Banned for wearing anti-Bush T-shirt
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AN Australian was barred from a London-Melbourne flight unless he removed a T-shirt depicting George Bush as the world's number one terrorist.
Allen Jasson was also prevented from catching a connecting flight within Australia later the same day unless he removed the offending T-shirt.
Mr Jasson says Qantas and Virgin Blue were engaging in censorship but the airlines say the T-shirt was a security issue and could affect the sensitivities of other passengers.
"The woman at the security check-in (at Heathrow) just said to me, 'You are not wearing that'," Mr Jasson, 55, said yesterday.
Mr Jasson, who lives in London and was flying to Australia to visit family on December 2, said he was first told he would need to turn the T-shirt inside-out before he would be allowed to board the Qantas flight.
"I told her I had the right to express my opinion," he said.
"She called other security and other people got involved. Ultimately, they said it was a security issue . . . in light of the present situation."
After a prolonged argument about freedom of speech and expression, Mr Jasson said a Qantas gate manager said he could not fly at all unless he wore another T-shirt.
Mr Jasson said his clothing had already been checked in and he was forced to buy a new T-shirt – this time with London Underground written on it – coincidentally the site of a terrorist attack last year.
"I felt I had made my point and caved in," Mr Jasson said.
But after arriving in Australia, Mr Jasson said he put his Bush T-shirt back on and was again banned from boarding a connecting flight – this time a Virgin Blue plane from Adelaide to Melbourne.
"It was argued other passengers could be offended," Mr Jasson said.
"I said it was most offensive that I would be prevented from expressing my political views."
Mr Jasson said the T-shirt often sparked comment from people in the street.
A Virgin Blue spokeswoman said the airline had a policy to ban offensive clothing and bare feet. "Most people use common sense and don't go out of their way to offend people," she said.
(http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20925632-38200,00.html) -
Offending Americans with a T-shirt is a security issue..
Offending Muslims with cartoons of their prophet is freedom of speech
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Actually if I see him do that , I will cheer him on! Fuck what the others think.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:AN Australian was barred from a London-Melbourne flight unless he removed a T-shirt depicting George Bush as the world's number one terrorist.
Allen Jasson was also prevented from catching a connecting flight within Australia later the same day unless he removed the offending T-shirt.
Mr Jasson says Qantas and Virgin Blue were engaging in censorship but the airlines say the T-shirt was a security issue and could affect the sensitivities of other passengers.
"The woman at the security check-in (at Heathrow) just said to me, 'You are not wearing that'," Mr Jasson, 55, said yesterday.
Mr Jasson, who lives in London and was flying to Australia to visit family on December 2, said he was first told he would need to turn the T-shirt inside-out before he would be allowed to board the Qantas flight.
"I told her I had the right to express my opinion," he said.
"She called other security and other people got involved. Ultimately, they said it was a security issue . . . in light of the present situation."
After a prolonged argument about freedom of speech and expression, Mr Jasson said a Qantas gate manager said he could not fly at all unless he wore another T-shirt.
Mr Jasson said his clothing had already been checked in and he was forced to buy a new T-shirt – this time with London Underground written on it – coincidentally the site of a terrorist attack last year.
"I felt I had made my point and caved in," Mr Jasson said.
But after arriving in Australia, Mr Jasson said he put his Bush T-shirt back on and was again banned from boarding a connecting flight – this time a Virgin Blue plane from Adelaide to Melbourne.
"It was argued other passengers could be offended," Mr Jasson said.
"I said it was most offensive that I would be prevented from expressing my political views."
Mr Jasson said the T-shirt often sparked comment from people in the street.
A Virgin Blue spokeswoman said the airline had a policy to ban offensive clothing and bare feet. "Most people use common sense and don't go out of their way to offend people," she said.
(http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20925632-38200,00.html) -
Likewise in Sinkapore.....Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Offending Americans with a T-shirt is a security issue..
Offending Muslims with cartoons of their prophet is freedom of speech -
if singapore offend america...then DIE LIAO LOH~~~Originally posted by Lowclassman:Likewise in Sinkapore.....
kekeke~ -
remember, in sg...politics is no laughing matter.....lmao...lol..lol...lol...lol
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Something strange about this...
Hmm... -
Double Standard.
