There is a strong case for either argument. With specific reference to the Northwest Airlines case, being an educated and frequent flyer I believe that the flight staff and authorities did the right thing. Not heeding crew instructions after being repeatedly told so is reason enough for the action taken. Ofcourse, this opinion is formed on basis of the accounts given by other passengers that indeed the 12 people refused to heed the flight crew and passed cell phones around. However, speaking in non-English languages smacks of insecurity and rascist overtones.
Even if racial profiling is done, I dont see anything wrong, because thre are very strong reasons abd basis for doing this. Any such measures or precautions are fully justified for safety purpose. In fact tere should be strong punishment for such behavoiur of the passangers and they should be heavily fined and blacklisted by all airlines.
It is quite natural to do racial profiles, particularly if we dress differently and speak differently. We have a lousy record in cordial relations. We destroy planes, we kill innocents and want the whole world to share our religion. Even when we are in their country, we do not mix with the mainstream instead we damage their property. If we are so particular about racial pursuits, we better stay in our own country rather than go there and expect them to treat us equally. The suspicions of the white race is justifiable.
I work in the United States and have lived in more than half a dozen cities and hence i have travelled around a lot. But every time i check in a flight, i face a lot of questioning, unnecessary delays, background checking using my SSN/ Drivers license/ passport/ visa/ work permit et al. And all this because my name happens to be a certain "SYED ABDULLAH SYED AIYAZ" and i am a musllim as you might have guessed by now.
There is certainly a lot of racial profiling across US not only in airports and at every security check point but also in day-to-day life and at work as well. This has happened because the people here are a lot ignorant about any other culture other than thier own and european culture.
And the situation is goiong down hill every day and i can only hope to be back in india as soon as i can.
The 12 passengers seems to have ignored aircraft crews' plea for normal accepted behaviour in the aircraft. So the inconvenience faced by other passengers are due to the misbehaviour of the few who are responsible for the delay. I have been an extensive traveller all over the world and have not felt a pattern of racism in the behaviour of Europeans and Americans in general. It is a fashion for some people to blame them when they resist abnormal behaviour in the public place and in the groups
While it is true that there have been instances of differential treatment of passengers based on race, especially at US airports, this particular case does not seem to fall in that category.
There are good reasons why cell phones are to be switched off during take off and landing. The passengers who chose to ignore the warnings got what they deserved. I'm ashamed that they were Indian. Perhaps that is the problem. We Indians believe that everything can be 'adjusted'. We need to learn that not all places in the world are like our country.
RE:Regarding North west airlines passangers
by vikas on Aug 26, 2006 11:04 AM Permalink
Flying in india these days is a pleasure.. with so many nice private carriers.. but, our indian guys/older men(esp) need to learn manners and be nice to Air hostesses and not harasses them like their Wives or servants!!!
Politians like the recent Kerala politian(Christan guy-Joseph) who groped"invisible touched" the lady in front afterlights were out ...and take off was called for, should be "castrated" and publically have his HEAD shaved and paraded n kicked in the streets..
Similar treatment should be given to a ny Politian causing harm to any innocent Female.
Ridiculous to think so. I visited at least on 3 occasions to US, UK, Germany, and whenever i needed information, except UK !, other places the authorities were more than my expectation in providing the information. Even UK may be due to my accent or the person was really busy !. But in India only you have all the non-sense of descrimination right from school as FC, BC, MBC, MMBC, MBBC, SC, ST, STT !!! and what not , which the Govt itself is encouraging.
We must understand the kind of terror threats which are going on and there is every reason that security agencies need to be on alert.
Like in India, if you think you will roam around with mobile only in aeroplanes too in overseas ( No MP/MLA might have to come for rescue !) , then you need to face the music
I took the same flight last month. I flew out of chicago-AMS-Mumbai, the behaviour of crew member in AMS to Mumbai is totally opposite of what we experienced during chicago to AMS. The crew member were rude, not polite, non cooperative to us.
I faced this kind of the thing many atime when we returned home or take western airline in asian destination.
Same time I also observed that many a times our people also does not behave properly and indescipline does not follow safety instruction.
