An American Airlines flight attendant’s support for Palestine wasn’t well received by a Jewish passenger, and it caused a pretty heated standoff, as flagged by PYOK.
In this post:
Passenger confronts pro-Palestine American flight attendant
Jewish influencer Melissa Chapman took to Instagram yesterday, to post a video that was shared with her about an incident that happened the evening of Thursday, January 2, 2024, as an American flight arrived at Miami International Airport (MIA).
The conflict revolves around how the flight attendant is wearing a watermelon pin, which has in recent times been used as a more subtle symbol to show support for Palestinians in the conflict (in lieu of the Palestinian flag).
The video caption claims that the crew “wouldn’t let him leave the plane until he deleted the video,” “which he didn’t, and he asked for the police to come.” The video claims that the “man was treated like a criminal cause he took a video of a terrorist supporter.”
The video starts part way through the interaction, with the man telling the flight attendant “you’re supporting terrorism with your pin, and you made us uncomfortable as being Jewish.” The man then tells the crew they’re being antisemitic, and accuses them of stopping him because he’s Jewish.
The flight attendants accuse the man of harassing the crew, and refuse to let him leave the aircraft, stating that they’re calling the police. When the man asks the flight attendants what he did to harass them, the flight attendant responds “you touched me, you don’t touch me, who are you to touch me.” Interestingly, the man doesn’t refute the claim, but instead continues to tell the flight attendants to get away from him.
The crew then tells him to stop recording them, telling him that he’s not allowed to do that. She once again reiterates that he touched her, and then that’s roughly when the video stops.
Does American let flight attendants wear pins?
Logically, one question here is whether the flight attendant wearing a watermelon pin is following the carrier’s uniform guidelines. Best I can tell, the answer is no, and that this isn’t allowed. At American, flight attendants are allowed to wear company-issued anniversary or award pins, union pins, employee business interest group pins, or American flag pins. However, other pins aren’t allowed, so the flight attendant wasn’t following the rules.
This is hardly the first controversy at a US airline involving pins. For example, in July 2024, Delta changed its employee flag pin policy. Historically the airline has allowed flight attendants to wear pins representing countries that they have some sort of a connection to. Some flight attendants elected to wear Palestine pins, so the airline ended up just banning flag pins altogether.
This level of divisiveness accomplishes nothing
I realize I’m probably not making friends on either side here, but I just think that as a society, we need to become more mature than this.
If you support Palestinians, breaking your company’s uniform policy and wearing something that a large percentage of passengers will feel negatively about doesn’t accomplish anything. Conversely, if you support Israel, sticking a camera in a flight attendant’s face, possibly touching her, and calling her a terrorist supporter, isn’t going to help either.
I also think we have to stop making this an us vs. them situation. It’s possible to feel bad for the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have died in this conflict (especially the number of children), without supporting the government. That’s not to minimize the awful terrorist attack that was committed against Israel, and the number of people who were taken hostage.
When we have interactions, we’ve gotta think about what we want the end goal to be, rather than just name calling to feel better about ourselves. Is the goal actually to change someone’s mind? If so, treating them nicely, and having a constructive dialogue, seems like it would accomplish a lot more.
Honestly, it’s not unlike the general political dialogue in this country. Just look at how divided we are when it comes to politics. I mean, I certainly have strong opinions, but I choose not to believe that those with different opinions than me are evil, don’t care about America, etc. Do I think they’re maybe misinformed at times, or are making moral compromises? Sure. But for most people, I don’t assume it comes from a bad place, and I’m sure they feel similarly about me.
My point is to say that I don’t think a single person’s mind has ever been changed by going up to them and calling them a “terrorist supporter.” Largely, our disagreements in society are based on where we get our information, how much knowledge we have about a topic, what we’re willing to overlook, etc.
In my opinion, the flight attendant shouldn’t have worn the pin, because it violates the company’s policy. The traveler would’ve been within his rights to report that uniform violation to the company. However, confronting her in a hostile way isn’t how this should be handled, in my opinion.
One thing that’s not clear is at what point he was prevented from leaving the aircraft. Was it after he touched a flight attendant, or did he touch a flight attendant while trying to leave the aircraft? Because essentially detaining a passenger also potentially crosses the line.
Bottom line
A video is going viral of a Jewish passenger confronting an American flight attendant over her watermelon pin, intended to show support for Palestinians. The passenger accuses the flight attendant of being an antisemitic terrorist supporter, and the flight attendant refuses to let the man off the plane, claiming he touched her.
Ultimately it would appear that the flight attendant was violating American’s uniform policy, so she shouldn’t have been wearing that while on the job. At the same time, if the passenger did in fact touch the flight attendant, that definitely crosses the line (as does the way he talks to her, in my opinion).
What do you make of this incident (and please be respectful — as a reminder, you can find OMAAT commenting guidelines here)?
People are allowed to support or not support whoever they please. Whether the flight attendant violated the uniform code of the airline is not the concern of the passenger who is using his Jewish identity as a crutch to vilify another human being without her uttering a single anti-Semitic trope or statement. To completely lose his cool for a matter of a pin that offends his sensibility points to his prejudice to be above the...
People are allowed to support or not support whoever they please. Whether the flight attendant violated the uniform code of the airline is not the concern of the passenger who is using his Jewish identity as a crutch to vilify another human being without her uttering a single anti-Semitic trope or statement. To completely lose his cool for a matter of a pin that offends his sensibility points to his prejudice to be above the rest of humanity. To accuse another person of supporting terrorism for wearing a pin is far-fetched. The author tries very hard to make equivalency by dragging other factors into this argument and does not point to the fact that it was the passenger who chose to confront the flight attendant due to his prejudice as clearly indicated by his statements. The flight attendants were not saying anything against Israelis or Jewish individuals. In the end, he provoked the entire episode and got away with it. If the company is strict about their dress code, a separate matter, this should include all pins to be fair to all. The passenger at no time points to the flight attendant violation of company policy. Again, he is not the airline inspector and she was undertaking her duties, pin or no pin. No one was endangered and no terrorists were on this flight.
So the incident according to your description looks like this:
A certain individual "provoked the entire episode" by attacking a flight attendant with no reason. Well, actually there was a reason - his "prejudice to be above the rest of humanity". His goal was to "vilify another human being" "using his Jewish identity". Did the attendant do anything wrong? Absolutely not. She "was not saying anything against Israelis or Jewish individuals". She was not...
So the incident according to your description looks like this:
A certain individual "provoked the entire episode" by attacking a flight attendant with no reason. Well, actually there was a reason - his "prejudice to be above the rest of humanity". His goal was to "vilify another human being" "using his Jewish identity". Did the attendant do anything wrong? Absolutely not. She "was not saying anything against Israelis or Jewish individuals". She was not "uttering a single anti-Semitic trope or statement".
So what happened to this goosy unbalanced individual? Oh, the pin? Ha-ha, "a matter of a pin that offends his sensibility?". What a laughing stock! Doesn't he know that "People Are Allowed to Support or Not Support Whoever They Please"? Why doesn't he understand that it is none of his business "to point to the flight attendant violation of company policy"? "He is not the airline inspector, pin or no pin"!!! And by the way, "no terrorists were on this flight".
Hey Sir, don't you realize you sound ridiculous with all your demagoguery? For millions of people this pin is associated with murderous and sadistic Hamas, hostages, and antisemitism. Do you think all of them are "prejudiced to be above the rest of humanity"? If so, what can I say? Just try to think again.
Exactly as I commented on in my suggestions for your comments. You post political travel realted news and then expect readers not to have political comments. I think you should stick to news that might impact points and miles or travel directly to avoid this.
The bottom line: no political preferences should be demonstrated on the uniform. Period. It is part of the AA policy and it is absolutely reasonable. All the consequences of violation of this rule may be unpredictable and depend on the views as well as emotions on both sides - the passengers and personnel. You are serving customers, dear ladies!
The Jewish guy is acting like a complete idiot claiming that any support fro Palestinians is support for terrorism. That is exactly the same rubbish as if someone claims that all Israelis are terrorists. All that being said, flight attendants should not be wearing something that states their political opinion. So all the people in the video are wrong in their own way.
It is all too common for people to go on the offensive when they are informed of their wrongdoing or causing offence to others, etc.
It is all too common for people to fail to understand the difference between assertiveness and aggression.
It is all too common for people misunderstand the difference between the maintenance of health and safety in the workplace and the right to freedom of movement.
It is extremely...
