posted on September 28, 2001 06:33:27 AM new
I'm off to work, but wanted to get some opinions on this:
"SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - Utah officials have threatened to sue Northwest Airlines for keeping three Middle Eastern men off a Salt Lake City-bound flight last week after passengers, nervous over the hijack attacks on the United States, said they did not feel safe.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff on Thursday asked Northwest Airlines' Chief Executive Richard Anderson in a letter for a meeting with executives to find out why the airline would not let the three men on the flight. Shurtleff's spokesman, Paul Murphy, said the state threatened a civil lawsuit against the airline if the matter was not resolved.
Since the attacks on New York and Washington with hijacked commercial airliners, there have been a few incidents in which U.S. air passengers or crew have objected to flying with passengers who appeared to be from the Middle East."
posted on September 28, 2001 05:39:13 PM new
No takers?
I'll answer myself then! (I like talking to myself - I usually like the answers).
I think the airline is NUTS!! First, these Middle Eastern men went through security to get on the plane, right? So, they must be fine.
I don't agree with, but I can understand the other passengers fear about flying with the Middle Eastern men. I strongly DISAGREE with them voicing those fears, and the airline cowtowing to them.
My take - if you aren't comfortable, by all means, quietly gather your coat, and exit the plane.
The airline is in a tough situation - discriminate, or lose customers of the majority skin color... they chose the almighty buck, and now it is going to cost them, hopefully BIG.
And, by kicking the men off, what did they say about their own security measures? They would have been better off calmly assuring passengers that they have strict security measures in place, and these men passed that security.
posted on September 28, 2001 06:03:34 PM new
Northwest Airlines was wrong and I hope that Utah wins this suit.
It's a shameful and shabby way to treat all Middle Eastern people as if they are terrorists. Passengers who feel unsafe should exit the plane and find another method of transportation.
I would personally like to see them left with nothing to ride but perhaps a horse and buggy.
posted on September 28, 2001 07:59:29 PM newI think the airline is NUTS!! First, these Middle Eastern men went through security to get on the plane, right? So, they must be fine.
LOL, the hijackers went through security too, remember? A guy in Philadelphia last week got box cutters aboard a plane and called the FAA to tell them as a way of complaining about the crappy security measures (his wife wanted to fly to Ireland and the guy smuggled the boxcutters through security to prove to her that airlines still weren't safe). Another fellow waltzed through the security check carrying a registered pistol -- days after the terrorist attack.
The security checks are administered by the same minimum-wage imbeciles who were performing them before. What do you think, that the airlines ran out and hired all new professionally trained security checkers? No way.
posted on September 28, 2001 08:16:21 PM new
Nevermind a "Recession" in America...We are heading for a "Regression"...Let's be suspicious of ANYONE a little more tanned than we, and for good measure, let's KILL or BEAT UP ANYONE who looks remotely Arabic: of course, wearing the Turban and having a Beard instantly qualifies and justifies the acts of murder taking place throughout America!(some not far from my town). And while we are at it, why not make the Arabic-looking people travel in different planes...the OLD one, out of service since the last war...That should be good enough for them, right?
Our discontentment should be with AIRPORT SECURITY, or lack thereof, and with all airlines which were not willing to sacrifice a small portion of their HUGE profits to make flying more secure.....
Instead, we are starting on a dangerous path; a witch-hunt. Are we to become so paranoid that we will turn on an entire Race, just as someone else turned on an entire Race, back in WWII?
posted on September 28, 2001 08:16:25 PM new
Are we forgetting in four months we have the Winter Olympic's in Salt Lake City. The FBI just release a World Wide Watch!
Don't be nervous about them being on the plane now!
But why were they going to Salt Lake City. I would following them and find out what buisness do they have there. Remember the Hijackers in the WTC crash scope the area before time!
posted on September 28, 2001 08:29:40 PM new
What a bunch of small minded scared people. Maybe they should have searched those men to see if they had any fingernail clippers.
Paranoia reigns supreme..
[ edited by outoftheblue on Sep 28, 2001 10:01 PM ]
posted on September 28, 2001 09:50:25 PM new
In a way I agree with you outoftheblue. I could probably "smuggle" a fingernail polish bottle filled with a deadly virus. Who'd know??.....anything can be considered a weapon or be suspicious, but I think for now things are going to seem out of proportion. People might be treated differently for awhile but this is a whole new situation for everybody so we'll learn as we grow. After less than 3 weeks, I don't think things are that bad though. When the shock finally starts to wear off, then I think we'll all know what we need to do and what concessions we'll be willing to make to have a safer life.
posted on September 29, 2001 02:55:29 AM new
Speaking of nails...
Hubby read somewhere (?) about a pilot having a fit because security took his nail clippers. What is he going to do hijack the plane by threatening to cut his own nails???
(I like talking to myself - I usually like the answers).