Was President Kalam frisked….
The Continental Airlines has apologized. Or so is the news. The question that remain are
(1) Was he frisked?
(2) If so, how does it matter o a common man?
(3) Why this hype, especially if the man himself chose to be quiet over the issue.
My random thoughts over the issue:
Knowing what the former President, Mr. Kalam is, I was not surprised the way he responded to the issue. It was a graceful response. Should he instead have chosen to argue with the airlines authorities? I disagree.
Why did the airlines treat him the way they did?
Mr. Kalam is not Narendra Modi, who was denied an American visa recently.
Mr Kalam is not Kurt Waldheim either, the late former Secretary General of the United Nations who went on to become the Austrian President and eventually denied entry to the US for his pro Nazi past.
When another former Indian President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan was asked in Paris if he was “untouchable”, he had addressed the issue by politely saying, “I am just the President”.
An Indian former President is just that – a former President with whom I associate my national pride. Mr. Kalam, the people’ president has a Pan Indian appeal, that is what I would like the Continental Airlines to know.
Compare our former President with some others across the border:
During President Zia’s martial law in Pakistan, Cops fired and killed a dog, since some one painted, “I am Zia” over his body!
If you circulate an SMS joke about Mr. Asif Zardari, they now have a provision of fourteen years’ imprisonment!
Go further ahead and compare the simple life style of Mr. Kalam with those of Mr. Silvio Berloscuni or Sarkozy and you would no why he was the people’s President. Sarkozy reportedly spends around £ 660 over flowers for Carla. Berloscuni indulges in things that will put Bill Clinton in shame!
If instead of Mr Kalam the airlines had chosen to rub any of the petty politicians of Indian origin, such as the one obsessed with erecting her own statues across her state, it would not affect the common man that I think I am.
Someone rightly said that Air India wouldn’t treat Hillary Clinton the same way!
I don’t fly overseas, but would like to remember the Continental Airlines so as not to board any of their flights.
An infrequent flier.
I agree with both points of view. My only problem is the hullabaloo created by the media over this issue when issues of much more importance to a common man are never addressed unless they can increase the TRP.
ReplyDeleteLots of egos are hurt by American Security check personnel at airports. Sikhs had to take off turbans, I have personally had to take off shoes and my belt a number of times. They just do their duty politely and efficiently.
Maybe it is because of these strict policies that no terrorist attack happened again after 9/11
I would fly continental because I know the security would be tight and they wouldn't even compromise on it when it comes to a country's past president. I would hopefully be safer.
Sarbjit
Flying with them for the reason cited is a point to ponder, Thanks for providing an alternative view.
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