It is all too common for people to go on the offensive when they are informed of their wrongdoing or causing offence to others, etc.
It is all too common for people to fail to understand the difference between assertiveness and aggression.
It is all too common for people misunderstand the difference between the maintenance of health and safety in the workplace and the right to freedom of movement.
It is extremely rare these day for an individual to possess the strength of character to admit that they are wrong.
Finally, it is nigh on impossible to find someone who is willing to say that they are sorry for their inappropriate behaviour and the distress which they may have caused.
The PLO, a terrorist organization, adopted the current "Palestine" flag as their flag in 1964. Since then and into the 1970's through the 1990's, many aircraft were hijacked and/or blown up and/or had passengers killed by the PLO, its sister organizations, or related terrorist organizations under the banner of that flag. Many of the hijacked/bombed aircraft during these years belonged to American or European airline companies. For the aircrew of an airline from any civilized...
The PLO, a terrorist organization, adopted the current "Palestine" flag as their flag in 1964. Since then and into the 1970's through the 1990's, many aircraft were hijacked and/or blown up and/or had passengers killed by the PLO, its sister organizations, or related terrorist organizations under the banner of that flag. Many of the hijacked/bombed aircraft during these years belonged to American or European airline companies. For the aircrew of an airline from any civilized country to show support for terrorist organizations that have a history of hijacking airplanes and/or killing passengers by wearing a Palestine flag, or its substitute like a watermelon pin, is extremely frightening. This is not about someone wearing a Democrat pin or a Republican pin. This is about an aircrew showing support for terrorist organizations that hijack aircraft. It is about safety of the passengers, and it is about criminal acts--hijacking, bombings, hostage taking, and murder of passengers. An aircrew that supports terrorists that hijack aircraft could easily assist in a hijacking or planting a bomb or taking hostages. This should frighten anyone that flies on an airplane. Any employee of an airline that supports terrorist organizations that have a history of hijacking airplanes should be immediately fired and put on the do not fly list.
It should be noted that pro-Hamas protesters have used the tactic of “don’t touch me!” even when the person is not touching them, just to make it seem like the other party is the aggressor. You should not assume that touching actually happened, as there is not enough proof.
The watermelon pin represents the destruction of the State of Israel and being replaced with a Palestinian state. The phrase “From the River (Jordan) to the Sea (Mediterranean)” is the equivalent of the State of Israel. If some one said Canada should stretch to the Mexico border no one in the US would accept that statement. The watermelon pin calls for the destruction of Israel. Would anyone tolerate flight attendants wearing noose pins, confederate flags,...
The watermelon pin represents the destruction of the State of Israel and being replaced with a Palestinian state. The phrase “From the River (Jordan) to the Sea (Mediterranean)” is the equivalent of the State of Israel. If some one said Canada should stretch to the Mexico border no one in the US would accept that statement. The watermelon pin calls for the destruction of Israel. Would anyone tolerate flight attendants wearing noose pins, confederate flags, or KKK plans under the guise of fondness for antebellum southern culture? Of course not. These messages are threatening and antisemitic at their core. Please don’t try to spin it in some “kinder and gentler” way.
Well said!
Aaron, sounds like you think you know so much about what goes on in Israel. Where are you from? Where do you get this “information”, perhaps certain Tik Tok posts? Get educated.
The flight attendant was in the wrong for wearing a triggering flag which is clearly against AA policy.
Curious how people would react to a flight attendant wearing a KKK pin or Confederate flag.
The allegations of rape etc. in Israeli prisons is totally untrue. No doubt prisoners are treated as prisoners in all countries. This ONCE AGAIN is changing the narrative and completely beyond the question you asked. It is typical of that group that supports Hamas.
The amount of zionazi's on this blog, on Boardingarea and in the USA in general is staggering. It is disgusting.
Flight attendants can not have any opinions…we are supposed to be robots..vending machines without feelings. We are on the flight to be a receptor for how poorly you have been treated throughout the day and maybe last week. I have no opinion on this story …not allowed to as my airline who trolls the internet may find it and fire me. Free speech? Hardly…I have been a flight attendant for 33 years and never had...
Flight attendants can not have any opinions…we are supposed to be robots..vending machines without feelings. We are on the flight to be a receptor for how poorly you have been treated throughout the day and maybe last week. I have no opinion on this story …not allowed to as my airline who trolls the internet may find it and fire me. Free speech? Hardly…I have been a flight attendant for 33 years and never had a bad letter for being rude until last year…said I was rude…no details other than I had a Trump bracelet on…see you 1/20
You can wear whatever you like that isn't political or promoting a particular agenda in your free time. In the hours that you are working you are representing your employer and the brand. A brand for which they spent a lot of money over decades to be as inviting as possible and generate as much revenue and run a business. It's kind of shocking that you've been working for an airline for 33 years and...
You can wear whatever you like that isn't political or promoting a particular agenda in your free time. In the hours that you are working you are representing your employer and the brand. A brand for which they spent a lot of money over decades to be as inviting as possible and generate as much revenue and run a business. It's kind of shocking that you've been working for an airline for 33 years and you still haven't figured that out. When you are not working do as you like.
Bravo. It’s also typically American to do this.
Basic rules of professionalism seem lost on these people. The flying public interact with them in their professional capacity, not as private individuals. Leave the latter at home, Trump bracelet, watermelons, whatever don’t belong in the picture while you’re on the job.
You should be disciplined for not wearing anything other than what is directed by the airline. If you continue then be suspended.
Wearing anything other than a pin showing what other language you may speak including political bangles/badges etc is totally inappropriate. Perhaps look at other airlines outside the US to see how their staff dress.
Brian, I am sure you are permitted to have an opinion. You are likely prohibited from sharing that opinion with passengers that are hostage to your mood and inclinations. The law that permits you to state that a passenger's behavior makes you feel unsafe also restricts your behavior. Like it or quit.
I appreciate this post - it is always better to engage in discussion even if uncomfortable in the hope that we all listen and acknowledge all voices.
Thank you Ben for sharing this item - you bring items to my attention that may otherwise only be seen in the US media.
Ben, please correct the headline from Jewish to Zionist. It is antisemitic to automatically associate Zionist ideology with Judaism.
Zionism is an extreme ideology, often pushed for and advocated by far right extreme politicians who aren't even Jewish. The presence of Zionism is one of the main causes of antisemitism in the world today, and I say this as a Jewish person.
No. It is antisemitic to claim what you are claiming. Disgusting.
Exactly! Some of these people are unbelievable!!
Zionism simply advocates that Jews have the right to their own state, on the territory where they lived for centuries. Advocating that Jews don't have the right to defend themselves and have to just sit back and accept being killed by Palestine is not "anti-Zionic" but very clearly anti-Semitic, as Israel is the only state where you advocate such thing.
@Never Again, you say "The presence of Zionism is one of the main causes of antisemitism in the world today"
So it's just a coincidence that people have hated jews for 2000 years prior to the start of the Zionist movement? They were all ready to end thousands of years of repression and hate but then that darn Zionism started up and they had no choice but to continue that hate!
As others have said...
@Never Again, you say "The presence of Zionism is one of the main causes of antisemitism in the world today"
So it's just a coincidence that people have hated jews for 2000 years prior to the start of the Zionist movement? They were all ready to end thousands of years of repression and hate but then that darn Zionism started up and they had no choice but to continue that hate!
As others have said Zionism is simply the belief that Jews deserve a state of their own in their ancestral homeland. It in no way precludes the existence of a Palestinian state, nor does it require the far-right extremist policies of Likud et al. There are tons of left-wing Zionists who would like a 2SS and to be left alone.
If you are Jewish, I worry you've been consuming a toxic ultra-left media diet that prefers Jews as a feeble diaspora, ever dependent on the benevolence of those in charge.
As a full on Orthodox Jew I have to say that Jews were always tortured I can bring every example starting with the Egyptians than later the people of todays (Iraq) /Bavel than Roman’s then crusaders than Spanish Inquisition than the communist Russians than the Nazis Yemach Shemom in (English may they be cursed) and now HAMAS people who stand with Hamas are I don’t mean to offend anyone but they are litterly wrong because...
