, who had earlier traveled on a Qantas domestic flight wearing the Bush T-shirt, said his right to freedom of speech had been infringed by Qantas. “I am not prepared to go without the T-shirt. I might forfeit the fare, but I have made up my mind that I would rather stand up for the principle of free speech,” Jasson told Australian media on Monday, adding he would seek legal advice. Qantas issued a statement saying comments made verbally or on a T-shirt which had the potential to offend other travelers or threaten the security of aircraft “will not be tolerated.” Copyright 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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If slaughterhouses had glass walls the whole world would be vegetarian. Linda McCartney | |
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| BlueMolly2009 | Jan 22 2007, 09:39 PM Post #2 |
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LOLcat Freak
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Oh give me a freaking break. What gives an airline the right to say you can't board because of what you're wearing. If I was this guy I'd be demanding they pay me what I spent on the ticket and I would sue. |
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Molly Myspace My Twitter My FriendFeed My Facebook ![]() Boston Chihuahuas (I took this while at a Starbucks) | |
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| JanaW | Jan 22 2007, 09:45 PM Post #3 |
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Yeah no kidding. What if you are wearing a red dress and it upsets a passenger who hates red....will they make you leave it behind or stay behind with it? I thought this was flamin insane on the part of the airlines! |
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If slaughterhouses had glass walls the whole world would be vegetarian. Linda McCartney | |
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| Sandra | Jan 22 2007, 09:53 PM Post #4 |
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Oh, c'mon A tee shirt compromising security.! Ridiculous nonsense. It's time to take stock people. Hey! some people's perfume upsets me but they don't do anything about that. Maybe we could all travel naked. I'm sure nobody would be offended by that right. :lol: |
| <a href='http://eapr-1/@0@Sandra@1@Edinburgh%2C%20Scotland@' target='_blank'></a> | |
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| Colin | Jan 22 2007, 10:06 PM Post #5 |
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Next they'll be asking "who do you support" before letting anyone board their plane. |
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There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on the earth http://www.myspace.com/colin_o_m http://www.flickr.com/photos/27864525@N08/ | |
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| MarthamyDear | Jan 23 2007, 12:54 AM Post #6 |
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Noone connected to the airlines has a twisted sense of humor these days......can you blame them???? The guy was pushing his luck and it ran out........tough luck is what I say! |
| And it really doesn't matter if I'm wrong, I'm right.......Where I belong I'm right..........Where I belong. | |
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| Deleted User | Jan 23 2007, 01:09 AM Post #7 |
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Well 'MarthamyDear' on the one hand I can see your point, on the other hand if this guy was about to embark on a 18 hour flight across an ocean and the only thing suspicious about him was his taste in T-Shirt attire I'd have to say that's just overkill. By the way ... I'm not actually sure of how long that flight would have been, and I thought the Aussies were more progressive that this. |
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| doris mendlovitz | Jan 23 2007, 01:13 AM Post #8 |
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i Agree he should have been allowed to board the plane. I would have put a sweater over the t shirt and said to heck with it and kept the tshirt on. This is getting rediculas. love doris. |
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| fab4fan | Jan 23 2007, 02:05 AM Post #9 |
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Caretaker
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I don't think it was the Australian they were worried about. More likely they were worried that some drunk Texan was on the flight and wanted to avoid an altercation.
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| Mnisthiti mou Kurie! | |
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| ogoble | Jan 23 2007, 02:14 AM Post #10 |
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Bill flys on Qantas Airlines?
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Beatles/Paul McCartney & Wings Fan
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| BlueMolly2009 | Jan 23 2007, 02:15 AM Post #11 |
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LOLcat Freak
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Okay maybe the airlines should have dress codes. You can't wear certain offensive clothing. You have to wear suits and ties and women HAVE to wear dresses. If a woman wears pants, she can't be on the plane. Remind me never fly Quantes (sp). |
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Molly Myspace My Twitter My FriendFeed My Facebook ![]() Boston Chihuahuas (I took this while at a Starbucks) | |
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| Dorfliedot | Jan 23 2007, 02:19 AM Post #12 |
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Beatlelicious
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question Bill are you wearing one those shirts?
:lol:
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| maccascruff | Jan 23 2007, 02:23 AM Post #13 |
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Sing the Changes
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I think all crying babies should be tossed off planes. They make me want to hit them. Same for the kids who kick the back of my seat.
I think Qantas was way too security conscious here. This has happened in the US and I think it was for a domestic flight. Ever sat next to someone who smelled of tobacco and it makes you feel sick? Why do they let those people board planes. |
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| Dorfliedot | Jan 23 2007, 02:25 AM Post #14 |
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Beatlelicious
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Or someone sticking up The plane by farting. Keep you person high gene to your self.
