A few months ago a number of Jews had a knee-jerk reaction when Delta Airlines inked a code-share agreement with Saudi Arabian Airlines. "Don't fly an airline that does business with the Saudis." (See http://yohanon.blogspot.com/2011/06/delta-and-saudis.html )
Some people simply fail to understand airline reality.
Now two Muslims are suing Delta and one of its regional carriers, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, for refusing to allow them on board a flight from Memphis TN to Charlotte NC.
According to the suit, the two Muslims were on their way to an anti-Muslim discrimination conference.
The two were subjected to several security checks, including pat downs.
The Atlantic Southeast Airlines (Delta Connection) pilot refused to take off with the two Muslims on board.
Seems a pretty straight-forward case against the airline.
But I suggest it was a set-up.
Both the Muslims were, according to an AP report, dressed in Arab garb: "They had beards, wore traditional Arabic clothing, and were visibly foreign."
Did the Muslims just get off a plane from Saudia, the UAE, or one of the many other Arab or Muslim-dominated countries in the Middle East and elsewhere?
No.
One is an adjunct instructor of Arabic at the University of Memphis. The other is a religious leader with the Islamic Association of Greater Memphis.
Perhaps a religious leader with the Islamic Association of Greater Memphis generally walks about in Muslim, "Arab," garb, but I suspect the adjunct instructor has a closet full of western suits. I also have my doubts about the religious leader, but never mind.
Given the men's destination, I would suggest that the men dressed to provoke the reaction; they hoped for the reaction to have a story to tell in Charlotte.
(Interesting that they chose Delta to fly to a US Airways hub. Both airlines offered the same fares. AirTran had a one stop flight for substantially less than either Delta or US Airways. Fares were compared for an overnight stay in Charlotte, departing and returning mid-week.)
What's the difference between allowing a person dressed in a typically "Arab" costume from a Buddhist in robes or a hasid with his pants tucked into his socks or, for that matter, with a Catholic monk dressed in a cassock?
The difference is that the Buddhist, the Jew, and the Catholic are not known for bombing innocents - unless maybe the Catholic is from Ireland. To be fair, I don't believe the jihadist high jackers of sundry airliners wore "traditional" costumes.
The Muslims' suit suggests that none of the passengers on board the flight objected to the pair being on board; only the pilot objected and that, the suit states, only because the pilot felt their presence could make other passengers uncomfortable.
Delta, it seems, can't seem to satisfy anyone with a Middle East connection.
Except for this scrivener. I like Delta, and if the price is right, I'll fly Delta around the U.S. and to Israel - pity the non-stop flight between Atlanta and Lod was discontinued.