As a full on Orthodox Jew I have to say that Jews were always tortured I can bring every example starting with the Egyptians than later the people of todays (Iraq) /Bavel than Roman’s then crusaders than Spanish Inquisition than the communist Russians than the Nazis Yemach Shemom in (English may they be cursed) and now HAMAS people who stand with Hamas are I don’t mean to offend anyone but they are litterly wrong because if you look in the history god told the Jews that they would always be impersonated but every time that happened we even got stronger the Jews are the. Only nation that have survived the Egyptians got drowned the Roman’s Are gone Spanish Inquisition is gone everyone that tried to destroy the Jews were unsuccessful and that’s why we are here today it shows that the battle between people is not even 50/50 is 10/90 I will just say that every time I travel someone comments to me am yisrael chai or I support Israel I appreciate you wearing your Kipa every where i go someone says that. I think I made myself clear thank you for understanding I did not mean to offend anyone in any shape or form I just tried to explain.
Sure, but how does this explain Netanyahu and the Likud Party literally funding Hamas’s creation?
Stop lying, that’s not true. Hamas was created by the Islamic regime.
This man should be banned for life and should be added to no-fly list.
These over entitled idiots think they can bully anyone and play their anti-semitism card everytime to portray themselves as innocents
That FA should be fired since she was not doing her job. She forgot she was at work and thinks she is at a political meeting. What happened to good customer service anyway.
Actually, the flight attendant should be prosecuted. Making a false claim and restricting a passengers deplaning is not legal. The fact that the AA employee tried to cover up hew racism with an accusation make sit worse.
What happened to all these new guidelines just announced by Ben? He said politics can’t be avoided on a travel blog but by posting this article, he’s asking for trouble. The purpose? More clicks? This place is becoming a tabloid-style blog.
As for the issue it’s simple. Don’t wear political slogans or symbols at work. Disciplinary action needed. Filmed in public working for an airline? You’re in the public eye and this can’t be...
What happened to all these new guidelines just announced by Ben? He said politics can’t be avoided on a travel blog but by posting this article, he’s asking for trouble. The purpose? More clicks? This place is becoming a tabloid-style blog.
As for the issue it’s simple. Don’t wear political slogans or symbols at work. Disciplinary action needed. Filmed in public working for an airline? You’re in the public eye and this can’t be prevented. Find another job in a back office.
There are Israeli and Arab Jews but Arab Jews originated from the union of King Solomon and Queen Sheba of Yemen. Zionists are European Jews who many came
from Poland and Ukraine. The Abrahamic faiths gave births to Judaism, Islam and
Christianity in chronological order, so we can safely assume that Jews populated there first but then moved away while Arab Muslims continued to reside in the area. Israel was created after the...
There are Israeli and Arab Jews but Arab Jews originated from the union of King Solomon and Queen Sheba of Yemen. Zionists are European Jews who many came
from Poland and Ukraine. The Abrahamic faiths gave births to Judaism, Islam and
Christianity in chronological order, so we can safely assume that Jews populated there first but then moved away while Arab Muslims continued to reside in the area. Israel was created after the Zionists successfully fought against the British to gain independence and expelled the Arabs from their ancestor's land. If we apply the
convoluted term "terrorist" across the board, then all founding fathers of nations
who gained their independence are classified as "terrorist" (except India's Gandhi). While all the European powerful colonists and American imperialist are never considered terrorists. Two of Israel's founding fathers who later became PM were also terrorists as well as South Africa's Nelson Mandela.
How did Hamas win the election to represent Gaza? History was less than two decades ago & was already forgotten? Bush 's disastrous MidEast policy butchered
millions Arabs, expanded Iran's influence and dominance, created instability that gave rise to multiple violent Sunni and Shiite muslim groups, especially China's stratospheric military might, economic strength and IT dominance. I know Bush entered Yale based on legacy admission but never understood how he graduated with a major in history. No small wonder why Americans are notoriously ignorant of world geography, history and cultures. Watching the suppressed anti-war protests across Ivy League colleges in the past two years, I sense that legacy admission is the major culprit as to why their students and graduates are not what they cracked up to be. Both the UK and US are the cause of the mayhems the world is experiencing: The former (pre WWII) and the latter (post WWII) but local leadership bear the responsibilities of what their countries have become: Continued war and poverty like India/ Pakistan and Israel/ Palestine or peace and prosperity like
Malaysia/ Singapore/ Brunei. Today, Israel, US and Gaza have government leadership that does not represent their population majority. But we must accept that the world sees the leadership as the country's representation.
Israeli Jews were the aggrieved pre WWII. Today, Israel is an extreme aggressor that continues to bomb neighboring Muslim countries and annihilate Gaza with US unconditional military and financial support, without impunity. Israel is a nuclear nation but will not self defend successfully without US enabler. Palestinians have been so toxic and radioactive among their Muslim neighbors that they will not be invited to the table to represent their interests. Unfathomable when Palestinians still
reside in refugee camps in Lebanon since its civil war while continuing going to war with Israel. We all know the hostages are still in Gaza, if alive, but why Israel continues to bomb, attack other Muslim countries in the region and occupy land in Syria? The hostages are sacrificial lambs in hot fast and furious pursuit of expanding controlling and securing the biblical land under Zionism.
We live under McCarthyism when a criticism is leveled against Israel is labeled as
anti-semantic. When 99% of the population knows Hitler slaughtered 6M
Jews, it is the greatest indoctrination in history. The same 99% does
not know the number of deaths Stalin and Mao each butchered his citizens or compute fraction. Zionists continue to broadcast Palestinians call for their extermination but we watch and read, while being desensitized, Gazan war has passed the climax of genocide and annihilation while European powers keep selling and transporting advanced weaponry to fuel it. A picture is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes. How can impoverished, weakened and infighting Palestinians achieve such slogan against a nuclear Israel that joins hip with the US? Shortly after
gaining independence, Israel and US joined forces to overthrow Egyptian government. Wealthy and influential celebrities in entertainment, anchors and editors in news, presidents and professors in academics lost their jobs after they criticize Israel in public. The rise of antisemitism sentiment is remotely shared and recognized among the majority.
@ Globetrotter Arab Muslims continued to reside in the area? Please. Arabs colonized this area only in the 7th century. And the majority of Palestinians didn't really move into what is now Israel until the 1900s because of the Palestinian mandate created by the Brits and the migration of Jews into the area and because of increasing economic opportunity in that area. Just look at the last names of most Palestinians and you will see...
@ Globetrotter Arab Muslims continued to reside in the area? Please. Arabs colonized this area only in the 7th century. And the majority of Palestinians didn't really move into what is now Israel until the 1900s because of the Palestinian mandate created by the Brits and the migration of Jews into the area and because of increasing economic opportunity in that area. Just look at the last names of most Palestinians and you will see where they are originally from. Definitely not that region.
I you'll find that Christianity is six hundred years older than Islam. Otherwise, how would the Prophet have known about Maryam, the greatest of all women, or the Prophet Isa and the Injil Allah revealed to him?
Moron.
Did anyone actually read all that? I didn't hink so.
This is America, freedom of speech is a pillar of freedom. The stewardess has all the right to express herself. As the Jewish person has right to wear yarmulka that no Arab has right to make a fuss about it.
The flight attendant was wearing a pin that AA states is prohibited. AA makes the rules for their employees while working for AA.
The real issue is that said attendant imprisoned the passenger and did not let him deplane. In my opinion and experience some flight attendants have an attitude problem which is exacerbated by the rights they are said to have. There should be legal ramifications when they abuse those rights.
Freedom of speech simply prevents the government from impeding your speech or prosecuting you for it. There is zero freedom of speech on private property and especially not at work.
Learn your Amendments.
She has also has the right to be fired. You need to go back and learned that freedom of speech doesnt mean freedom of consequences in a private company. 1st amendment doesn't apply , just like it doesn't here as your comment or mine could easily be removed.
This is a great article. Thank you.
Gary Leff is that you? Don’t degrade your blog with Jerry springer garbage. Come here for travel news not the nonsense other blogs traffic in for clicks
How do people not understand if they don't want to read about a specific topic, just don't click on the article...
What about airline photography policy? Back in the days of in-flight magazines, there was a fine-print notice in American Way that photographing airline employees was against airline policy. The magazine ended in 2021. Apparently there now isn’t any evidence of this policy that’s available to the public. It’s a reasonable policy but it’s unreasonable to make it secret.
Non-Jewish writer here. The Flight Attendant provoked this conflict by non following company uniform guidelines. The FA should be placed on discipline for this overt act knowing it might cause problems.
What an upside down world we now live in!
"Don't touch me!" Do you mean brushing against one, or a full-on Donald Trump-style touchup? Which do you run to your lawyer with?