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The cartoons are banned in Singapore, and rightly so...Originally posted by Lowclassman:Likewise in Sinkapore..... -
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAHOriginally posted by countdracula:remember, in sg...politics is no laughing matter.....lmao...lol..lol...lol...lol
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You can try publish something like, "BUSH IS NO. 1 TERRORIST! DOWN WITH BUSH!!" See how.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:The cartoons are banned in Singapore, and rightly so... -
Bush is a terrorist indeed. Look at the mess he created in Iraq.
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Bush is a clear and present danger to the security of the United States and the world.
Which realm of security does that lie in? I will leave you guys to decide for yourself. -
If the police objects to you wearing such a T-shirt on the grounds that it is offensive, Singapore would have been consistent. After all, we also object to the publication of the Danish cartoons which are offensive to Muslims.Originally posted by Hogzilla:You can try publish something like, "BUSH IS NO. 1 TERRORIST! DOWN WITH BUSH!!" See how.
It is the hypocrisy of the Australians that is highlighted by this incident. They object to an anti-Bush T-shirt as a threat to security and offensive to some people, but allow extremely offensive remarks against Islam as freedom of expression.
It's plain double standards and hypocrisy! -
What about Dan Browqn's Da Vinci Code and the subsequent blockbuster starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tateau? Many Catholics didn't like it, so why was it given the green light?Originally posted by oxford mushroom:If the police objects to you wearing such a T-shirt on the grounds that it is offensive, Singapore would have been consistent. After all, we also object to the publication of the Danish cartoons which are offensive to Muslims.
It is the hypocrisy of the Australians that is highlighted by this incident. They object to an anti-Bush T-shirt as a threat to security and offensive to some people, but allow extremely offensive remarks against Islam as freedom of expression.
It's plain double standards and hypocrisy!
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Different cultures have differing degrees of importance slapped onto different things/ideals.
One key element in interpreting this, is by looking at which socio-cultural background that society is weighing its response in light of.
Racism is one very easy charge used by those who refuse to think and think hard enough, not to mention allow for a degree of ambiguity and relativity. -
What a bunch of hypocrites! So ambiguous and relative indeed that in reality you just have to accept that the white man's values are absolute and any discrepancies in his arguments must be allowed 'a certain degree of ambiguity and relativity'.Originally posted by LazerLordz:Different cultures have differing degrees of importance slapped onto different things/ideals.
One key element in interpreting this, is by looking at which socio-cultural background that society is weighing its response in light of.
Racism is one very easy charge used by those who refuse to think and think hard enough, not to mention allow for a degree of ambiguity and relativity.
If you make blasphemous statements against Muslims, it's freedom of expression. If you insult Americans or their president, you become a terrorist and threaten the security of the plane.
If Saddam is to be hanged, that's the decision of the people in a sovereign nation. If drug traffickers are to be hanged, it is odious and barbaric.
If a developing country is unable to export anything, it is because their people are lazy or not productive. If a developing country is exporting everything, it is because they are dumping their goods on the market.
If the USA spends billions of dollars to develop the Strategic Defense Initiative (commonly known as Star War), they are just protecting their people. IF China learns how to shoot their own satellite down, they are trying to militarize space.
If you deny the Holocaust, you should be condemned by the entire United Nations. If Japan denies the Nanking massacre, it's...well, it never really happened...
Might is right. If you are strong, you are always right. What is human rights and what are socio-cultural norms? .Oh, it's all rather ambiguous and relative. It's whether you have the power to carry out your policy that will decide what is right and appropriate behavior. -
Afraid you have missed my point completely.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:What a bunch of hypocrites! So ambiguous and relative indeed that in reality you just have to accept that the white man's values are absolute and any discrepancies in his arguments must be allowed 'a certain degree of ambiguity and relativity'.
If you make blasphemous statements against Muslims, it's freedom of expression. If you insult Americans or their president, you become a terrorist and threaten the security of the plane.
If Saddam is to be hanged, that's the decision of the people in a sovereign nation. If drug traffickers are to be hanged, it is odious and barbaric.
If a developing country is unable to export anything, it is because their people are lazy or not productive. If a developing country is exporting everything, it is because they are dumping their goods on the market.
If the USA spends billions of dollars to develop the Strategic Defense Initiative (commonly known as Star War), they are just protecting their people. IF China learns how to shoot their own satellite down, they are trying to militarize space.
If you deny the Holocaust, you should be condemned by the entire United Nations. If Japan denies the Nanking massacre, it's...well, it never really happened...
Might is right. If you are strong, you are always right. What is human rights and what are socio-cultural norms? .Oh, it's all rather ambiguous and relative. It's whether you have the power to carry out your policy that will decide what is right and appropriate behavior.