This isn't a necessarily political thing, and there is certainly precedent for it. I've seen TSA make passengers change their shirt because it was a band T shirt with the word "fuck" on it.
Freedom of expression has always had limitations, according to what is considered to be "commonly decent" when people have not consented to hear/see that expression.
We can argue whether or not "decency" laws have any place in a constitutional republic, but the fact remains they have always been a part of US law, and as far as I know, the law of every other country. This isn't the same as getting kicked off the plane for wearing a MAGA hat (which has happened, and is despicable), or even a "Let's Go Brandon" shirt. Cursing is still widely considered vulgar and unacceptable in most social situations, even if people care less and less about it with each passing generation.
It seems based on the video, the young man's bigger crime was questioning the flight attendant. Had he just removed the sweatshirt or turned it inside out without comment it may have ended there. Airline people don't like to be delayed, and asking questions causes delays. That said, he was polite and he did comply, and now Delta Airlines has a PR nightmare on their hands because they couldn't let it go once he did what he was asked.
His story is remarkable, and I think we'll be hearing many good things about him in the years to come.
I'm a former airline employee too, and the captain has the final say on who rides on his airplane. Pilots might defer to the flight attendant in the case of a drunk or abusive passenger (don't want to have to deal with that mid-flight), but this certainly wasn't the case here. The second he complied it should have ended.
This isn't a necessarily political thing, and there is certainly precedent for it. I've seen TSA make passengers change their shirt because it was a band T shirt with the word "fuck" on it.
Freedom of expression has always had limitations, according to what is considered to be "commonly decent" when people have not consented to hear/see that expression.
We can argue whether or not "decency" laws have any place in a constitutional republic, but the fact remains they have always been a part of US law, and as far as I know, the law of every other country. This isn't the same as getting kicked off the plane for wearing a MAGA hat (which has happened, and is despicable), or even a "Let's Go Brandon" shirt. Cursing is still widely considered vulgar and unacceptable in most social situations, even if people care less and less about it with each passing generation.
It seems based on the video, the young man's bigger crime was questioning the flight attendant. Had he just removed the sweatshirt or turned it inside out without comment it may have ended there. Airline people don't like to be delayed, and asking questions causes delays. That said, he was polite and he did comply, and now Delta Airlines has a PR nightmare on their hands because they couldn't let it go once he did what he was asked.
His story is remarkable, and I think we'll be hearing many good things about him in the years to come.
Agreed.
I'm a former airline employee too, and the captain has the final say on who rides on his airplane. Pilots might defer to the flight attendant in the case of a drunk or abusive passenger (don't want to have to deal with that mid-flight), but this certainly wasn't the case here. The second he complied it should have ended.