As to the jewish complainer, did they stop to consider for a second who was the terrorist sympathiser in this flareup?
Ben - with all due respect, you should write things accurately. Thousands of Palestinians haven’t “died” - they have been “killed”. Secondly, THOUSANDS of Jews are completely against the Israeli Government’s actions.
Your last few articles on this and the advertisements you keep running on your site make it seem like you’re just a propagandist for the Israeli government.
"ESH". Employees should keep their political opinions to themselves. Passengers shouldn't escalate minor issues.
Commenters from both sides should check their opinion against the opposite scenario: a Muslim passenger upset at an FA with an Israeli flag pin.
100% agreed, and I'd suggest it's more analogous to getting upset at a menorah flag pin; this isn't even a Palestinian flag (i.e. at least arguably geopolitical connotations) but rather a purely cultural symbol that makes it clear that the hostility was ethnically-motivated.
Respectfully, what is the point of an article like this when all it relates to aviation is that an incident like this took place on a plane? This divisiveness extends far beyond interactions in a plane / airport. This kind of article only seems to drive traffic (given your recent article on posts that drive the most views), and encourages divisiveness in comments, while doing nothing to educate people on aviation (maintaining decorum on a...
Respectfully, what is the point of an article like this when all it relates to aviation is that an incident like this took place on a plane? This divisiveness extends far beyond interactions in a plane / airport. This kind of article only seems to drive traffic (given your recent article on posts that drive the most views), and encourages divisiveness in comments, while doing nothing to educate people on aviation (maintaining decorum on a plane is not any different from doing it in any other sphere of life). This isn't going to change how people on the extremes feel, so again I ask, what's the point? In all honesty, I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment of the situation. But your take isn't going to stop these incidents from happening in the future.
Agreed. VFTW type of content.
I respectfully disagree. The confines of an airport, and much tighter confines of a metal/carbon fiber tube can cause various anxieties and unfortunate dramas…it is therefore legitimately aviation related. It provokes what should be a thoughtful conversation about how aviation can exacerbate difficult societal issues…and how members of the flying public can contribute to improving the overall travel environment. It’s a legit topic.
Vitriol in comments is caused by those that post, not Ben.
...I respectfully disagree. The confines of an airport, and much tighter confines of a metal/carbon fiber tube can cause various anxieties and unfortunate dramas…it is therefore legitimately aviation related. It provokes what should be a thoughtful conversation about how aviation can exacerbate difficult societal issues…and how members of the flying public can contribute to improving the overall travel environment. It’s a legit topic.
Vitriol in comments is caused by those that post, not Ben.
Should media outlets and blogs not exist because of deeply unpleasant conversations that might be generated by readers/commentators?
All the best, sincerely.
First of all, support for Hamas, not for Palestine, let's be very clear about that. Second, when will the US cabin crew understand that they're going to work, not to meet friends, and their job is to de-escalate any possible problems on board, not just throw their political opinions on anyone (let alone if that political opinion is antisemitism and an open support for terrorists)? It's beyond ridiculous that airlines turn their planes into a campaigning platform.
Are you saying the pin is support for Hamas? Because it isn’t.
Your sentence with the verb “support” doesn’t have a subject.
Actually, 'support' is a noun in that sentence, but otherwise you're right, no matter how much certain voices want to conflate support for Palestine or Palestinians with support for Hamas, they are not the same. I guess they are consistent though, in that many will also conflate opposition to actions of the State of Israel with antipathy towards Jews in general.
That's aside from the issue of whether either wearing the pin or an aggressive...
Actually, 'support' is a noun in that sentence, but otherwise you're right, no matter how much certain voices want to conflate support for Palestine or Palestinians with support for Hamas, they are not the same. I guess they are consistent though, in that many will also conflate opposition to actions of the State of Israel with antipathy towards Jews in general.
That's aside from the issue of whether either wearing the pin or an aggressive response to it are appropriate in someone's work place, although I think the response is performative anger rather than real offence.
One reads about the mental perturbations affecting people from various parts of the Western Hemisphere, one can even witness such occurrences from time to time, however, until now, I did not imagine that I would witness such things herein.
Unbelievable …. lots of teddies have been thrown out of numerous prams by those who engage fingers before brain cells.
Tut, tut!
I write this as someone who is a Zionist as well as pro-Palestinian. (Yes, one can be both. Calling someone “anti-Palestinian” is like calling someone who supports abortion ”anti-life.”)
I can’t stand the watermelon pin. The person who wears it might have great intent. But too many followers of it have hate in their hearts.
I proudly wear a Star of David around my neck. I don’t do this as an aggressive act (though...
I write this as someone who is a Zionist as well as pro-Palestinian. (Yes, one can be both. Calling someone “anti-Palestinian” is like calling someone who supports abortion ”anti-life.”)
I can’t stand the watermelon pin. The person who wears it might have great intent. But too many followers of it have hate in their hearts.
I proudly wear a Star of David around my neck. I don’t do this as an aggressive act (though I would imagine some could see it this way). It is my statement of identity.
Being a Zionist and "pro-palestinian" is an oxymoron. You can't be both. Zionism literally means land theft and genocide of Palestinians.
@vlcnc It literally doesn't. Zionism is the idea that there should be a Jewish state in Jews' ancestral homeland. It does not preclude the existence of a Palestinian state alongside it.
Radical SJWs have attempted to redefine "Zionism" in a laughable attempt to silence their opposition.
Yes it does - because where are Palestinians going to live when the place they live is taken over by foreigners and must be a pure fascist Jewish ethnostate?? There is a reason there hasn't been Palestinian state all this time, and there is reason Israelis will never agree to secular state encompassing both people. The idea of "ancestral homeland" is ridiculous too, most of these people are from eastern europe - that's theire "ancestral homeland".
Ever heard of a two-state solution? There have been tons of partition plans over the years, which have all been rejected by the Palestinians. 2SS is compatible with Zionism.
Neither side wants a 1SS, because neither side wants a secular state, and Jews especially don't want to be the minority religious group in a non-secular state. We've seen how that story ends.
About half the Israeli population is Mizrahi with roots in the ME.
Any...
Ever heard of a two-state solution? There have been tons of partition plans over the years, which have all been rejected by the Palestinians. 2SS is compatible with Zionism.
Neither side wants a 1SS, because neither side wants a secular state, and Jews especially don't want to be the minority religious group in a non-secular state. We've seen how that story ends.
About half the Israeli population is Mizrahi with roots in the ME.
Any concern over the plethora of "pure fascist Muslim ethnostates" in ME and Africa that cleansed all the Jews from their countries in the last 100 years? Or is your concern only one-directional?
Enough of his bloody crap that goes on with US airlines. To the FAs start wearing uniforms according to the rules. I'm not interested in your bloody political views and for a great part you look like potato sacks. And since when has a watermelon, seedless or not, been taken on as a symbol for Palestine? You people have a knack of being ridiculous. Give me a break. Travelling in the US is just pitiful. Grow up.
The person that needs to grow up is the one that gets triggered by a pin.
The person who wears a pin that goes against their employers policy and wants to promote any agenda that has nothing to do with that uniform needs to grow up or be fired.
The person that needs to grow up (or be arrested) is the one that restricts free movement and deplaning of a passenger.
I'm reminded of when we were kids in the back seat of the car "she's touching me".... I mean, it didn't look like he'd actually HARMED her. "you touched me" needs a LOT of context before we can really make a judgement....
I feel like these “Social influencer” picked the fight to get publicity. Mission accomplished.
“ American Flight Attendant & Zionist Passenger Argue Over Watermelon Pin”
Fixed it for you.
It’s high time we separate Judaism from Zionism, they’re not the same and never will be.
You can do that the moment you separate the religious from the political dimension of Islam. Oh, wait, you can't, because the Prophet demanded that the two mesh.
The passenger was Jewish... Not sure what you needed to fix.
Yes, title was technically accurate, but I do agree that "Zionist" would improve the clarity; as the "Jewish" descriptor is less directly relevant. To illustrate, consider a title like "Male pax accused of touching female FA after remarking about her 'offensive' attire" - technically accurate, but conveys something different than what actually transpired.
This author does not understand the significance of the watermelon symbol (and neither does the person who confronted the FA). The symbol is one of solidarity with the Palestinian people, it is not a symbol for hate/violence.
And as others have said, being Jewish does not mean supporting Israel's actions so assuming that the 2 things go together is absurd.
