Pastel polo shirts, plaid chinos and boat shoes

You may be wondering what the title of this post has to do with this story in today's SMH about Allen Jasson.

The thing is that Allen just wants to go home. He was here visiting family over christmas and merely wants to be able to board a Qantas plane and fly home - as long as he can wear his favourite t-shirt. Is that asking too much?

Qantas think it is.

Reading from a prepared statement, a Qantas spokesman [sic - gendered language SMH, naughty] said: "Whether made verbally or on a T-shirt, comments with the potential to offend other customers or threaten the security of a Qantas group aircraft will not be tolerated."

Seriously?

This is a slippery slope Qantas.

What happens if I'm mortally offended by anyone wearing (I can't even bring myself to write it again) the title of this post? Will Qantas insist my fellow passenger remove the offending clothing? Should I have the right to insist this occur?



Okay, so I realise that the title of this post isn't strictly a "comment" in the sense Qantas means, but it sure is a loud and clear statement about the person wearing the offending outfit, that's for sure.

What about a t-shirt bearing the swooshstika and the slogan "Just do it"? Surely this is a comment? No, how about anything from here or here?

I find it hard to believe that Qantas would ban a passenger wearing any of those slogans as offensive as I might find them, but say anything about our president and your off the plane.

Hang on a minute. Who's president? Jasson is an Australian with Brittish residency who was attempting to fly from Melbourne to London on an Australian plane. Hmmm, does Qantas know something I don't?

Perhaps next time I fly Qantas I'll wear this:



Or this:



Or even this:



Or anything from the real White House.