Here is an exerpt from a letter written by long-time atheist activist Margaret Downey to American Airlines, which apparently played Christian music to the cabin on a plane in which she was flying.
I really agree with Margaret. They have the right to play whatever they want, but this is not a situation where you can just change the channel, and it’s not subtle. It is, in my opinion, a blatant disregard for non-Christians. Remember, we’re not talking about the Doobie Brothers, we are talking about intentionally deciding “let’s play Christian music” to a diverse audience.
In total we had to listen to three songs about a religious doctrine we find disturbing. I’m sure that a Jewish family, a Hindi family and nontheist people such as my husband and I were equally offended that American Airlines was promoting the Christian doctrine in a space that could not be escaped from. We were a captive audience!
I expect my airlines to remain neutral in matters of religion. This is why I will not fly Alaska Airlines. They promote and proselytize Christianity at ever opportunity.
Please confirm that this type of religious incident will not happen again when I use American Airlines. Please also explain who was responsible for the religious promotion on this flight — the pilot and/or the staff.
While this should be addressed please dont be too quick to boycott American Airlines. AA is beyond a doubt the most aggressivley progressive airline in the world on gay rights and is indeed a pioneer in gay rights among all Fortune 500 companies. The president of AA effectivley told the religious right to go to hell when they organized a boycott in the 90s over AAs gay friendly policies. AA has never waivered in its support of the gay community. I should know, I used to work for them and was a co chair for the local gay employee group!
http://www.aa.com/i18nForward.do?p=/urls/rainbow.jsp&anchorLocation=DirectURL&title=rainbow
I don’t think a boycott is warranted, nor has anyone asked for one, right?
Let’s give them that oh so important consideration: That they might make a change. Sometimes it happens, easily.
I don’t fly, but whenever someone pipes in some Christian music or propaganda around me, and I can’t get away from it, I say something. Maybe not then and there, but eventually. I commend Margaret for saying something.
No one has called for a boycott but some people who read this article might boycott AA on their own and I just want to urge them not too!
That must have been hell!
Margaret…life is way to short to be so easily offended. Especially for an atheist who only believes in the here and now. This event was nothing more then an opportunity for Margaret to force her closed minded opinions on a companies “rights” to operate their business in anyway they see fit.
Had Margaret done any research at all, she would have discovered exactly what Alex is talking about.
Margaret got offended by having to listen to a song…wow, isn’t she unique. Doesn’t she know that’s why God created ear plugs?
I thought that a human somewhere created earplugs. Im sure the patent office doesnt have god listed as the inventor.
” … life is way to short to be so easily offended. Especially for an atheist …”
Your gawd delusion doesn’t change your longevity. Say something pertinent.
November 4
United States Senator Charles Carroll was unique.
He was the only Roman Catholic to sign the Declaration of
Independence and he outlived all the other signers.
At his death, Charles Carroll was considered the wealthiest citizen
in America.
His statue was chosen to represent the State of Maryland in the U.S.
Capitol’s Statuary Hall.
Charles’ cousin, John Carroll, founded Georgetown University and was
the United States’ first Catholic Bishop.
Another cousin, U.S. Congressman Daniel Carroll, gave much of the
land where the U.S. Capitol is located and was one of two Catholics
to sign the U.S. Constitution.
Charles Carroll’s nephew, Robert Brent, was the first mayor of
Washington, D.C., being reappointed by Jefferson and Madison.
In a letter to James McHenry, the signer of the Constitution for whom
Fort McHenry was named, Charles Carroll wrote on NOVEMBER 4, 1800:
“Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time.”
Carroll continued:
“They therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose
morality is so sublime and pure and which insures to the good eternal
happiness, are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best
security for the duration of free governments.”
Carroll was also the biggest slaveholder in maryland but i guess that was moral in his view because the bible allows slavery.
It is laughable that you can equate christianity and morality, especially catholic christianity. A slaveholder is moral? Misogyny is moral? Bigotry and prejudice is moral? Genocide is moral? Those are just biblical examples that have been upheld by christians for the past two thousand years. As for the catholic church, their history of being anti-semitic, anti-gay rights, anti-women’s rights, anti-young boy’s rights, etc. speaks volumes about human evil. One need only look at the catholic church in Africa today and their fierce fight to make sure that no one can get a hold of condoms in a continent plagued by HIV/AIDS, to get a lesson on immorality. Read the bible and study the history of christianity and you will see that they are examples of moral bankruptcy.
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Allow me to quote one of my favorite Korn songs, “HYPOCRITE!”
OT
Chapel Hill, NC elects an openly gay mayor!!!
http://www.q-notes.com/4182/openly-gay-kleinschmidt-is-next-chapel-hill-mayor/
…and Forbes rates us as Americas smartest city (well the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill metro area)
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-10-04/americas-smartest-cities—from-first-to-worst/?cid=bs:archive9#gallery=787;page=1
Theres a very good reason that I make Chapel Hill my home.
GO TARHEELS!!!
Sorry the Daily Beast rated us as Americas smartest city. Forbes rated us as the best place to start a business. Either way its a hell of a place for a gay atheist business owner to be.
Maybe whoever selected the music was just a Doobie Brothers fan. One of my favorite memories of a plane flight was when I was returning home from overseas and they were playing ‘Minute by Minute’ by the Doobie Brothers as we deplaned. I don’t remember what airline it was, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t American.
Maybe the airline could balance things out a bit. You know, follow some praise music with Slayer’s “South of Heaven”.
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