Whether or not the FA broke company rules is another matter.
The definition for the watermelon symbol/pin doesn't exist. The interpretation of it is in the brain of them who wears it (or looks at it) and does not necessary coincide with yours. So the point is: don't wear it when you serve people.
Fire the FA! Supporting a terrorist organisation like Hamas is a no go. As for the „innocent civilians“ they all support the goals of Hamas at least tacitly, which is killing all Israelians.
Seriously wake up here. The FA DID NOTHING WRONG!!!!
Yea she did, she should be fired. Her job is to be a flight attendant, not be a political mouthpiece.
46,000+ Palestinians dead and counting. 25,000+ are women and children.
2000+ dead in West Bank (no Hamas in West Bank)
5500+ being held hostage without charge in Israeli before Oct 2023.
1200 Israelis dead. 115 being held hostage .
There is no comparison. This is a genocide. Palestinians are just trying to defend themselves. Netanyahu and the Israeli government are brutal war criminals and will be brought to justice eventually, just like all...
46,000+ Palestinians dead and counting. 25,000+ are women and children.
2000+ dead in West Bank (no Hamas in West Bank)
5500+ being held hostage without charge in Israeli before Oct 2023.
1200 Israelis dead. 115 being held hostage .
There is no comparison. This is a genocide. Palestinians are just trying to defend themselves. Netanyahu and the Israeli government are brutal war criminals and will be brought to justice eventually, just like all other war criminals in the past. It is just a matter of time!
Conveniently missing in that long list. How many of the 46,000 (disputed number by the way) were terrorists with guns in civilian clothes. How many civilians were involved in hiding hostages? How many of those in hospitals, mosques, etc.
Also missing in those statistics the over 10,000 (closer to 14K now) rockets fired from Gaza into Israel since October 7th each of these missiles capable of killing several human beings. Almost all of these missiles...
Conveniently missing in that long list. How many of the 46,000 (disputed number by the way) were terrorists with guns in civilian clothes. How many civilians were involved in hiding hostages? How many of those in hospitals, mosques, etc.
Also missing in those statistics the over 10,000 (closer to 14K now) rockets fired from Gaza into Israel since October 7th each of these missiles capable of killing several human beings. Almost all of these missiles were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome. Israel has a system like that. Most countries don't.
Is Israel also to blame for investing in civilian and military infrastructure to protect it's citizens and prevent deaths? Something that the government of Gaza (essentially Hamas) callously ignores while starting a war with it's neighbor.
Israel could have lost more people than 46,000 people but they didn't because they value lives and try to avoid civilian casualties. Do check out what experts in urban warfare have to say in this matter. They also could have killed many more people in Gaza but didn't because that's not their goal. They want their people back and peace with their neighbors. Would you want Gaza to be your neighbor? Have you seen Egypts fence with Gaza?
Truth is that world would be better without this terrorist country created artficially after world war.
And what do you think should happen to all the Israeli Jews? This is your big mask-off moment, make the most of it!
Apparently I’m not so online that I don’t know what the watermelon pin means. If I saw a crew member wearing it, I would assume they were supporting Ukraine (because of Kherson watermelons)!
Now that I understand the context, it seems like the crew member was deliberately trying to provoke a response and it is inappropriate. I understand the need for civility but I think the passenger is right in this situation.
Thinking about it some more, if I were the passenger, I might just ask her innocently what the watermelon pin means. Maybe she supports Palestine, or Ukraine, or just enjoys watermelon. Give her the benefit of the doubt and let her explain. If I saw someone wearing a Z pin, for example, I might ask what it means, and then politely explain that a Ukrainian person might misinterpret it.
No one is right here. Both lots are idiots.
Well, I know that I'm totally shocked that a bunch of mileage-junkies couldn't solve the middle east crisis in an anonymous online forum.
To those who genuinely discussed, thank you. It gives me some hope.
Although I am disgusted by those who actually called for genocide, through euphemisms or innuendo. I hope our moderators will do better.
She is physically detaining the passenger, by the way. This is a felony. Also, the passenger is within their right to physically respond to this illegal detention.
Sometimes, you have to know your rights. One step forward with her and her little friend physically intervening would be all the cause you needed to clock them out cold.
Which, incidentally, is sorely needed in today's society.
@ Aisha Muhammed -- I really don't want to prevent you from commenting, but you're often pushing the envelope. Calling on someone to be clocked out cold in a customer service interaction isn't okay. Please, you can make your point respectfully, without calling on violence.
I appreciate that, Ben, and you're right. It's probably a function of our online presence. This would be far less polarized at, say, a dinner.
However ... it *is* in fact assault to detain someone against their will using physical force and/or threats. And that's what happening here.
All I'm saying is: as a woman, I'd feel deeply unsafe in this situation, and what I meant was you don't have to accept violence and/or the...
I appreciate that, Ben, and you're right. It's probably a function of our online presence. This would be far less polarized at, say, a dinner.
However ... it *is* in fact assault to detain someone against their will using physical force and/or threats. And that's what happening here.
All I'm saying is: as a woman, I'd feel deeply unsafe in this situation, and what I meant was you don't have to accept violence and/or the threat thereof - even if you're a woman and it's other women doing it to you. <3
Would you have felt unsafe before the interaction re the pin? Because the passenger instigated it.
If you don’t feel safe on an AA plane, there are other options for you. Traveling by AA is not a constitutional right.
Ben, "Aisha Muhammed" is one of several names this person uses on your website. The person's comments are often inflammatory. Taken as a whole, this person can be characterized as a troll. For the sake of YOUR community, you should ban this person.
Isn't touching the FAs without their permission also some kind of wrong? Some might call it a form of assault.
@Aaron - I understand where you're coming from and as a general rule, never ever touch a FA or anyone else for that matter.
However, if someone is using force (in this case by preventing by detaining you in an aircraft using bodily force, which I think we can all agree is what's happening), you certainly have a right to defend yourself.
Nobody has the right to use violence or the threat thereof against...
@Aaron - I understand where you're coming from and as a general rule, never ever touch a FA or anyone else for that matter.
However, if someone is using force (in this case by preventing by detaining you in an aircraft using bodily force, which I think we can all agree is what's happening), you certainly have a right to defend yourself.
Nobody has the right to use violence or the threat thereof against you, except the police. You don't get a right to touch or harm passengers just because you wear a uniform that says American Airlines.
I fully expect these women to be convicted of unlawful detention. They're both committing a felony on camera and Florida doesn't mess around. (If I were hyperbolic, I'd say kidnapping, but you get the point).
Have a nice day :)
Both sides are wrong but the passenger is more wrong than the FA.
Ben, are you aware there *currently* hostages kept in horrific conditions in Gaza?
These are someone's daughters, sons, wives, husbands. To have some brainwashed waitress support the *daily* torture of them is ... wild.
And please don't delete this comment. The world deserves to know this.
@ Aisha Muhammed -- Of course I'm aware of that, and it's horrific that there are still hostages. I suspect most people who are showing support for Palestine aren't supporting Hamas or Israelis being held hostage, but rather are showing support for the tens of thousands of Palestinians (and particularly innocent children) who have lost their lives.
Can't both of those things be true? Can't it be horrible that there are hostages, and also horrible...
@ Aisha Muhammed -- Of course I'm aware of that, and it's horrific that there are still hostages. I suspect most people who are showing support for Palestine aren't supporting Hamas or Israelis being held hostage, but rather are showing support for the tens of thousands of Palestinians (and particularly innocent children) who have lost their lives.
Can't both of those things be true? Can't it be horrible that there are hostages, and also horrible that so many Palestinian children have lost their lives?
Absolutely, Ben. And good response.
I'm just not sure what we expect Israel to do here. If my child was sitting in those torture chambers, you best believe I'd resort to extreme violence to free them or die while trying.
@Alsha Muhammed
What do you expect the Palestinians to do, or how should they react, to the hundreds of Palestinians who were being killed in The West Bank, to all the villages being razed, the homes being demolished, the farm animals being poisoned, the crops and olive trees being burned, the Palestinians being held in Israeli detention centers without charges, etc...which was all happening before Oct 7 2023?
Personally, I don't have any problems with the IDF's actions. Palestinians declared effective war on the US the night of September 11th, 2001 when they danced in the streets while footage of the WTC was airing on television. They deserve everything they get. And what they don't deserve is a two-state solution.
There's only side to blame here - Hamas. Full stop.
