For all those out there concerned about your "junk" and the TSA's sudden interest in said "junk," I have a few unsolicited thoughts.
First, the physical, digital (meaning with hands and fingers, not referring to data with 1s and 0s) inspection of your nether region is a choice you actively choose to make, completely independent of any outside force. You are free to choose to be inspected by the new scanners, if selected for such review (most airports, if not all, have too few scanners to screen all travelers with this method, even if they were permitted to), or you may choose a pat-down. The choice is pretty much yours.
Second, despite what your crazy fantasies have shown you, the TSA TSOs are no more thrilled with feeling your jewels than you are. Despite your suspicions otherwise, the inspections of the land between your legs likely wasn't in the job description they saw when they were hired, and like a gynecologist, after the first few peeks under the gown, it's a job... and in some cases, one most of us really wouldn't want.
Finally, yes, as you are so loudly shouting, the x-ray or pat review of your package is likely not terribly effective, and we should be more closely examining the packages in the cargo hold as well as the one in your jeans. The bad guys who wish to do us harm are always two steps ahead, and know our security better than we do. They're already thinking up new, and creative ways to attack us that we would likely never detect, even with our most advanced technology (which I already admitted is not even yet fully deployed). Still, it's my humble opinion that a moment of anonymous ogling (by someone who is already, just a few days in, sick of looking at "naked" fat Americans) or, if you choose the hard way, a healthy clothed inspection of Jim and the twins, in the grand scheme of things is better than being sucked through a newly blown hole in the side of a jet.
Mostly, my message is, get over yourself. If you don't like it, tell your Congressman, and vote accordingly. Until then, realize it's unlikely you have anything memorable to view on x-ray or feel through your chinos, so stand there, smile, and move onto your gate. The sooner you get on your way, the sooner the 350lb 4'10" man behind you (who will likely be your seat-mate during your flight) can get his thrill for the day, and the TSO involved can write his resignation letter.
What have you taught your 7 year old daughter about being touched down there by other people? Still feel we should just get over it?
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous -
ReplyDeleteMy 7-year old has flown several times in her short life. All have been post 9/11 (obviously, based on her age) and she is familiar with taking off her shoes and walking through the metal detectors. As only a minimal extension of that process, I would have ALL of my daughters (3 of them, btw) go through the scanner, if necessary. There is no reason to keep them out of the scanner, and to subject them to any secondary screening unecessarily.
I am certainly not personally thrilled with the idea of a stranger patting down my daughters (should they set of a metal detector or something be seen through a scanner), but I am supportive of safety in commercial airline flight. If another parent were staunchly refusing to allow themselves or their children to be searched after an alarm had been raised at a checkpoint - I don't want them on my plane!!! I maintain that the vast majority of TSA TSOs are not perverts, and they get no personal pleasure from these pat downs. I say, let them do their jobs, in full view of others, and then move onto the gate. My children need to understand how cooperating with security screening helps make sure we're all safe.