:lol:
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| fab4fan | Jan 23 2007, 03:06 AM Post #15 |
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Caretaker
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Dorothy, the word you're looking for is hygiene. Eau de parfum, indeed. :lol: |
| Mnisthiti mou Kurie! | |
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| BeatleBarb | Jan 23 2007, 03:10 AM Post #16 |
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You're probably right, but it is still an outrage! |
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| ogoble | Jan 23 2007, 03:10 AM Post #17 |
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I wore some high jeans once, but made me walk funny and talk like a little girl.
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Beatles/Paul McCartney & Wings Fan
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| JanaW | Jan 23 2007, 04:41 AM Post #18 |
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I was on a flight to Dallas once, and there was a group of guys who were SO drunk...and getting drunker by the minute. THEY were offensive...rude...disturbing...loud..and not one person on the crew did anything except keep bringing them liquor, even though about half of us onboard were complaining. I have seen people wearing tee shirts that I thought, personally, were offensive...but never said anything. After all, people should have the ability to express their beliefs, so long as they are in a non-violent manner. Personally....I happen to agree with the man AND his tee-shirt! |
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If slaughterhouses had glass walls the whole world would be vegetarian. Linda McCartney | |
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| theonlyfab4fan | Jan 23 2007, 04:48 AM Post #19 |
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I AM THE BIGGEST JOHN FAN!
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I happened to inadvertenly (due to missing my connection in cincinatti) find myself on a flight to Atlanta which would eventually get me to Little Rock Arkansas. It also happened to be superbowl weekend and apparently that year the superbowl was being played somewhere in that particular vicinity. I think Atlanta might have been the host city that year but won`t swear to it as I make it a point to never really know (since I no longer work in the hotel field) to know where the superbowl is being hosted. At any rate the only 2 sober people on the plane were me and my husband. It made for an interesting plane trip to say the least. I actually at some point wondered if the flight attendants were sober. My how things have changed. Give me an offensive T-Shirt anyday over being stuck in close proximity to a bunch of loud obnoxious drunk fat men who suddenly believe due to the perceptions of alcohol that they have been transformed into stud muffins. |
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You say you want to save humanity but it`s people that you just can`t stand John came to me in a dream and this is what he said. "I had a vision of a man on a flaming pie, and he told me that Betsy with a B not Lisa with a L is the biggest fan of mine". John trumps 'the boss' ! I WAS ROBBED BY THAT DEVIL WOMAN | |
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| JanaW | Jan 23 2007, 04:59 AM Post #20 |
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Isn't that the truth! I am not a good flyer anyway...actually I am a horrible flyer. It is bad enough to have to be in that little silver tube in the air...but to be in such close proximity with people who are drunk and obnoxious...forget it. Claustrophobia is bad enough on it's own, without adding drunks to it. I'd take less offense to a naked guy than a drunk on a plane. |
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If slaughterhouses had glass walls the whole world would be vegetarian. Linda McCartney | |
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| mozart8mytoe | Jan 23 2007, 05:56 AM Post #21 |
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Does this mean I cannot wear my "F*ck you, John Howard" t-shirt to Australia?
When someone kicks the back of your seat, turn around and sneeze on them. Then explain to them that having your seat kicked makes you sneeze and sometimes vomit. Odds are their parents will make them stop. Another option is to ask the flight attendant in a voice loud enough for others around to hear (but not threatening), "Is there a way to find the owner of this child and tell them that it is very rude and dangerous to let their child kick someone's seat?" Public humiliation is an excellent motivator. |
| Nurse, I spy gypsies. Run. | |
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| Dorfliedot | Jan 23 2007, 06:43 AM Post #22 |
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Beatlelicious
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ok, Thanks
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| Bill | Jan 23 2007, 07:06 AM Post #23 |
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Not my style. The t-shirt, not the airline. If people ask what I think, I'll tell them. And I'll tell them more than would fit on a t-shirt. I won't shove it in their faces.