The occupation is what is to blame here. It predates Hamas and is happening in the West Bank, where Hamas isn't a major factor at all.
"Occupation".
Ifthus is the case. I hope we will not allow MAGA hats/shirts, Confederate flags, German, Italian, and all former Warsaw Pact flags on a flight. As a soldier, these people and countries took up arms against the US. Im afraid and uncomfortable. America for American???
I think they should just ban any type of pin no matter what
I think they should just ban any type of pin no matter what
There are also thousands of Palestinian hostages being kept in horrific conditions in Israeli detention centers, where rape and torture are being used on them frequently. They are also someone's daughters, sons, wives, husbands. To have some brainwashed "influencer" support the *daily* torture of them is...wild.
And please don't delete this comment. The world deserves to know this.
Also equating being pro-Palestinian with supporting terrorism is just stupid.
*Palestinian terrorists
I understand, of course, that Muslim Arabs have a grievance. After all, they only control 99.9% of the Middle East and North Africa. That last 0.1% of land can really be annoying.
However, let's focus on minorities in the region for once. Say, the Christian Syrians having their churches burned right now. Or the Jews in the teeny tiny state of Israel trying to live peaceful lives.
Again, I get it. It's just 99.9% that's...
I understand, of course, that Muslim Arabs have a grievance. After all, they only control 99.9% of the Middle East and North Africa. That last 0.1% of land can really be annoying.
However, let's focus on minorities in the region for once. Say, the Christian Syrians having their churches burned right now. Or the Jews in the teeny tiny state of Israel trying to live peaceful lives.
Again, I get it. It's just 99.9% that's Muslim Arab controlled. You want the last part. I just can't help looking out for the minorities who in the case of Christians and Jews were there first.
I call your statement BS. If you have a legitimate source to present please do so, and a trusted source at that.
Israeli POW jails are open to inspection unlike those dungeons where some hostages might still be alive. The Red Cross or Red Crescent has been denied access.
There has never been reports of rape prior to the acts on 10/7. FULL STOP. Or perhaps, you are one of those brainwashed that...
I call your statement BS. If you have a legitimate source to present please do so, and a trusted source at that.
Israeli POW jails are open to inspection unlike those dungeons where some hostages might still be alive. The Red Cross or Red Crescent has been denied access.
There has never been reports of rape prior to the acts on 10/7. FULL STOP. Or perhaps, you are one of those brainwashed that believe rape should always be called out EXCEPT when it is committed on Jews or Israelis on 10/7
Unfortunately for many of these prisoners there is CCTV footage of them trying to kill or successfully killing Israelis. Never has there been more video of Palestinians killing Israelis and more collective denial of reality by Palestinians and their pin wearing friends. And never has their been less attempts at accountability for these horrible crimes.
"Mature" is non-actionable. What we need to become as a society is less confrontational. Do you have a problem with someone? Okay, keep it to yourself or pursue redress through appropriate formal channels e.g. litigation which we have developed as a civilized society. Never confront or engage with confrontational people.
Respectfully (and as a Jew) could you change the language and headline of this post from “Jewish” to “pro-Israel”? Not all Jews support the extent of the Israeli government’s invasion of Gaza/Lebanon and treatment of Palestine. Not even all Israelis support it, as is evident from protests within the country about destroying people’s homes/lives rather than saving hostages.
Fully agree.
As a non-Jew, I fully support peace. Which won't come from taking hostages, and won't come from provoking paying customers.
The obvious solution is Egypt opening the border to Gaza so we can all live in peace.
@Aisha Muhammed
How does opening the border end the occupation of the West Bank?
@Aaron, it doesn't and Aisha knows that; it's a comment made in bad faith to troll the discussion, not to advance a viable solution.
Hi Aaron -
The occupation of Samaria and Judea (it's kinda in the name, right?) that comprise what you call the West Bank could have been legally ended in 1967 by giving Jordan its citizens back after Israel was attacked.
However, Israel didn't do so. I suggest we return the Jordanians to Jordan. Probably best for everyone. Thanks!
(History lesson: Jordan occupied the 'West Bank' from 1948-1967 after independence, and apparently that wasn't a problem....
Hi Aaron -
The occupation of Samaria and Judea (it's kinda in the name, right?) that comprise what you call the West Bank could have been legally ended in 1967 by giving Jordan its citizens back after Israel was attacked.
However, Israel didn't do so. I suggest we return the Jordanians to Jordan. Probably best for everyone. Thanks!
(History lesson: Jordan occupied the 'West Bank' from 1948-1967 after independence, and apparently that wasn't a problem. So let's give them their people back).
helluva strategy to openly advocate ethnic cleansing less than an hour after Ben warned you about violent rhetoric
Jordanians and Palestinians aren’t the same people, just like Canadians and (US) Americans aren’t the same . It’s odd how the Jewish claim to Israel rests entirely on erasing the Palestinians people, both in name and by genocide.
But the Egyptians don't want the Palestinians either. We spent a month in Egypt in February (2024) and were told by multiple locals in conversation that Egypt had tried letting Palestinians settle in Egypt a while (a few years) ago, but they did nothing but cause trouble. They did not look for work, try to assimilate to the culture or become useful citizens. That's why Egypt (or any of the other Muslim countries in the...
But the Egyptians don't want the Palestinians either. We spent a month in Egypt in February (2024) and were told by multiple locals in conversation that Egypt had tried letting Palestinians settle in Egypt a while (a few years) ago, but they did nothing but cause trouble. They did not look for work, try to assimilate to the culture or become useful citizens. That's why Egypt (or any of the other Muslim countries in the region) will not allow the Palestinians in. The Palestinians, it seems, need an attitude adjustment (what my Grandmother would have called a "come to Jesus meeting") regarding how to live a meaningful, peaceful, life and be a contributing member of society.
Yes, of course you're not Jewish. And your name's really Aisha Muhammed.
As a synagogue board member who is navigating this division in my own congregation, I 100% agree with Matt's request
No. It is antisemitic to claim what you are claiming. Disgusting. Just because you are a self hating Jew doesn’t mean he has to change the headline to fulfil your antisemitic agenda.
Nobody should be banging political or religious drums at work. Leave that stuff at home, and just do your job.
Sadly this entire thread has turned into an Israel/palestine debate instead of a Uniform/political pin discussion.
But rather than engage, I'll just say this. Not one person has made any calls for Arabs/muslims to be murdered, yet there are references for Jews to be murdered/ sent to concentration camps.
Forgive the expression, but I've got no skin in the game, so I've tried very hard to be unbiased in my writeups. But after a...
Sadly this entire thread has turned into an Israel/palestine debate instead of a Uniform/political pin discussion.
But rather than engage, I'll just say this. Not one person has made any calls for Arabs/muslims to be murdered, yet there are references for Jews to be murdered/ sent to concentration camps.
Forgive the expression, but I've got no skin in the game, so I've tried very hard to be unbiased in my writeups. But after a few minutes in this thread, I am absolutely disgusted by how horrific ONE SIDE of the comments are. There is so much more antisemitism in this world than I expected.
"Not one person has made any calls for Arabs/muslims to be murdered"
You need to listen more to what many Israelis (both in the government, settlers, and other civilians) are saying.
When members of the Israeli government are saying the entire strip should be nuked and/or flattened...
I'm referring specifically to these threads.
Yes, there are Israelis saying awful things. Yes, there are Palestinians saying awful things.
Unfortunately I have a feeling that this post will be the proof that the new commenting guidelines don't work.
I'm sorry to tell you this, but Ben, you were being too optimistic. These posts where a very low chance of someone commenting something actually 'helpful' just need the comment section disabled. That's the only solution I can think about.
+1
Quite frankly I was surprised to see this post on OMAAT; maybe even a bit disappointed.
It is of course prime fodder for Gary Lett at WFTW, who after all has skin in the game.
Honestly both Israel and Palestine have blood on their hands. And those of you who take sides are part of the problem, this is a humanitarian issue that is testing the very fabric of society. The AA employee should keep her beliefs to herself as should the passenger. It’s a mode of transport not a debate stage.
Why can't everyone think like this?
Wow I guess every major human rights organization, international political body, and medical group on the planet is wrong then. Genocide, apartheid, and occupation are not a "humanitarian issues," they are world-historic crimes.
I agree with you about the mode of transportation and not a stage. But would you have made the same statement about America days or weeks after September 11th? When a country is attacked and it's civilians raped, murdered and taken hostage no government is going to just accept that. Therefore the last part of what you wrote seems like a false equivalency.
