"Free speech" is a pretty rubbery term. It's a bit like free education, it depends on your interpretation of "free".

The theory and the practice are often poles apart.

Originally Posted by Team Infidel

Qantas issued a statement saying comments made verbally or on a T-shirt which had the potential to offend other travelers or threaten the security of aircraft "will not be tolerated."

Be interesting to see what would happen if someone was offended by a T-Shirt which was Pro-Bush, and then asked Qantas to have the person wearing it then remove the offending T-Shirt, or disembark the Aircraft.

True, the Aircraft is property of Qantas, but if they choose such a slippery slope, what would happen if people feel threatened by those of different Religious affiliations? I know people who would given the choice rather not to fly with Muslims being on the same Aircraft, suppose someone wore a crescent moon symbol on a T-Shirt?

What if there was a Muslim on the flight, without a crescent moon symbol T-Shirt, and someone had a T-Shirt....

... like that, and the Muslim found such offensive?

Freedom is a messy business to be sure, and I do not know if Australia has an equal protection clause, and I do not know what the laws in Australia concerning discrimination and such are, but I'm sure the Court can sort everything out.

You guys have no respect for freedom of speech unless the message suits you. You disappoint me.

Originally Posted by major liability

You guys have no respect for freedom of speech unless the message suits you. You disappoint me.

True "Freedom" is nothing more than Anarchy unless certain limitations are put in place..... Yeah.... I know, then it is no longer freedom. But if anyone thinks they know of a better system you'd better tell someone.

The brutal truth is that there is no such thing as freedom, if we wish to live in a reasonably sane world there must be rules.

Rules against criticizing a public figure? How exactly does that contribute to our safety and sanity?

I think you are all missing the point.

He was wearing a very tight T-shirt and very tight pink shorts , bound for Sydney , whilst sitting in Business Class when collar and trousers are standard dress requirements in Business.

Originally Posted by Padre

I think you are all missing the point.

He was wearing a very tight T-shirt and very tight pink shorts , bound for Sydney , whilst sitting in Business Class when collar and trousers are standard dress requirements in Business.

Surely you do not find tight pink clothes on a male desirable Padre....

Originally Posted by major liability

Rules against criticizing a public figure? How exactly does that contribute to our safety and sanity?

Because different people are liable to interpret and exercise their freedom of expression in various ways. In the case above it was judged by QANTAS as being likely to cause a possible breach of the peace and therefore not advisable on board an aircraft.

Show me a country where this is not the case in practice.

It is clearly stated on the back of all QANTAS tickets that they reserve the right to refuse service to any person that they deem to be unfit.

If you can't see the reasons for this, I suggest that you have a lot of growing up to do.

Sounds like Political Correctness run amok.
Qantas wanting to make sure no ones feelings get hurt on the Flight.

It's not feelings that matter it's just that blood stains are hard to remove from the furnishings. Also there are better places to hold a brawl than inside an aircraftand airlines do have to provide a duty of care. Quite simple really.