Airport Security by BJ Wellington
(centrist)
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
What do Americans want, another 9/11 or worst? If I could ask anyone on the four planes from 9/11, if they would rather see pat-downs or body scanners in the future, I would bet you 1,000 to 1 they would say yes. America, this is life as it is today, it will never be the same as yesteryears. The neighbor's kid, you saw grow up in America, attend American colleges, is trying to kill Americans because their heritage tell them America is wrong.
It has been proven the enemy can and will use planes as killing machines. The government has come up with a couple of solutions for our safety, before you get on the plane. Nothing is 100% but these measures will be better than none. Pat-Downs or Body Scanner. I prefer the body scanner; I don't want anyone touching me that personal, unless we are in a relationship. Besides, I am ticklish and will laugh at being touched in certain places and I don't want the screeners to think I am enjoying this or hiding something. You are only in the scanner a couple of minutes. How long are in you in for a chest x-ray or MRI etc.?
This is all new to us and the TSA screeners will definitely have to be properly trained, several supervisors should be on duty at all times, to make sure no one is violated during the screening process. Body scanners are new and we fear the unknown. Remember the millennium, people were storing up guns, food, etc. not knowing what to expect in 2000. I am sure when the chest X ray machine first came out, people were afraid to use it, when they heard the word radiation. I don’t think it is so much the fact, people don’t want to go through the pat down, I think the uproar has to do more with the manner in which some agents have been too aggressive.
I try and make my trip through security as painless as possible. I wear comfortable clothing i.e. jeans and shirt, sandals or tennis shoes. All my medicine in original bottles, in plastic gallon bag with other small items. I even take off jewelry so as not to 'Bling'. I want to be able to go through as easy as possible and not have to be stopped while my personal items (purse in particular) are on the other side, where anyone can pick them up.
You know you are wearing a prosthetic, be so kind as to tell the TSA officer ahead. That way, you will save time and embarrassment for yourself. Ask to be searched (if that is the way your are going) private with a friend or third person in the room. If you go so far as to having the pat down, then you shouldn't feel bad about another person in the room. As for children, yes, pat them also. In Iraq, children were used to carry bombs and explosives, we as Americans forget that, since we look at our children in a different way. We would never think about putting explosives on our children but in today's world who knows.
If I am on a plane and I found out the person next to me or sitting elsewhere on the plane did not go through security, I will be mad, scared and uncomfortable the entire trip.
This is the way it is going to be so, get used to it: drive, catch a bus or train until something happens and they start using scanners. As for the boycott: anyone boycotting have a ticket to fly that day? Do you think the airlines will give your money back, if you take too long and miss your flight, I think not. You have lost money because you listened to someone, who did not have a ticket at all to fly. Duh! We are trying to be so politically correct that we have lost sight of the real world and things that are happening in it.
No one wants to be violated. I feel safe to say, no one wants to be blown up.
Did you like this article? If you did, Thumb It! 3
thumbs so far
The views expressed
in this article are those of BJ Wellington only and
do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates.
BJ Wellington is solely responsible for the contents
of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated
with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
Posted By: trd
Date: November 26, 2010 12:38:06 PM
Well bend over and get a colonoscopy every time you fly 'cause that is what's going to be next. Safety my ass! We the people and we the passengers are the ones who should be responsible for our own safety. Anyone in the street right now can blow to pieces you without using and airplane and that doesn't mean we need invasive security measures on the road everywhere we go. There is nothing right now from stopping a carjacker from murdering you to steal your car away from you. Bridges, schools, hospitals, subways, malls, can all be blown up easy. Apparently you don't get it. The TSA must be eliminated. Passengers should be allowed to carry guns to defend themselves, pilot's cabin should be locked and air marshals should be used. That's it! Cheaper, non-intrussive, and without losing our freedoms.