American crews should be prohibited from wearing anything other than the business directs. I can’t think of any other airline outside the US where you see crew members wearing lanyards and pins supporting all types of organisations. Most of the time US crews dress poorly anyhow, so this makes them look even worse.
On my last trip to the US I saw one AA crew, who looked like she had been dragged through...
American crews should be prohibited from wearing anything other than the business directs. I can’t think of any other airline outside the US where you see crew members wearing lanyards and pins supporting all types of organisations. Most of the time US crews dress poorly anyhow, so this makes them look even worse.
On my last trip to the US I saw one AA crew, who looked like she had been dragged through a hedge, wearing pins with a large US flag, a cat and a badge with l (heart) NY together with a lanyard with two pairs of glasses. Even Ryanair crew look more glamorous.
The perpetual victims as usual. I’m bored. She should at most be disciplined for breaking uniform code and let’s all move on
He should have occupied the plane. The only solution.
beyond the issue of AA's uniform policy, getting torqued up about a watermelon pin or any other "alternate symbol" which has meaning of its own is beyond absurd.
and you would think that the FA or one of their co-workers would have the maturity to just take the pin off knowing it was against company policy.
and the other question is whether this was escalated to AA's anti-escalation desk that was just created.
...
beyond the issue of AA's uniform policy, getting torqued up about a watermelon pin or any other "alternate symbol" which has meaning of its own is beyond absurd.
and you would think that the FA or one of their co-workers would have the maturity to just take the pin off knowing it was against company policy.
and the other question is whether this was escalated to AA's anti-escalation desk that was just created.
It is precisely when you get an adult outside of the situation to intervene that these kinds of stupid things on both sides can be de-escalated.
(And I am totally qualified and not at all a hypocrite to lecture people on what is and isn’t absurd!)
@ Tim Dunn (the fake one) -- Rather than me just deleting the comment, can I please ask that going forward you use a different username, given the new commenting guidelines about imitating the names of others?
https://onemileatatime.com/insights/comment-policy/
I appreciate everyone who reads and comments, so I hope you'll consider contributing under a different name. :-)
First, let's clear up a few important factors. This is a war that hamas started with a brutal terrorist attack, r*ping women, beheading babies, murdering kids at a peace concert, and taking hostages including infants. And hamas could end it at any moment by releasing the hostages.
That said, the passenger was within his rights to document the pin. And he would also be within his rights to "touch" the FA in he is...
First, let's clear up a few important factors. This is a war that hamas started with a brutal terrorist attack, r*ping women, beheading babies, murdering kids at a peace concert, and taking hostages including infants. And hamas could end it at any moment by releasing the hostages.
That said, the passenger was within his rights to document the pin. And he would also be within his rights to "touch" the FA in he is being prevented from exiting the aircraft. No FA has the right to detain any passenger, regardless of circumstance. Call the gate. Alert the police. But don't obstruct a passenger. That is a crime.
And if any of us were faced with a political pin that represented our extermination, and then were unlawfully detained on-board, we too would be livid.
Don't believe me?
White FA with a kkk pin being recorded by a Black passenger and the FA refuses to let the passenger pass.
Religious FA wearing a "Pray the Gay Away" pin blocks a transgender passenger from leaving.
Would we even be having this conversation?
The IDF have been doing this for decades
The "world" has been killing Jews for centuries: Romans, Spaniards, Portuguese, French, Russian, English Polish, Germans (duh) and of course, Arabs and Muslims.....Where were you then peacenik?
@ Gold Medallion Again -- I certainly could be misreading the situation, but my interpretation was that he was prevented from leaving the aircraft after he touched a flight attendant, rather than before. I could be wrong, though, so I'll update the post to reflect that.
Regarding the comparison to other pins, I hear where you're coming from, but I think there's an important distinction. My general assumption is that when someone wears a pro-Palestine...
@ Gold Medallion Again -- I certainly could be misreading the situation, but my interpretation was that he was prevented from leaving the aircraft after he touched a flight attendant, rather than before. I could be wrong, though, so I'll update the post to reflect that.
Regarding the comparison to other pins, I hear where you're coming from, but I think there's an important distinction. My general assumption is that when someone wears a pro-Palestine pin (or some other sign), they're showing support for the tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians who have lost their lives, particularly children. My assumption isn't that they're actually supporting the government.
Do some people support the government? Absolutely. But I give people the benefit of the doubt, and assume that's not the intent.
To me, it's different to wear something that's intended to show support for a lot of people losing their lives vs. a KKK pin, which almost unarguably has hateful intent.
So if an FA wears a Russian pin and s/he's "only" supports the poor Russian soldiers who died and the innocent civilians who are suffering under isolation, should the Ukrainian passenger just accept that?
There is absolutely no place for any politics onboard an aircraft.
@Gold Medallion Again
The history doesn't begin Oct 8th of 2023.
Sounds like kicking the original residents out of their land is appropriate for you.
May I tell you that Hamas is doing the same thing that Israel has done to them and Palestinians over the century. Or what Nazis did to the Jews in the WW2 times.
Don't believe me?
See if there was anything called "Israel" before 1948.
Or...
@Gold Medallion Again
The history doesn't begin Oct 8th of 2023.
Sounds like kicking the original residents out of their land is appropriate for you.
May I tell you that Hamas is doing the same thing that Israel has done to them and Palestinians over the century. Or what Nazis did to the Jews in the WW2 times.
Don't believe me?
See if there was anything called "Israel" before 1948.
Or why was the whole world condemning Israel in 2014, most recently.
Or what Israel has been doing in its whole history and what Nazis did to the Jews.
Actually, there was a Jewish state going back thousands of years. Judea and Samaria. The only reason the Romans renamed the territory syria palestina was to try to erase the Jewish identify following the Bar-Kochba revolt. There are thousands of years worth of artifacts. And, the palestinian name was from the Aegean sea people, the philistines who have NOTHING to do with the arabs who arrived in the 7th and 8th centuries.
There has never...
Actually, there was a Jewish state going back thousands of years. Judea and Samaria. The only reason the Romans renamed the territory syria palestina was to try to erase the Jewish identify following the Bar-Kochba revolt. There are thousands of years worth of artifacts. And, the palestinian name was from the Aegean sea people, the philistines who have NOTHING to do with the arabs who arrived in the 7th and 8th centuries.
There has never been a palestinian state. No flag, no leader, no currency.
This whole thing could have been avoided if the arabs had accepted the UN partition, or ANY 2-state agreement. Except they want the entire area for themselves.
You're bringing irrelevant & incorrect stuff.
Arabs were willing to accept two-state agreement.
It's just that Israel couldn't be satisfied with leaving even a bit of a land to Palestinians.
Since when is support for the Palestinians equal to the extermination of the Jewish people? The only way that makes sense is if the mere existence of Palestinians threatens all Jews. Is that what you are saying? That both cannot co-exist?
If you think that the existence of Palestinians threatens your Jewish faith, you are no different than a straight person who believes gay marriage threatens their marriage.
Since when is a watermelon pin indicative of supporting a terrorist organization? Or a Palestinian flag, for that matter?
Fine - call out a Hamas pin, or a swastika, but the idea that support for a people or country inherently designates them as a terrorist is utterly nonsensical.
And given the terrorist attacks that occur on our own soil by Americans - including one this week - one would think that the American flag might also be a bit triggering.
An American pin on American Airlines is a far cry from this.
We would not allow the FA to wear any other nation's pin, and regardless of whether you think it's pro-palestinian or pro-hamas, it's inappropriate.
By the way, don't flight attendants on US airlines wear flag pins reflecting their language skills?
Sure, and if the FA speaks fluent Watermelon, I'll be the first person to defend the pin.
But you know full well that that is NOT what that pin means. Nice attempt at convoluting the situation though.
We allow NFL football players to wear flags stickers on their helmet representing their heritage, so why would pins be categorically banned? You write as if it’s a law, opposed to a corporate policy.
I wonder if you would feel the same way if it was a Star of David pin.
Well, I am sure that some people would say that the world's biggest terr0rist organisation is in fact the US state apparatus. I am definitely not in a position to verify such a claim, but equally it doesn't sound that far fetched to me.
--"I also think we have to stop making this an us vs. them situation."--
And this is why I hope to keep reading this blog for as long as @Ben keeps writing. As a society we seem to have lost our capacity to understand complex issues (which politicians and CEOs keep trying to reduce to simple tweets and reels for their own benefit).