I'd welcome you! I'm not aware of any terrorists who actually wear "Death to America" t-shirts. They're probably a bit more subtle than that. |
| Put a puppet on it. | |
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| Sandra | Jan 23 2007, 10:22 AM Post #24 |
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I'm going to try that next time. :lol: :lol: Although I must say as someone whose legs don't reach the floor and there isn't an inch of room to move in any direction in the seat, I do have a wee bit of sympathy for the child's restlessness. |
| <a href='http://eapr-1/@0@Sandra@1@Edinburgh%2C%20Scotland@' target='_blank'></a> | |
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| JeffLynnesBeard | Jan 23 2007, 10:48 AM Post #25 |
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Administrator & Moderator
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I agree that John is probably right as regards to the airline's motives for not wanting that passenger to wear that particular shirt in that it could antagonise others, but where would that line of thinking end? No sports shirts because they could upset supporters of rival teams? No shirts with any kind of political or social commentary because they could inflame people with different views? It seems that, worldwide, our free societies are becoming less and less free by the day. |
| ...and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make. | |
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| Bill | Jan 23 2007, 12:38 PM Post #26 |
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I'm all for freedom of expression but there's a time and a place for everything. They quite possibly did this guy a favour. Airport security, by necessity, has a complete humour bypass and under the circumstances I think we probably prefer it that way. Making that kind of statement in that kind of situation is pretty obviously done as a dare to everyone to notice him. I equate this with people who smuggle forks onto a flight without any malicious intent, but just to prove they can. I support his right to express himself but I do not support him putting airline staff in the position of having to choose between allowing freedom of expression and the peace of mind of all on board. That's a stupid way to make your point. There are better ways to oppose the war than making a scene like that. The airline staff don't deserve that. They didn't start the war. They're just doing their job to the best of their abilities and they could do it better if they weren't placed in ethical dilemmas by a twit who thinks he can change the world by wearing a t-shirt on a plane. |
| Put a puppet on it. | |
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| theonlyfab4fan | Jan 23 2007, 01:26 PM Post #27 |
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I AM THE BIGGEST JOHN FAN!
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Very good points Bill. Or he could have been like one of my lazy sons and that was the only thing that didn`t smell like pig sweat that he had left to wear. Given the choice of having to look at a T-shirt that had an expression I found distasteful or one that smelled to high heaven I would take the visual offense. I can close my eyes, but if I stop breathing I die. |
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You say you want to save humanity but it`s people that you just can`t stand John came to me in a dream and this is what he said. "I had a vision of a man on a flaming pie, and he told me that Betsy with a B not Lisa with a L is the biggest fan of mine". John trumps 'the boss' ! I WAS ROBBED BY THAT DEVIL WOMAN | |
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| maccascruff | Jan 23 2007, 01:35 PM Post #28 |
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Sing the Changes
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I will try the vomit comment the next time, Moz. Thanks for the suggestion. I'd take an offensive t-shirt over a smelly one any day, too, especially if the person is sitting near me. I have seen in my travels, United kick a drunk off the plane before we left Denver. He had vomited all over first class and apparently in the first class bathroom before we even took off. They had to get the police to remove him. He "promised" he wouldn't do it again and kept screaming that he was an elite passenger and they would pay for this. It took the cops and medics with a stretcher to get him off the plane. My seat mate told me that the guy had been vomiting in the waiting area, too. It was announced there would be a delay in takeoff so the cleaning crew could come on the plane and clean up. Passengers cheered because we were glad the guy was not flying with us. When we landed, everyone was thanking the captain for his actions. |
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| Deleted User | Jan 23 2007, 04:50 PM Post #29 |
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While I see his point clearly, I also see Quantas' point. Going 400 MPH at 35,000 feet in the air in an aluminum tube is not where you want a full on brawl to take place. Especially in light of the heightened security since 9/11. Personally, I would have let him on the flight, after busting his chops a bit.
