Security over Privacy

I try to stay away from just about anything that is a really touchy subject on the internet, and things that can be viewed as politics are one of those things. But as this subject really affects me I feel like I might as well write up how I feel about it. This really shouldn't be a political issue, but as we have a 2-party system, anything that I say can pretty much be linked to one party or the other. Although I think many people in both parties feel the way I do. One thing I am against is extremism. So really I don't like the extreme left, right, or religious fanatics. Anybody who drinks only the kool-aid freaks me out. I'll keep my brain thank you very much.

Anyway, lets get to the meat and potatoes of the issue. As you (B, J, and K :P) have probably already heard, the TSA has been getting more annoying over the past year and in the past few days has gotten a lot of people upset. I was really upset about the 3D full body x-ray machines that left nothing to the imagination. But as I am apathetic towards things in general because, lets be honest, my life was going too well to care. That happens a lot. Should I always let it happen? Of course the answer is no, pretty much everybody would say the answer is no. But what really scares me is how crazy things can get before anybody seems to notice.

I mean here we are, 2010. We already have to take off our shoes and belts in every airport. Because I don't want to walk weird, I normally swing my arms as I walk through the metal detector and my pants often fall down a little bit. I quickly pull them up and look around to make sure nobody noticed. Somebody always does. Sure, I guess it's just a little shred of decency I have to lose in order to stop shoe and belt bombers. Why not right? Good thing we stopped all those shoe and belt bombers.

Then we get news that there was a Christmas underwear bomber. I just about pee'd my pants because the thought of some sad sucker putting explosives in his underwear in the name of extremism just cracked me up. Just before that news broke, I heard about these new fancy 3D x-ray scanners at O'Hare airport. I saw a censored 3D scan that showed some fat man with a saggy gut. This struck me as pretty invasive, but the news program assured us all that they censored the naughty bits. But here's the thing, Mr underwear bomber would've still gotten through the scan if this was the case. So if this censoring was true, I was sure that it would soon change. This upset me, but then again I thought to myself. Well I don't fly that much. So what's the big deal? I'll just go through the light pat down if I don't want the TSA seeing my privates. It's not so bad. Yeah, it's not so bad.

A few days ago I hear about updated pat down rules that make it more like an intimate groping. It would be molestation if it wasn't in the name of security and a "trained professional" wasn't doing it. So why the heck is it allowed? Don't let my mild wording fool you. I am livid. I now have a choice of having either a full 3D body scan with exposed privates or they get to feel up my privates and even between my buttocks. Wow sounds like TSA can get to 2nd base in about 2 minutes, better than even the most talented lady's man. But again, the news assures me, and the rest of the world, your face is not shown to the TSA examiner who is looking at your 3D scan. Well thanks! At least they don't know what my face looks like, phew. But wait! What about the yet-to-be discovered tongue bomber who stuffs enough explosive under his tongue to blow a hole in the side of a plane! I can't be the only person who has thought of this. I'm not a terrorist, nor a security expert. So I am pretty darn sure the TSA employee knows what your face looks like too. Lets not even get started on the topic of frequent fliers and the amount of radiation they are exposed to by these new scans. I guess it's all justified in the name of security.

So this brings me to my last point. If everything is justified in the name of security. Why don't we make driving, swimming and elective surgery illegal. Every year around 43,000 American die in automobile accidents, almost 4,000 by drowning and another 3,000 or so due to complications during surgery. I don't want to sound at all callused to the gravity of the 9/11 attacks, but even with that complicated terrorist plot 2,752 people died. This specific plot won't happen again. We've made adjustments. So relatively the likelihood of a larger number of people dying in one year in America due to a plane related terrorist attack are pretty slim, even without the invasive 3D scans or rub downs. So my point is, what really is the true benefit of this loss of personal dignity for millions with these invasive airport security measures?

Yes, I agree 100% that if these security measures aren't in place it will be easier to smuggle explosives or weapons onto a plane, but the risk of it happening already is extremely low. I wish stats about how much safer we are with the new measures were actually available. I bet a lot of people would be surprised at how ineffective they actually are compared to all the ways you could die just living your life everyday. But I guess some people would still chose minimal security over decency and privacy. I am not one of those people.

I am drawing the line here. Starting today. Enough is enough. I may never be a rally-starter or political activist. But I am writing my senator. I hope that many other Americans do the same or even more than I can do, but all I can say is Enough is Enough