On my recent SAS flight from Chicago to Copenhagen, the purser wore a Greenland flag pin. When I asked about it, he explained that he wanted to make a statement, especially on flights to the United States. I agreed with the statement. But that does not mean I thought his uniform was the appropriate place to make it.

My SAS Purser Wore A Greenland Flag Pin To Make A Political Statement

I mentioned an interesting flag pin in my account of our excellent SAS Business Class flight from Chicago to Copenhagen. Here is the story.

The purser was working my side of the aircraft, and I noticed a Greenland flag pinned to his uniform. Naturally, I was curious, especially considering I had just been there.

I asked whether he was from Greenland. He was not. Did he speak Greenlandic? No.

Then why the pin?

“To send a statement, especially on flights to the U.S.”

Well, there was my answer. This was a deliberate political message, and he was quite candid about it.

I Agree With His Position On Greenland

Let me be clear: I find the Trump administration’s saber-rattling over Greenland among its most offensive actions.

Denmark is a NATO ally. Threatening to take control of territory within the Kingdom of Denmark is an appalling way to treat a partner. Greenlanders also have a right to determine their own future. I understand why someone working for a Scandinavian airline would feel strongly about this. I do too. Sometimes the only way to deal with a bully is to stand up to him.

Thankfully, diplomacy has produced a more constructive path. The United States, Denmark, and Greenland signed a security agreement in September that recognizes Danish sovereignty and Greenlandic self-determination while strengthening Arctic security.

Our flight took place before Greenland’s parliament ratified the agreement on November 3. Denmark’s parliamentary vote is scheduled for November 19, so the ratification process is not yet complete.

I cautiously welcome that progress. Cooperation with an ally should have been the approach all along.

But My Standard Cannot Depend On Whether I Agree

I have criticized political flag pins before, including Palestinian flag pins on Delta Air Lines and a similar incident on an American Airlines flight operated by SkyWest.

My position has been that a crew uniform should not become a platform for an employee’s personal political advocacy. I cannot abandon that position because this time I happen to agree with the cause.

A Greenland flag is not inherently a political protest. It can signify someone’s home or heritage. A flag or badge might also serve an airline-approved purpose, such as identifying a language spoken.

Here, however, I did not have to speculate about his intent. I asked, and he told me. He wanted to send a message, particularly to an American audience.

Sorry, but I take issue with that. Just wear the uniform as prescribed so everyone looks…uniform. The airline should determine what belongs on it. Individual employees should not decide which geopolitical causes deserve an exception.

I have not established whether SAS permits this particular pin, so I am not claiming a confirmed uniform-policy violation. My objection is to using the uniform for the purpose he described.

A Great Flight Can Still Include Something I Disagree With

This did not change my assessment of the flight. We enjoyed excellent food, slept very well, and received attentive service. I have already praised the crew, including this purser who made a great cappuccino, and that praise stands.

Nor do I think a small pin requires turning an otherwise enjoyable journey into a confrontation…it was not my fight to wage.

But it is worth discussing precisely because I sympathized with him. Consistency is easy when you dislike the message. The more useful test comes when someone expresses a view you share. If I want political advocacy kept off crew uniforms, that has to apply here too. Otherwise, my position amounts to allowing the messages I like while objecting to everyone else’s.

CONCLUSION

My SAS purser wore a Greenland flag pin and openly acknowledged that he wanted to make a statement, especially on flights to the United States.

I understood his frustration and agreed with the underlying sentiment. I still do not think his uniform was the right place to express it. He helped deliver an excellent flight. I would happily fly with him again, but hopefully next time he’ll leave his Greenland pin at home.

That said, Greenland is not for sale.

> Read More: I Met A Greenlander Who Wants Trump To Annex Greenland

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