Submission + - Computer Specialist barred from flying for T-shirt
Proud like a god writes: As reported by the BBC The 55-year-old computer specialist, Allen Jasson, who lives in London, said he was sticking up for the principle of free speech when he was stopped as he was about to board a flight from Melbourne to London last Friday. He was wearing a T-shift features an image of President George W Bush, along with the slogan "World's Number One Terrorist".
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.
"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".
What suprises me is that airlines still justify these policies, and is there more than a correlation between us nerds and an interest in Free Speech?
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.
"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".
What suprises me is that airlines still justify these policies, and is there more than a correlation between us nerds and an interest in Free Speech?