What's worst is that all of this keeps happening at the...
--"I also think we have to stop making this an us vs. them situation."--
And this is why I hope to keep reading this blog for as long as @Ben keeps writing. As a society we seem to have lost our capacity to understand complex issues (which politicians and CEOs keep trying to reduce to simple tweets and reels for their own benefit).
What's worst is that all of this keeps happening at the expense of innocent people, on all sides of any given past, present, or future conflict, most of whom with no say and little to no power to enact any changes.
You dare breath and be labeled as an antisemitic these days
Because the "world" has ALWAYS been anti-Semitic....Nothing is new here....
And apparently anti_Palestinian as well.
No winners here
Oh no did the Zionist feel "scared" by someone expressing the mildest support for a people being exterminated in a US-funded genocide as we've all watch in horror through our phones for the past 430 days? What a despicable country.
Seriously - it's amazing.
I wonder what this passenger's view is on someone else saying that the Israeli flag represents an oppressive terrorist regime? You'd see the double standard exposed very quickly. As always.
And those 455 days would never have happened had hamas not committed horrific atrocities, or had they, at any time, released the hostages, including the children.
Yes, but Hamas isn't the same thing as the Palestinian people. Why is it that difficult for people to work out?
The same thing can apply to anti-Russian prejudice. The fact that someone may quite understandably abhor the current regime doesn't justify discriminating against individuals just because they hold that citizenship.
Ok, let's use your example:
Seeing a Russian Flag Pin on an American FA would absolutely traumatize a Ukrainian passenger. Now imagine the passenger wanted to document the pin and was then prevented from leaving the plane by the Russian Pin FA.
Again, we wouldn't even be having this conversation.
Also, you're right that we wouldn't be having this conversation.
We literally don't have to.
If Israel didn't invade Palestine in 1940s and kill, kick out and steal their lands.
And if Ukraine realized that they can't join the NATO and Russia would do anything if they tried.
Israel invaded Palestine? Did you learn this on TikTok?
Hamas has 70% + support in every poll! The nazis only had 50% support in dresden...
Palestinian civilians crossed over into Isreal as well on October 7th. You are also ignoring plenty of videos showing wide support among Palestinian civilians when the hostages were brought over as well as where many hostages where being housed before Israeli commandos rescued them. It's convenient to say that the Palestinian people have nothing to say with October 7th but in reality they voted Hamas into government and many of people counted as dead where...
Palestinian civilians crossed over into Isreal as well on October 7th. You are also ignoring plenty of videos showing wide support among Palestinian civilians when the hostages were brought over as well as where many hostages where being housed before Israeli commandos rescued them. It's convenient to say that the Palestinian people have nothing to say with October 7th but in reality they voted Hamas into government and many of people counted as dead where involved in death of Israelis. Especially as the numbers from Gaza never try to break out who among those people where Hamas, or other armed groups or civilians aiding in the murder or hostage taking of Israelis (not all of which were Jews). Note also that experts on urban warfare have been clear that in all wars or conflicts civilian deaths occur. Especially as more than 10,000 rockets were fired out of Gaza into Israel. If Israel didn't have the Iron Dome anti-rocket system Israel would have thousands of civilians dead in it's own country. This is a war that should have never been started by Palestinians.
Really?
It's like Israel has not killed any Palestinians between 1948 and 2002.
Do you want the world to believe that?
And please do not keep repeating the lies about beheaded babies.
Of course Mr Khan...They were just....freedom fighters...right? rights?
@Gold Medallion Again
And those 455 days would never have happened had Israel not committed horrific atrocities, or had they, at any time, released the hostages, including the children.
Perhaps you need a reality check.
The Jewish people have every right to exist in their ancestral homeland that predates the Islamic religion by a couple of thousand years. If you choose to resist the Jewish homeland we choose to defend ourselves. The 2M Arab citizens living in Israel today are the freest Arabs in the Middle East which comprises dozens of Islamic ethnostates.
"The 2M Arab citizens living in Israel today are the freest Arabs in the Middle East which comprises dozens of Islamic ethnostates"
Laughable even by Israeli hasbara propaganda standards.
Except for the ones detained in prisons or being robbed of their homes by the settler movement.
Absolute bullshit, how are they the free-est arabs in the Middle East? They are persecuted daily and have less rights than Jewish people. Several many accounts of this online that are factual and evidenced, stop believing propoganda from the Israeli government
@Gold Medallion Again
Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria are showing that this was never about the hostages, this is an excuse to enact a Great Israel policy. Just one example, all the new land they have occupied in Syria to steal 40% of Syria's water for themselves.
Also, the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza would still be ongoing whether or not Hamas exists.
What Israel's actions show, and the world believes, is that if you take hostages and launch thousands of missles at the residents of another country (any country) - that country has every right to attack the agressor. Then it becomes an inteligence test for the countries continuing to luanch attacks.
It seems like American Airlines is right to limit what their FA may wear when they represent American Airlines.
What do all these places have in common? Missiles fired into Israel after October 7th. No country would allow that to continue.
"Israel stealing 40% of Syria's water" is actually a good example of antisemitism hiding behind made up statistics.
Israel left Gaza, even resettling Israelis, from that area in 2005. There was no occupation in that area. It was under self control and had free elections until Hamas was voted into power and...
What do all these places have in common? Missiles fired into Israel after October 7th. No country would allow that to continue.
"Israel stealing 40% of Syria's water" is actually a good example of antisemitism hiding behind made up statistics.
Israel left Gaza, even resettling Israelis, from that area in 2005. There was no occupation in that area. It was under self control and had free elections until Hamas was voted into power and then killed opposition candidates (which included throwing people off of buildings who were aligned with the PLO and other parties). Only after October 7th did Israel reenter Gaza. It's unfortunate that billions of dollars of foreign aid and Palestinian money were dedicated to building tunnels but no bunkers for civilians. All that money spent on more than 10,000 rockets to fire at Israel from Gaza after the 7th of October instead of making Gaza a better place to live and be a good neighbor.
Also it would not happen if Israel hasn't kept on invading and colonizing Palestinians for several years, literally committing genocide against them.
World's worst genocide considering the population of Gaza has exploded. Also, why has Egypt closed its border to Gaza? Israel withdrew in 2005. They have no obligation to do anything.
Gaza f'ed around and found out. Sorry bout it.
To the hasbara bot posing with a Muslim name on here, Israel did not withdraw from Gaza in 2005. Israel still controlled the air, land, and sea borders of the Gaza Strip and dictated how much electricity and water could be imported into the strip, and also dictated everything else that could be imported and exported into the strip.
Israel removed it's settlements from Gaza, but they still occupied it.
Israel controlled the electricity because they never built their own plant and preferred using Israeli power but rarely paying the bill. Whenever Israel demanded payment they fought with false propaganda.
Yes, Israel controlled some borders and tried to control weapons entering Gaza. As much as Israel tried, obviously Gaza won that battle by misusing construction and agricultural supplies.
Remember, Gaza shares a border with Egypt. They are not surrounded by Israel. Egypt understands...
Israel controlled the electricity because they never built their own plant and preferred using Israeli power but rarely paying the bill. Whenever Israel demanded payment they fought with false propaganda.
Yes, Israel controlled some borders and tried to control weapons entering Gaza. As much as Israel tried, obviously Gaza won that battle by misusing construction and agricultural supplies.
Remember, Gaza shares a border with Egypt. They are not surrounded by Israel. Egypt understands their tricks.
That both Israel and Egypt were rightly concerned about arms being imported into Gaza and therefore monitored imports into Gaza at the border doesn't mean that jobs couldn't be created and a successful and peaceful Gaza couldn't exist. There are these wonderful things called desalination plants that if built and water pipes built would insure that Palestinians could be be independent of any country. Unfortunately there are videos of Hamas digging up water pipes paid...
That both Israel and Egypt were rightly concerned about arms being imported into Gaza and therefore monitored imports into Gaza at the border doesn't mean that jobs couldn't be created and a successful and peaceful Gaza couldn't exist. There are these wonderful things called desalination plants that if built and water pipes built would insure that Palestinians could be be independent of any country. Unfortunately there are videos of Hamas digging up water pipes paid for and built by foreign money to the tunes of millions of dollars and repurposed into building rockets. It's so much easier to blame Israel than to be accountable for the prosperity and growth of Gaza. Israel most definitely did not occupy Gaza. But it's obviously convenient to say that they did.