Inappropriate Flight Attendant

[VampyreGTX]

What the captian said and what she said are two totally different things. The captain DID NOT express his opinion. He offered thanks and a welcome home to the soldiers for doing there job. He didn't say he agreed with the war or the policies surrounding it like the F/A did. Plain and simple, the F/A took what could have been a simple thanks fo all you've done. But she took it to her personal opinion and harrassed her passengers throughout the flight with it.

 

[N2264J]

"I'm just so glad you are all coming home. I'm so proud of you all. I just don't think you should have been there in the first place, but that's just my opinion. I don't agree with the war. But I'm really proud of you and so I'm torn."

I was shocked and offended...

Isn't it possible to support the troops and not support the war?

Or has the lexicon morphed into "don't support the war = don't support the troops"?

Sounds to me like the turn out at the Iraqi elections may be causing her to rethink her position. However, there were no weapons of mass destruction and there was no link between Hussein and the events of 9-11. Those are the reasons we went to war.

Now that the US is torturing detainees, I think we may have gone 'round the bend where the end justifys the means. That should shock and offend you more than a planeload of uncouth flight attendants.

 

[AdlerDriver]

Isn't it possible to support the troops and not support the war?

Or has the lexicon morphed into "don't support the war = don't support the troops"?

Question 1: Answer - No
Question 2: Answer - Yes (no morphing - always been that way).

As one who has been in combat overseas, I think I'm allowed to weigh in. It's not possible to "support" troops and oppose the war (i.e. the whole reason they're there and need to be supported in the first place). Go ahead and and oppose the war if you want - it's certainly your right to do so. Don't think you're fooling any of the troops by turning around and saying you "support" them. They don't want hollow words of support designed to make you feel better.

How is it you're actually supporting them? Have you made a special trip to an airport with food or something to thank them when they return. Have you mailed letters telling them how much you appreciate their efforts and the sacrifices of their families. How about volunteering at a day-care center on a military base - give the kids missing a parent some extra love while they miss their mom or dad. Do you pray for them? (really pray).

You don't support the war so you don't believe in what they're doing. The daily efforts they make are a mistake our government directed them to make in your eyes.

Believe me, the idiot standing on a street corner, safe and sound in the USA, with a war protest sign over his shoulder telling the camera he supports the troops is fooling no one but himself.

 

[Snakum]

Isn't it possible to support the troops and not support the war?

Absolutely it's possible and plenty of folks are in that position. And that's exactly what she should have done. She should have thanked them for their service and then shut the f@ck up.

Minh

 

[Skyboss]

Sounds like she's not getting dick anymore.

 

[Fury220]

Furry220, are you demonstrating your "fighter pilot" birth control techniques here? You seem to have your titt!es in quite the twister!

C

First off, drop one of those "r's" outta your spelling. My SN is in regards to my attitude, not my a$$, my friend. kthx

Second, you're daamnn right I have my titt!es in a twister over this. I'm in my uniform (on average) 12 hours a day, and, in the course of going/coming (sts) to/from work, I run into all KINDS of wussy liberal sympathizers (yes, even in TX). It seems like the fact I have a uniform on makes me a target for political discussion, while more don't understand the fact that, while in uniform, I'm unable to comment AT ALL politically (lest people take my opinions as the "official" opinions of the USAF...).

This is where the F/A screwed the pooch. She's wearing a uniform, which means she represents the organization represented by the uniform. Personal opinions aside, you are OWNED by the company while you're on the clock. While it's valid to mention that the captain expressed an opinion while representing the company, we must realize that the opinion expressed was non-politically based and is really no different than saying "God Bless America" after a speech (as many public speakers do). We MUST see the demarkation between "Thanks, troops" and "hey troops, thanks, but I don't agree with what you've been busting a$$ over and dying over for the last couple years."

Maybe the F/A realized her mistake, as she then offered free liquor and tried to be a little more friendly to the servicemembers. I think we can all agree that she should have just shut her trap. Instead, she dug deeper while trying to climb out of the hole she was in.


Now, back to my personal perspective on talking to servicemembers. EVERY time someone starts wanting to talk war/politics with me while I'm in uniform, I bite my tongue. If you've ever tried to talk politics with a uniformed servicemember, $5 will get you $10 that he/she has been chomping at the bit to tell you what they think, but won't. It's called discipline.

The best thing to do when you encounter a uniformed servicemember:
Thank them and shut the F@CK up.


And yeah, if feeling strongly about something is a "birth control personality," then I guess I'm guilty as charged. In my experience, the hot chicks love a guy with a spine.



