As a human being, I also know that there are times when situations become overwhelming, regardless of age. If there was a history of illness, it may not have even been the illness, but rather the trauma surrounding that entire incident that triggered the panic response.

On some levels, I say that it is true that a child allowed to cry and carry on is a sign of negative or ill-effective parenting approaches. But at the same time, if there is some residual trauma that an individual is feeling, that parent could have the soul of Mother Teresa and still not be able to fully be there for the child on all the levels that the child needs you.

I could say that if it were my child, I would have allowed them to cry and carry on while I physically picked her up and put her in the seat…I’m hoping that I have enough tricks in an activity pack to at least help her become more distracted, or even just let her cry in her favorite toy…But I really don’t know…

A lot of people make the comment of “pack the kid up and go in a car so that no one else has to be bothered.” I recognize that comment…But at the same time, let’s also leave this one individual story alone here for just one moment and look at the implications of the “bigger picture,” here.

This scenario now leads to a greater issue of people being potentially segregated or discriminated against because they chose to have families instead of dogs they could leave at the kennels. It’s becoming more and more clear in our society that children are becoming more of an inconvenience than a blessing. Everywhere I look, I’m seeing more and more children’s parks being replaced with dog runs…And then I hear people complain because children don’t show any kind of courtesy or respect.

Well, coming from a parent’s perspective, I do know that children learn from example. If we hit and humiliate a child, that child will only learn to hit and humiliate. If we show absolutely no compassion, empathy, or understanding towards them, then they will never learn to cultivate their own compassion, empathy, or understanding.

Ultimately, however, in a world where there is such callous behavior going on from every kind of spectrum and perspective, then that leaves the potential for parents like myself to be discriminated against, simply because I have a child. Look at history books…Look back at America, even, during WWII. I’m sure that you all have heard that Americans were sympathetic to the Jewish plight of the Holocaust, but how sympathetic could we be if there were signs on the beaches that said, “No Jews or Dogs Allowed?” I truly do not want to live in a society that has signs posted on transportation outlets saying “No Animals or Children Allowed.”

That kind of behavior would have really crushed my mother, as well. When I was born, I had a heart condition that required a great deal of attention if I was going to make it past infancy and maybe even possibly live past the age of four. My condition required a great deal of specialists’ care, and most of these specialists were in other states, like Illinois (my family is from New Mexico…And I’m hoping you realize that it’s been a state since 1912 and is nestled just east of Arizona, west of Texas and south of Colorado), and if my family had to drive to get me to a specialist, my chances of survival would have been very slim. I also know that there were times when they were flying when I had other issues going on, like ear infections and what have you.

I can assure you that I was not any kind of joy to travel with, even though I was too young to remember. But my mother always spoke of kind-hearted people who helped her cope and also helped me to get from one destination to another at least in one piece.

Now…If this one airline can kick a family off for an “annoying” child, that leaves a huge implication out there to all other families who may not have the option to drive, as my family really didn’t have the option. I really do not feel as though we should be discriminating against families or children, as it leaves the door too wide open for us to forget that children are human beings with a lack of experience, and we are there to teach them through our own experiences.

I may have been young when I had my child, but I still feel as though my youth has allowed me to maintain some aspect of what it means to want to be happy and grow up in a safe and healthy environment. Our environment has been poisoned by too many people needing too many things right now (thank you, microwave/cell phone generation). We are too connected through electronics that we have forgotten that people have souls.

And if this is really what our society has boiled down to, when we really can’t find ways to accommodate or help other people in a post 9-11 world or any other kind of world, then maybe we should really look at ourselves and realize that the terrorists have won.

She was removed because “she was climbing under the seat and hitting the parents and wouldn’t get in her seat” during boarding, Graham-Weaver said.

Yeah, it sure sounds like they are great parents. You should always allow your kids to hit you. That will teach them discipline!!

These pompous Bostonians got exactly what they deserved. I can hear their annoying accents now. Never mind the rights of the other 112 people on board, we should worry about the 3 year old. Take a car next time so I don’t have to listen to it.

On the other hand, if the parents let the child rule “as a rule” and not an exception, then yes, that is a problem. And I know for me, I “believe” (just based on how my child responds to discipline) my child would have calmed down, but I can’t say I know how she would have responded if she was actually responding to some ailment (as some of the reports have suggested).

Just a little to think about…Thanks for commenting!