I am not the father of Britney Spears’ baby…

OK, so once again I didn’t hold true to my writing and it’s been a few weeks. But that is just going to have to be my pattern, until it’s not.

But today I’m in a tirade about a bar conversation. This should come as no surprise to those of you that know me but I usually let it go by the next morning. This time I just couldn’t. I don’t know if it is because I’m just getting fed up or if I’m getting tired of “not caring” but this discussion really hit home.

Before I go into the subject at hand I must explain that I hold no animosity towards the opponent in this argument. He knows that but it is important to me to point that out. In fact, I respect him and his opinion profoundly. So much so that he has altered my opinion on matters in the past, something that is not easy to do.

So here is the story we were told by a third party. A young man of about 20 walks on a crowded plane wearing a tee shirt that reads:

“I am not the father of Britney Spears’ baby… I came on her tits.”

Funny! Very funny actually. But then I started thinking that my 6 year old son is in the phase now where he reads any thing with short simple words. Outside of “Britney, Spears, and tits” he know every word that was written on the shirt. And do to the greatness of phonics, “tits” is a word he could easily read even if he doesn’t know what it means. This is where the problem is… he would proudly read it and promptly and loudly ask what does “I came on her tits” means? Again, very funny and I can appreciate that… right up to the point where I would have really explain it to him. And this is where the debate comes in.

I often hear from my liberal friends something like:

I have a right to watch anything on TV. Parents should control what their children watch and allow me to see tits on TV.

Or in the case of the bar discussion:

It is his right to wear that shirt. You can’t be the moral police of everyone.

The fact is that I agree with both statements. But it is a matter of right shirt, wrong place. The kid was wearing this shirt on an airplane. Walking down the aisle where anyone and everyone could and did read it, including (if he were there) my six year old. I do control what my child watches on TV. by 1. limiting his TV. time, 2 checking to see what he watches, and 3. using the V chip which allows me to require a pass code to be entered before a show with a rating that I deem inappropriate can be viewed. The ass wipe walking down the aisle on the plane didn’t have a place to type the password, which is why I have a big problem with it. I’m fine with his right to wear the shirt and if I saw it in a bar or late night spot where kids have no right to be, then I would laugh. But the plane is full of kids and I as a parent listening to the advice of my liberal friends had no ability to control what my kid sees. This is a hypocritical and beyond anything else in this world I can’t stand hypocrisy. So yes, the airline should have denied boarding of that passenger unless he changed his shirt and it is perfectly with in their and right and in fact is their duty to do so. My right to protect my child from explicit material out ways his right to free speech! I want him to wear the shirt, just wear it in appropriate places.

The Sweet Muse Travel

June 11, 2006 – DFW Airport.

OK, I know I keep saying I’m going to update this thing more often, but this time I mean it. (Yeah right) Well, at least I’m going to do it today.

Today I am going to address the self induced and sometimes forced insanity of travel. What’s worse is that I actually work for an airline. Those of you that work for an airline probably know where I’m going with this.

Airlines are in the business of moving people and packages and I understand that, but one of the things that attract people to work for the airline is the reduced rate travel. I bet you thought I was going to say the money. If you did, you have never worked for the airline industry. No, most of us are attracted to the industry because of the sweet muse Travel. Working for an airline allows you to “Non Revenue” travel or “Non-rev” when there is space available on a flight. But this process is not what I want to address today, I will talk more on it later.

Today I’m traveling on company business. However, once again the airline employee is the bottom of the pack when it comes to being a passenger. Even when the company wants/needs to you travel. I’m here to tell you that I go through hell every time THEY want me to go somewhere. First of all I have to book in a class that is just below earthworm. For you non airline folks, that means that you could find a coupon in a cereal box and have more of a chance getting a reservation that I do. That also means that even though I am compelled to be somewhere by my company, I can’t make any plans to get there. Instead I must go and wait at the airport and hope that some poor smuck can’t get his car started or over slept so that I can get on the airplane in his seat. It is very stressful and not in the least bit glamorous. In addition, if your company wanted you to go overseas, most likely you are allowed to book in business class. I’m allowed to book in the one seat next to the toilet between the twelve screaming infants that NEVER go to sleep.

The only saving grace…. Airport bars. And since I’m probable going to be sitting at one all day, I’m sure I’ll some more to write. If I don’t slur my typing.