...and this reminds me of another joke:

Q: How do you know when you have a fighter pilot at your party?
A: Oh, he'll tell you. haha

 

[Fury220]

Believe me, the idiot standing on a street corner, safe and sound in the USA, with a war protest sign over his shoulder telling the camera he supports the troops is fooling no one but himself.

Don't forget: he's also fooling the thousands of other idiots with war protest signs






Guys, I realize my last post was a little emotional (a la the giant "SHUT THE F@CK UP...), so take it with a little sense of humor.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

Well said Fury. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but it amazes me how people who know absolutely nothing about what is going on (other than what they hear on CNN) will carry on as though they are experts on the Middle East and have the solutions to all of the world's problems. Its like a f/a lecturing the Captain on how to fly. Thanks to all of you guys for your hard work and dedication.

 

[flyifrvfr]

Moron.

To begin, I am not a liberal nor a traitor, and I have thought before I typed. I have a brother who is in Iraq right now. I support my president, our troops, and the war. What I won't do is deny someone their right to free speech while my brother is fighting for all of all rights. I do feel that the flight attendant does have the right to express her opinion. Many men have died for your rights, one of which is free speech. Metro, you have the right to call me a moron, but if you new me you wouldn't call me a moron.

What amazes me is that I haven't said I agree with what she said, I merely acknowledge the fact that she has a right to say it. Her view isn't popular and people jump on her, in the same as you have to me. I can't stress enough that the Captain and other flight attendant has expressed thier support and the F/A in question has expressed her opposition and now you want to report only the F/A because she doesn't agree with everyone else. This is hypocritical and wrong. The soldier acknowledged the right of the F/A to have free speech.

If you try to deny the F/A's right to free speech, but yet support the war and the troops you are a hypocrit (sic?) plain and simple.

 

[Fury220]

flyifrvfr, reread my post, particularly:

This is where the F/A screwed the pooch. She's wearing a uniform, which means she represents the organization represented by the uniform. Personal opinions aside, you are OWNED by the company while you're on the clock. While it's valid to mention that the captain expressed an opinion while representing the company, we must realize that the opinion expressed was non-politically based and is really no different than saying "God Bless America" after a speech (as many public speakers do). We MUST see the demarkation between "Thanks, troops" and "hey troops, thanks, but I don't agree with what you've been busting a$$ over and dying over for the last couple years."

 

[secks]

I know that I will get flamed for this but I do hope everyone sees both sides of the issue. On one side we have the Captain address the soldiers and thanking them for their service on behalf of himself and the first officer. One could argue that by doing this he is representing the company. On the other side we have a flight attendent who says that she opposes the war and expresses this to the soldier. My question is where is this different from the Captain who applaudes the soldiers.

Well said. The first mistake the airline employees made was even mentioning anything having to do with the war. By stroking the troops, you are in effect supporting the war. Until I personally ask someone in the military to risk their life for me and not return the favor (which will never happen), you're not going to hear me thanking them for their service. Moreover, many people join the military for completely selfish reasons. Should I support them, too? How would you feel about the crew thanking a cadre IRS tax collectors for their service to the country? Go down to your local PD or firehouse if you want people to thank. Keep the patriotic BS behind closed doors, I don't want to hear it. And if you do start preaching to me, don't belly-ache when I give it right back to you. Fair enough?

 

[MTpilot]

Respect

Respect

 

[e12pilot]

What amazes me is that I haven't said I agree with what she said, I merely acknowledge the fact that she has a right to say it.

She does have the right to express her opinion on the matter, but I feel what most people have a problem with here is that she did it in uniform, and while on the clock. She isn't paid to let people know her political and moral beliefs, nor would the airline look favorably upon her actions, she was out of line.

Now granted, you are right in saying the captain did the same thing, in that he did indeed express his opinion on the matter. However, the captain did not venture to the back of the a/c to repeatedly harass and haggle the troops about their service. It sounds like he made a brief comment over the p/a and let it rest. No harm in that, and everyone *should* appreciate that p/a, the fact that they are even able to be sitting in that airliner is due to the acts of our military in some respect.

 

[flyifrvfr]

Does anyone remember the airline pilot who said a prayer over the PA just a few months ago, what was the outcome? These two issues are very alike. The passengers were captive during the entire prayer, just as the passengers were captive when the Captain and F/A thanked the soldiers for their service over the PA. It sucks that our country has come to this political correctness crap.

The only thing I am concerned with is that once again the passengers were a captive audience. Three people have expressed their feelings to the soldiers. All three should be reported.

 

[DC4boy]

What was the name of this sky hag? Was she a scraggly blonde? I had a similar incident,southwest??