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Flight ban for anti-Bush T-shirt
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| Flight ban for anti-Bush T-shirt A passenger barred from a Qantas airlines flight for wearing a T-shirt depicting US President George Bush as a terrorist has threatened legal action. Allen Jasson said he was sticking up for the principle of free speech by challenging the decision by the Australian flag carrier. Mr Jasson was stopped as he was about to board the flight from Melbourne to London last Friday. Qantas said the T-shirt had potential to offend other passengers. The T-shift features an image of President George W Bush, along with the slogan "World's Number One Terrorist". 'Principle' The 55-year-old computer specialist, who lives in London, had encountered difficulties with the same T-shirt on an earlier Qantas flight in December. After clearing the international security checks at Melbourne Airport, he reportedly approached the gate manager to congratulate him on the company's new-found open-mindedness. At that point, Mr Jasson was ordered to remove the T-shirt after being told it was a security threat and an item which might cause offence to other passengers. He was offered the chance to board the flight wearing different clothing, but refused. "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," he told Australian media. A Qantas spokesman defended the airline's decision, saying: "Whether made verbally or on a T-shirt, comments with the potential to offend other customers or threaten the security of a Qantas group aircraft will not be tolerated". |
No matter what he was wearing, the airline has the right to refuse service..... so no big deal, plus it did not happen in the US so whats your point?? 
Don't have much love for airlines and anti-terrorism laws on airlines, but basically its their stuff and if you don't play by their weird rules you lump it.
Idiocy on airlines isn't tolerated.
Why not just have a picture of the burning towers while he's at it....
Well he was obviously out to take the piss having done it once before, get his 15minutes of fame and get about as close as most 55year old computer science guys will get to being a 'rebel'.
Probably write about it in his 'blog' when he gets home and have other like minded nut jobs throwing their moral outrage in about how 'the man' stopped them from going into a night club with sneakers on once.
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| Originally posted by Lilith Well he was obviously out to take the piss having done it once before... |
True, just buy a convertible when the willie stops working and stop trying to save the rest of us from weird airline policies.
I don't see you people defending the Freedom Of Speech here.
I recall seeing quite different opinions after Denmark's newspaper published Muhamed's cartoons.
Freedom of Speech has no real bearing on this. An airplane is, in effect, a private club. The owners of that plane have the right to deny anyone for just about any reason they want. No matter how much people don't like it.
As a customer of an airline, you are agreeing to follow their rules. When I was young, you could not wear a t-shirt at all on most airlines. Most airlines have loosened their dress codes for paying customers.
MrS
Hey, those 'private clubs' operates in a Democratic-like country, so they must obey its rules. If Australia allows people to express them self freely, they DON'T HAVE ANY RIGHT to forbid it.
Actially, I'm not suprised to see that kind of reaction at all.
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| Originally posted by star-traveller I don't see you people defending the Freedom Of Speech here. I recall seeing quite different opinions after Denmark's newspaper published Muhamed's cartoons. |
EDIT: Sadly, the airline can do things like that, its their "private club", as some say. They can consider that a "threat" to security. Following the 9/11 attacks I've heard of funnier things people got kicked out of airplanes for.
All I can recommend is never use that airline again. And tell the guy to go around with his story. Maybe the airline will stop being political, and start putting customers in priority view. Airlines for good part are known for shitty service, and poor treatment, especially since 9/11.
Nothing surprising here. It's the same as a fancy restaurant enforcing dress code. Not allowing you into a fancy restaurant because of your dress would not be a violation of free speech.
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| Originally posted by Magnetonium Maybe the airline will stop being political, and start putting customers in priority view. |
i found it quite funny seeing the OP mis-spell moron 
you can call him an idiot for pushing the point by wearing a shirt he knew would cause trouble, but that was the whole purpose. To a great many people bush is a terrorist, how is that political statement a threat to security of the plane?
On it's own this issue is not a big deal, but with people being removed from planes for daring to speak in non-english languages, or looking non-anglo, this is all part of a dangerous precedent.
As for airlines being a law unto themselves, that's just rubbish. They do have a duty of care in regards to security, and we are accepting a lower level of freedom in many ways to achieve this, but they are not exempt from the laws of society.
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| Originally posted by Sunsnail Nothing surprising here. It's the same as a fancy restaurant enforcing dress code. Not allowing you into a fancy restaurant because you of your dress would not be a violation of free speech. That's what they're doing in the situation. |
Dozens of cases of people being denied flights due to something offensive and non-political on a tshirt, they do it all the time. Even for things like a 'Meet the Fockers' tshirt which was from the movie, heavy metal shirts, satirical tshirts with sexual innuendo and swearing.
They don't like your tshirt, you dont fly.
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| Originally posted by Lilith Dozens of cases of people being denied flights due to something offensive and non-political on a tshirt, they do it all the time. Even for things like a 'Meet the Fockers' tshirt which was from the movie, heavy metal shirts, satirical tshirts with sexual innuendo and swearing. They don't like your tshirt, you dont fly. |
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| Originally posted by star-traveller I don't see you people defending the Freedom Of Speech here. |
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| I recall seeing quite different opinions after Denmark's newspaper published Muhamed's cartoons. |
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| Originally posted by star-traveller I don't see you people defending the Freedom Of Speech here. I recall seeing quite different opinions after Denmark's newspaper published Muhamed's cartoons. |
Sure it is stupid but they're a business and they have the right to refuse their services. It has nothing to do with the first amendment and the right of free speech.
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| Originally posted by Q5echo some of us realize freedom of speech is irrelavent here. there is no 1st Amendment in an airport or airplane no matter what country youre in. |
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| Originally posted by Fir3start3r Really? Try saying, "Hi Jack" or joke about a bomb and see where your Freedom of Speech gets you. You conveniently forget that with freedom comes responsibility.. |
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| Originally posted by Zild Sure it is stupid but they're a business and they have the right to refuse their services. It has nothing to do with the first amendment and the right of free speech. |
I can't believe everyone here's actually defending this crap. Pathetic.
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| Originally posted by DJ Shibby So... What exactly does freedom mean? Anyone know? |
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