OK, I have an announcement. My husband and I actually disagree with each over the recent uproar with the TSA, enhanced pat-down techniques and touching someone’s “junk.” Shocking, I know.
Where We Agree…
We both agree that our government has been in reactive mode since 9-11 instead of proactive mode. Richard Reid tries to light his shoes on fire, so now we take off our shoes. There was a possible attack with liquids, so now we can’t take large bottles on board. By the time we have a procedure or technology to catch the last attempt, they have moved on to the next idea; such as toner cartridges. This is not what we should be doing. We realize this is not a conventional war and these people are just plain crazy.
We both also agree that the Center for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the same group that is responsible for the Ground Zero Mosque, is really pushing their luck. They are asking for a search waiver for Muslim women due to religious beliefs. Whether anyone wants to admit it out loud or not, it is Muslim lunatics that killed 3,000 people on 9-11 and are repeatedly trying to blow us up. If they know women will not be screened, what is to stop a man to dress as a woman in a burka, or use a woman as a suicide bomber? If the TSA, Janet Napolitano and the President agree to this, then they are dumber than I ever thought.
Where We Disagree…
My husband believes that we should do whatever we are asked, whether it is a pat-down or a full-body screening process. Since these individuals are constantly changing the game, this is the only way currently to protect Americans and the flying population as a whole. If you don’t want to go through these procedures, then you shouldn’t fly. Period.
I believe we should take a page from El Al and partner with them to learn their techniques and implement as many of them as possible. El Al does not use these type of techniques and has a superb history of keeping their passengers safe. We just have to be willing to admit we don’t know everything, listen to their suggestions and ask for help where needed. This includes that all-terrible word – profiling.
As I mentioned in my piece on 9-11, I have only been on a plane once since then and before I flew, I wrote a will and needed Xanax from my doctor. My husband and I have great plans to hopefully travel in the future to places like Alaska, England and Rome. That means going on a plane. However, I still don’t feel safe and do not want to subject myself to someone seeing me essentially naked or having such an invasive pat-down that I should get a date out of the deal. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I don’t think we are asking all the right questions.
I Have a Gripe 