I dunno. Maybe the same blind faith in the TSA that they have in the rest of our govenment, assuming that they are doing what is necessary to safeguard air travel?? I guess my main point is that the person wearing the shirt went through all the same security screening that everyone else in the terminal did. Why should it be assumed that they are more dangerous than anyone else, even if they are wearing a t-shirt that is suspect? Why would the average passenger not think, "Gosh, that person seems dangerous to me; I'm sure the TSA thought so too and gave them extra screening." Either have faith in the judgement of those to whom you subject yourself (in this case the judgement of the TSA in an airport), or don't, but don't let the latter cloud your judgement so much that you take it out on others instead of yourself.

And, yes, I've seen fights at ball games, but that usually comes along with a fair amount of beer and shouting as well. If that can't be handled more reasonably on an airplane and/or a terminal then we've got much bigger issues to deal with.

Ultimately I think that you and I will have to agree to disagree on this one. Very little that the TSA does makes me feel any safer, though it seems to be working for you. Very little that I see in the reaction to 9/11 and the suspension of civil rights these days makes me feel safe (or makes me actually safe). Forcing a passenger to change their shirt doesn't make me feel any safer.

Happy flying.

On a much broader point it should be noted that the TSA inspector is being individually sued, something I have said over and over on this forum is indeed legally possible.

"Inspector Harris" ?

Hope the rest of their case is better prepared.

[QUOTE=KathrynInCanada;8214599]I guess I'd want to know how he interpreted the "We will not be silent" on his t-shirt. If he meant it to say that he would speak out against Muslim injustices than I have no problem with it. [/wuoyr]Excuse me, but it doesn't matter how he interpreted it. He has a First Amendment right, which is absolute, to say whatever he wants.

Then wear your own t-shirt that says, "WASPs get all the blame." This man did nothing but refuse to change his t-shirt. He was kept off the plane because of content discrimination, which is completely unconstitutional, and because of this race, which is illegally discriminatory.

Who cares if other passengers were made uncomfortable. I recommend you read the Supreme Court decision in Cohen v. Superior Court.

And, in the United States, "sending a message" is protected by the First Amendment. It doesn't matter what it means. The passenger had an absolute right to say it.

Jet Blue, as a private corporation, cannot violate anyone's First Amendment rights. TSA, as a government actor, can.

You might want to read Cohen v. Superior Court. Political speech is a core value of the First Amendment.

You definitely need to read the Cohen case.

Nice to see justice being served. Good luck Raed ^

P.S anyone managed to find a site where you can get hold of these tee's. Thanks

It's comforting to me. It tells me that there are still people in this world who aren't afraid to speak up about injustices and corruption.

Who exactly is this "Inspector Harris" that is supposed to be with the TSA?

For security checkpoints, I know the TSA has (1) TSO screeners (2) TSO lead (3) TSO Supervisor and (4) TSO Manager. At the airport level there is usually an (1) AFSD and a (2) FSD as well as some administrative support staff.

Does the TSA have "Inspector's" that work in airports? Or was this guy perhaps a LEO with another agency acting on behalf of the TSA in some respect? If someone approached me and said they were "Inspector Harris", I would probably assume the person was a LEO - but I would also ask to see their credentials as I would if I had an encounter with an ununiformed police officer.

Since the TSA is being sued as a result of this "Inspector Harris", I'm interested in knowing who he is and where he falls under the scope of the TSA. What exactly does a TSA Inspector - such as "Inspector Harris" do? Are they actual peace officers or LEOs in some capacity?

I know the TSA is not a law enforcement agency - it's an administrative government agency -- but it's my understanding individuals with other entities (i.e. Bureau of Indian Affairs) can be sworn in as a federal peace officer in some cases.

So TSAer's: What other "positions" are out there at the airport level aside from the TSO's and such you would encounter at a checkpoint?

I never assumed that he was more dangerous! I am confident that he was equally (or even more intensely) screened at asecurity checkpoint as all other pax that day. He is a peace person! I want to state for the record that my whole problem with this lawsuit is that MANY other people were not comfortable with the message/writing on his shirt getting on an airplane and complained to the TSA and jetBlue. Both have the right to remove him from the aircraft, but the fact is they "compromised" and let him fly with a different shrit. This is not a violation of rights, as for WHATEVER reason they saw it as a security risk. Maybe not driectly, but later on once airborne to help prevent a fight from breaking out.

I never said that what the TSA does is working for me. I think the security is a joke for the most part! Look at El Al...now that's security. I actually feel safer on an El Al plane (have been on 6 El Al segments in my life) than anywhere in the world!

Good, but how do we know (or, more importantly the other pax on his flight know) that the message being sent is actually about being treated equally?

Just to add to this conversation, in addition to the a.net thread I posted, here is the topic in the Travel S/S forum:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=724322

Reply # 2 is a similar idea to what I'm trying to get across here!

Kinda reminds me of the old Hanes commercials in the 80's with Inspector 12: "They don't say Hanes until I say they do!"

I know law dawg says he's an LEO for TSA but isn't a FAM. Could possibly be someone from the IG's office. If that's the case and it's from TSA's IG office, things are worse inside the agency than I thought.

And as such have no authority to remove anyone from a plane. A sworn LEO must be summoned to effect that, if the passenger is unwilling to comply with a request from anyone with lesser authority.

Yes but like most converstations over at that site the children can't convey their points like adults and usually end up calling each other names thus resulting in the thread being closed....like it is now.

I'm glad people on here can constructivly make their points/feelings known and others and constructivly agree or disagree with statements said.

ROTFLU.

A LEO for the TSA, but not a FAM. Hmmm.

True, could be someone from the IG's office. You're right, if it's from the TSA's IG office, things inside the agency are not good....

// OT - but rant about FAMs taking premium F seats: A friend of mine recently flew HNL-LAX in FC (paid FC, FWIW. A route I also fly in paid FC). Sitting next to him, a FAM occupying a F seat on one of AA's 767-300s with the new NG business/first class seating sleeper seats.

Despite being in a NG sleeper seat, the FAM never once even reclined his seat; didn't drink, didn't sleep, played with his PDA and read a book, and apparently stuck out like a sore thumb. To not even recline a sleeper seat just a little bit for comfort is odd. I'm guessing it probably would have exposed a firearm if he reclined it a bit or tried to go into a Z position. Keep in mind this is also an afternoon flight that arrives late at night, just in time for the redeye bank of connections.

I wouldn't consider HNL-LAX a high yield route, but it is a route where people will pay for First Class on carriers that offer premium first seating and service. I pay F when I fly the route in order to have the premium first class seating; whats the point of buying an F ticket (or paying for an upgrade with $$ or miles) to get a premium F sleeper seat and keep it in the full upright and locked position for 5 hours? // rant off