Wearing my most controversial political opinions across my breasts has never really been my style. I prefer to rely on my big mouth (and writing) to express myself. But there are plenty of people who are more comfortable advertising where they stand via their clothing. Like a woman who is being referred to only as "O," who was wearing the outspoken pro-choice T-shirt shown here when she flew American Airlines recently.
O told the website RH Reality Check that she was confronted by a flight attendant who told her that she needed to speak with the captain before making her connecting flight, because her t-shirt was "offensive." The captain said that she shouldn't have been allowed to board in the first place and would have to change before boarding her connection. As a result, she ended up missing that second flight. I smell a protest!!
It's not like O was the first lady to wear a tee sporting the politically-charged statement. The slogan first appeared on a sign at a rally in Oklahoma in February, and Oklahoma Sen. Judy McIntyre (D) posed with the sign, later telling HuffPo:
I saw a sea of signs that caught my eye, but this one in particular -- I loved its offensive language, because it's just as offensive for Republicans of Oklahoma to do what they're doing as it relates to women's bodies. I don't apologize for it.
O must have seen eye-to-eye with Sen. McIntyre, and I don't blame her for being pumped about the message! But at the same time, well, it's not like the action American Airlines took against her was unprecedented. It clearly states in the airline's conditions of carriage that "American may refuse to transport you, or may remove you from your flight at any point, for one or several reasons," one of which is if you're "clothed in a manner that would cause discomfort or offense to other passengers."
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And an AA representative responded to the story by explaining that the problem the pilot had with O's shirt was the "f-word," not the pro-choice sentiment.
Like it or not, seems like that's all legit legally. Still, it's galling that the airline thinks its their job to regulate passenger's clothing and preempt another passenger being offended.
If I saw a guy with an anti-semetic sentiment on his sweatshirt or a someone using a laptop sporting a misogynistic GOP bumper sticker, I'd be offended, sure. But I wouldn't necessarily expect the airline to kick that person off the flight. Then again, leaving passengers to their own idiotic devices and knee-jerk reactions could get ugly.
Guess AA is just trying to play mediator to keep the peace aboard their flights, huh? Too bad even hilarious, spot-on messages have to fall by the wayside for that to happen ... but maybe next time O flies, if she just blurs out the offending word, it should be go.
Do you think airlines have a right to tell us what we can and can't wear?
Image via crocktees.com
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Comments 61
Boycott American Airlines until they apologize and stop discriminating. I'm certain if the the woman had been wearing an ANTI-GAY! REPUBLICAN! ANTI-CHOICE! tee-shirt she would not have been harassed in any way.
I am offended by the F-word, and I think how it was used on this shirt is offensive. Have I ever said the word, of course I have, but I don't use it in every other sentence I speak. I try to teach my teen Grandsons, that when you use bad language, to try to get your point across, it makes you sound ignorant. I have asked people in the store to please watch their language, when I have the kids with me. There is a balance of rights, your right to free speech, and my right to not have to listen to your profanity. Unfortunately in our society today, the attitude is, if you don't like what I say, TS, but I also have the right to shop, or move about, without having to listen to some one's vulgar mouth. My question would be, did someone complain about the offensive shirt? If they did, what else could the airline do?
Here it comes again that politically correct crap. That is considered freedom of speech, we live in the United States not some other country. Like people don't say this word all of the time.
I don't think it's so much that the airline is trying to tell people what to wear as it is making sure the environment is somewhat appropriate. I know I would be really irritated if I was sitting next to someone wearing something as trashy as this and even more irritated if my daughter read her shirt. It's a no win situation when airlines try to enforce the dress code but I think in this case they made a good call.
The airlines are getting more and more strict about what passengers are allowed to wear. What? Did she think there would be no kids on the flight ?, Really. I guess she expected everyone to read it, smile and nod in agreement. I bet people who totally agree with her politically think she went about it the wrong way.
In a confined space, like a plane, let's tone down your 1st Amendment demands to be heard on political (and other) subjects.