While I believe everyone can react however they like — as long as it’s not impolitely — and everyone has a right to prefer to ignore her request, I see no reason to belittle her efforts, as a few curmudgeons here have done.

I’ve certainly encountered the championing of causes, including solicitations for donations, all over the place, including numerous retail outlets. I imagine most of us have seen the collection boxes for UNICEF, the United Way, the American Red Cross, etc., including in places I don’t go expecting to spend money on anything other than whatever services or products (or both) a particular business offers.

However, neither do I resent it, unless a person were to get right in my face demanding I do something.

After all, are we going to criticize a Girl Scout who comes around selling Girl Scout cookies — raising money for a cause we may, or may not, support? I don’t even much *like* the cookies — but I’ve bought them.

Some mention a parallel with a waitress, but that’s not really a valid comparison. Contrary to what too many air passengers think, airline cabin personnel are *not* just “wait people at 35,000 feet.” Sure, they do serve us whatever food and drink we request, but they are far more than wait personnel. I mean no disparagement of wait folks– been one myself. However, I’ve never known of a wait person who has been required to have all the “non-waitress” skills an air hostess has to have.

Further, in my view, what Robin is really doing is offering us at least two opportunities. First is to distinguish between the policy-makers and their wars on the one hand in contrast to the usually-nameless folks sent out to conduct those wars, up close and personnel. It’s entirely possible, not to mention logical and fair, to have one opinion of the wars (disapproval) and the exact opposite of a Marine sweating under the searing summer Iraq sun or a soldier shivering in the mountains of Afghanistan during that country’s fiercely bitter winters.

There are other contexts. Those of us old enough to remember the tense hours when Apollo 13 got into trouble and it looked like the good guys darned well might not make it home. Sure, we could have said, “So what? That’s what they signed up for.” I don’t recollect hearing any such sentiments, however. Or how about when our people were hostage is Iran, giving rise to the dedicated news show “Nightline”? Yes, that dragged on long enough — 444 days — that we went about our lives, even while turning our thoughts the hostages’ way most days at some passing moment.

Anyone who wants to skip wearing a yellow ribbon or the like is certainly free to make that choice. But don’t begrudge the Robins of the world who choose to wear it, and to share her compassion.

Bravo, Robin! You go, Gal! And you ROCK!

But, I’d like to add a couple of reactions to the earlier comments.
* No one is _forced_ to write anything. I have often gone through checkout lines at various retail establishments and been asked if I want to “’round up’ to contribute to…” Or, there are various containers for contributions. Or, the current campaign for breast cancer where many representatives are wearing pink ribbons.

* One of the great things about this country is that you can make personal choices without fear of retribution. Sure, there are people who may disagree. Unfortunately, some do not know how to disagree without being disagreeable. For those who are not Americans and disagree, I have to honestly ask: Why are you here if you do not like our country, our freedoms and our way of life. I doubt you were forced to come here. I’ve been a number of foreign countries where I don’t particularly like some of their customs, practices. and/or attitudes. But, that is their way of life and I’m happy I can come home to the good old USA.

* Finally, I am reminded of a wonderful tag line used by many people:
“If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a soldier.”
It has nothing to do with politics. It has everything to do with our way of life. This is what Robin Schmidt and Delta are doing. And I thank both for what they are doing.

And you’re totally right — flight attendants, like many other service workers (lawyers, doctors, etc.), are highly trained service providers.

What does that have to do with bringing personal issues into the professional workspace? In general, it’s not okay for a retail worker to ask you do do something “for a cause” at the end of your purchase at a store. Nor is it okay for a doctor to regale you with his amateur singing at the end of an appointment (at least not without your permission). Why in the world should it be any different for a flight attendant?

I mean no disrespect for flight attendants. I am always very polite to flight attendants, and other service workers. It’s just common courtesy, and I understand the experience well because I’ve always worked in service industries. All I mean to say is that their personal things (singing, comedy, politics, social consciousness, religion, whatever) should be reserved for their personal time.

I know of very few “servants” who train so thoroughly to save your arrogant ass, should the need arise.

But then it occured to me that this is extremely common in American business. As consumers we are often asked to donate or otherwise participate in a social good if it’s not political.

Starwood had the breast cancer awareness promotion; local grocery stores are always asking for donations for health; Whole Foods regulars runs the FEED 100 program; the police have TOYS FOR TOTS around Christmas; People donate time and money to AIDS walks and other fund raisers for cures for various diseases; etc.

Therefore, I have to conclude that the Delta program is consistent with American business values.

It would make me uncomfortable, but I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because I’m not American, and don’t find it as easy to be openly patriotic (and, also, to put it unsympathetically and bluntly, they’re not my troops).

Out of genuine curiousity, I would be interested to hear how many passengers decline to write in the book, and in particular how non-Americans may react.