Resistance is Phutile

Monarch passengers.

Understandably, there has been considerable outcry at the treatment of the two young Asian men attempting to get a flight home to Manchester. However, in an interview on BBC breakfast this morning, the two concerned displayed a more rational approach than many others who have chosen to comment. While it is deeply unfortunate that this incident happened in the first place, it will do no good to label the actions of the nervous, non-Asian passengers as "disgraceful" and "racist".

Many people, myself included, do not feel entirely at ease with flying in the first place. My return flight from Spain in July was a pretty horrible experience, as I was sure something was wrong with the plane. Looking out of the window terrified me, even though on the flight at the beginning of the holiday I had been fine, and enjoyed looking down on the sea below. It's inexplicable. But that's what comes with boarding a plane.

In these times of heightened fear, when the public is constantly warned to be vigilant, and told they are always facing the imminent threat of Islamic terror attack, we can hardly be surprised people are scared of anything even remotely like what they imagine to be the face of the threat.
You wouldn't expect anyone to get onto a plane with their family if even the slightest possibility of danger had been hinted at.

Misguided, yes. Irrational, certainly. But these were not the actions of racists, merely of people unsure of whether they are safe or not. The reality is none of us know.

posted by Phu @ 2:49 pm