A belligerent American Airlines passenger was ejected from a plane at La Guardia Airport on Tuesday after becoming belligerent because an American employee wished him a Merry Christmas.--------------------
The male passenger was waiting to boar flight AA1140 from LGA to Dallas (DFW) when a merry gate agent began welcoming everyone with the Yuletide greeting while checking boarding passes.
When the gate agent wished the gentleman a merry Christmas he responded with, “You shouldn’t say that because not everyone celebrates Christmas.” Valid point, but what’s the harm in that?
The gate agent followed by saying, “Well, what should I say then?”
“Don’t say, ‘Merry Christmas!’” the man shouted in frustration before brushing past the agent and to the jet bridge.
As the passenger was boarding the plane, he was warmly greeted by a cheerful flight attendant who yet again wished him a “merry Christmas.” That was the last straw.
“Don’t say, ‘Merry Christmas!’ ” the man replied in anger before lecturing the attendants and the pilot about their holiday madness.
The passenger did not cool down and had to be escorted off the plane by airport authorities as other fliers cheered because Christmas was saved.
Bottom line: December 25 is officially Christmas, whether one chooses to celebrate it or not. If I choose to wish you a merry one, and you don't celebrate it, appreciate the thought anyway and respond graciously--like a civilized human being! This is the danger we are approaching in this country, where someone's tendency to be offended is supposed to trump someone else's right to free speech.
1 comment:
I especially like your point about free speech. We have gotten to the point that those who are offended often put down the "offender" as part of a group of "haters." I don't hate anyone, but there are certainly a bunch of folks who could offend me much of the time. I am working on loving my neighbor, and loving those whom God loves. It is a chore sometimes, but something to seek after.
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