OPINION: TSA backlash needed
Finally, Americans are pushing back against the more inane screening policies found when traveling through airports.
Several things are behind this backlash:
First, the new body screeners found in airports have people livid over having their private parts exposed to TSA screeners. While officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, claim the scanners aren’t too intrusive, most Americans know better. Just wait until a famous movie star has to go through one and a TSA official pulls out a cell phone and photographs the scan of that star’s privates… and posts that on Youtube.
Second, this month TSA began more aggressive hand pat-downs, including touching the private areas of people. Under any other circumstance, being groped in that way would lead to a charge of sexual battery. A man recently refused the new scanner and told TSA officials he would have them arrested if “you touch my junk” during a pat-down.
Finally, the relative success of the Tea Party political movement has focused more attention on the various ways government has invaded liberty and freedom in this country. The overreaching of TSA fits into that sphere.
What’s really frightening about this is that the government uses fear as a weapon to get people to comply with this loss of personal privacy. It’s the same kind of tactic that has been used in the past by repressive governments that seek to control their population. The Soviet Union was the prime example where fear was used to force people to cede freedom.
While there are legitimate security concerns in airports, TSA’s overbearing methods go too far. It’s time for a backlash.
First, the new body screeners found in airports have people livid over having their private parts exposed to TSA screeners. While officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, claim the scanners aren’t too intrusive, most Americans know better. Just wait until a famous movie star has to go through one and a TSA official pulls out a cell phone and photographs the scan of that star’s privates… and posts that on Youtube.
Second, this month TSA began more aggressive hand pat-downs, including touching the private areas of people. Under any other circumstance, being groped in that way would lead to a charge of sexual battery. A man recently refused the new scanner and told TSA officials he would have them arrested if “you touch my junk” during a pat-down.
Finally, the relative success of the Tea Party political movement has focused more attention on the various ways government has invaded liberty and freedom in this country. The overreaching of TSA fits into that sphere.
What’s really frightening about this is that the government uses fear as a weapon to get people to comply with this loss of personal privacy. It’s the same kind of tactic that has been used in the past by repressive governments that seek to control their population. The Soviet Union was the prime example where fear was used to force people to cede freedom.
While there are legitimate security concerns in airports, TSA’s overbearing methods go too far. It’s time for a backlash.
In Georgia it is a felony to touch, without consent, the body parts of another being touched by TSA. Maybe our new Attorney General should start prosecuting these felonies being committed at Hartsfield. I understand that one DA in California is planning to prosecute these sexual assaults committed in his jurisdiction.
BTW, "The overreaching of TSA fits into that sphere." Great line...
And there are other issues; what about victims of sexual abuse; should they be fondled in the name of safety even it creates psychological damage? Should children be searched and have their privates examined by TSA officers?
This really isn't about safety; it's about giving the appearance of safety and the spending of millions of dollars on scanner equipment from firms that have close ties to TSA. And if you don't agree to be scanned, the government is threatening to search you.
Tell you what, go to the airport and consent to a hand search of your body and then let me know what you think.
Just like gynecologists need to urge women to come in and get checked to get money back they spend on their machines (ultrasounds and what not) and receive a lot of cash from insurance companies as well any time they do a gyn exam, TSA needs to convince the people that for the people's own safety, they need to scan them naked or grope them to get their money back.
But money isn't the only thing, it's also a lot about power. The more people are conditioned to allow this to happen to them, the more control the authorities can gain over them. In the case of pelvic exams, the industry has been very succesful in making women believe it's for her own good, they only task they have is to keep their control.
If we don't stand up against the invasive pat downs and potentially dangerous body scanners it's going to be a lot harder to change things once most people have adopted Jessica's way of thinking.
Why on earth would the authorities care about our safety anyway?
http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13534628
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/11/19/moms-message-tsa-dont-touch-kids/
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/slideshow/photos-gosh-tsa-touched-12186319
Easiest way to fix the TSA is to turn it over to the same company that is used in Israel. They profile and do not harrass a person that they know will not be a threat. How, wait, that would not be politically correct and the "Peaceful religon on Islam" would have a problem with it.
And just why should I submit to some semi-literate goon in a uniform, simply because they are the recipient of a government jobs project?
As is often stated, what we are seeing is "security theater." It's laughable that weapons are the target of security screening (hair gel...really?) when it's PEOPLE that should be the target. But, oh no, we can't have that...someone might be offended.
It's time to consign political correctness to the ash heap of history. Nowhere in the U.S. Constitution or any of the amendments thereof is a right to not be offended.