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| Deleted User | Jan 23 2007, 04:59 PM Post #30 |
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Excellent point, Bill. One thing I can't stand is a car so covered in bumper stickers that it looks like a travelling billboard. Usually these are liberals' cars, but on occasion you see conservatives like this too. A close friend of mine has one sticker on his car. It says: "Actions Speak Louder Than Bumper Stickers". It's the best advice any liberal could take. |
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| JanaW | Jan 23 2007, 05:04 PM Post #31 |
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I personally think he would have gotten more of a reaction to the shirt on a plane in the United States than in Australia. I'm still not sure where security comes into this. At best they should have allowed him on the plane and if someone said something (nobody on the previous plane had!) then they could have asked him to go and turn the shirt wrong side out to continue the flight. If this is allowed to happen on a plane, where will it end? Next will it be restaurants? No shoes, No shirts (if they are for the opposing team, no dresses shorter than below the knee, children must wear suits and ties, no little girls without hair ribbons), No Service. Next it will be that you can only shop in approved stores, eat in approved restaurants, watch approved programs and listen to approved music. You will have a government doing your thinking for you. Just because you don't find something offensive does not mean others will not. Especially others who WANT to find something. What if your child wears a New Orleans Saints shirt to school and someone takes offense to it and raises a stink because they support the Chicago Bears; what if your child wears a shirt that says Little Ceasars Pizza on it and someone takes offense because their dad owns Luigi's Pizzeria? Are you just going to stand back and allow the school to tell your child what to wear, when you have approved it at home and see nothing wrong with it? This is not about a shirt. It is about freedom of speech and your civil rights. As Andy said "It seems that, worldwide, our free societies are becoming less and less free by the day." Wake up people....or you might wake up one day and not be able to talk freely. |
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If slaughterhouses had glass walls the whole world would be vegetarian. Linda McCartney | |
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| Deleted User | Jan 23 2007, 05:45 PM Post #32 |
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Safety of and for the passengers trumps everything. The person who let him onto the other flight may have not noticed the shirt, or maybe there's too much grey area in the rules, I don't know. But the second you board a plane, free speech goes out the window, and whatever the airline says is the rule of the day. |
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| BlueMolly2009 | Jan 23 2007, 06:02 PM Post #33 |
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LOLcat Freak
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That is just wrong. I should be allowed to wear what I want on a plane. I'm not being violent. If someone has a problem with it, I'll be glad to hide it. The airline should have told the guy to wear a jacket or wear the shirt inside out instead of telling him he couldn't board. I still think if this happens again, maybe we should have dress codes on every airline. Formal dress allowed, no jeans or t-shirts. |
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Molly Myspace My Twitter My FriendFeed My Facebook ![]() Boston Chihuahuas (I took this while at a Starbucks) | |
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| Deleted User | Jan 23 2007, 06:12 PM Post #34 |
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Should you be allowed to unquestioningly wear a "Death to All Americans" T-shirt? I don't think so. When did this mentality of "I have a RIGHT to board YOUR plane wearing whatever I want!" come about? If what you have on can possibly incite any type of violence on a plane, it should be expected to draw possible criticism or actions by the airline. You don't own that plane, the airline does. As a car owner, you have the right to refuse a ride to anyone you wish. On a much grander scale, they have the same right. regardless if you paid a fare or not. It is a PRIVILEGE to fly their plane, not a right. |
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| maccascruff | Jan 24 2007, 03:07 AM Post #35 |
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Sing the Changes
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You see them on liberals' cars and on occasion on a conservatives' car. I see bumper stickers on cars from both sides of the fence and plenty of them. I had my Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker removed with a knife and it damaged my car. I was not a happy camper. |
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| mozart8mytoe | Jan 24 2007, 05:00 AM Post #36 |
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It is a service, not a privilege. Businesses can refuse to sell their service to a customer, but once they do they have an obligation to provide the best service possible, or risk the consequences. |
| Nurse, I spy gypsies. Run. | |
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| Deleted User | Jan 24 2007, 05:05 AM Post #37 |
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Whoever did that was an assh*le, but I'll never believe that the split is 50/50. There are far too many small cars on the road covered in liberal propaganda stickers. Conservatives tend to recognize the depreciation of trade-in value for such a car. :lol: :lol:
(That last part was a joke.)
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| Deleted User | Jan 24 2007, 05:10 AM Post #38 |
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That service is still a privilege. I would never sell a seat to someone for my (hypothetical) aeroplane if he looked like he may be drunk enough to puke in it. That is not refusing service to one person, so much as it is guaranteeing that several more potential passengers don't have to be exposed to "vomit smell" when they board. I'm ultimately pleasing more customers than I p*ss off. Which is a good thing. |
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| mozart8mytoe | Jan 24 2007, 05:44 AM Post #39 |
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You are free to sell or not sell seats to whomever you wish, but it is not my privilege to fly on your airline. It is your privilege to serve me as your customer. |
| Nurse, I spy gypsies. Run. | |
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| Deleted User | Jan 24 2007, 05:47 AM Post #40 |
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It is my duty, not my privilege to serve you, and as long as you are not potentially costing me/disrupting my business, I will treat you like the queen you deserve to be treated like. And pray for a shot at the mile high club.
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| mozart8mytoe | Jan 24 2007, 06:13 AM Post #41 |
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Which, as we can both agree, is not a right, but indeed a genuine privilege. |
| Nurse, I spy gypsies. Run. | |
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| Deleted User | Jan 24 2007, 06:25 AM Post #42 |
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Without a doubt, the single greatest privilege available to man, my queen. Can I peel you a grape? |
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Hey! some people's perfume upsets me but they don't do anything about that. 


:lol:



7:14 PM Jul 11