airport "security"

I am again compelled to take to the airwaves (or internet tubes) and make an opinion known. It has come to my attention that the new scanners in airports are essentially electronic strip searches. If you don't want to subject yourself to having TSA flunkies look at pictures of you naked, as well as the exposure to unknown amounts of radiation, then they do a pat-down search and feel around women's breasts and everyone's genitals. Hello? The only people who touch me are my husband, my children when I breastfeed them, and my doctor in a professional medical setting.

AND if you choose to not participate in all of this, and just go home instead of getting on your plane, you can get arrested with a $10,000 fine. Just ask the guy in San Diego.

Check out some details on We Won't Fly and Shut Down the Airports. The Shut Down site has a list of airports around the country with these scanners already installed and in full use. I find it interesting that the WeWontFly site does not make it past my computer's filter - I had to password it through to view it.

At some point - and I, for one, have reached this point - enough is enough with the security measures. Seriously. How about we as an American collective stop trying to encase our entire country in bullet-proof and bomb-proof bubble wrap, just accept that there are some risks to living with the freedom to travel when and where we choose, and quit being afraid of our own shadow?

The Senate Transportation Committee is having a hearing on Wednesday with the TSA Administrator, so I looked up the membership of the committee. One of my Mississippi Senators is on the committee, so I sent him this email today.

Senator Wicker -

I understand that you are a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, and that you will be meeting with the administrator of the TSA this week.

I have not traveled much in the past couple of years, so the new scanners in airports are just now coming to my attention. I am absolutely astounded that the federal government has not only allowed but is the perpetrator of such a blatant invasion of privacy.

I am amazed that Congress has not only authorized but appropriated millions of dollars for scanners that are essentially strip searches because they can take pictures under a person's clothing to the point that you might as well just be totally naked. Is there no dignity or modesty allowed in this country anymore? And if one does not want to be subjected to enormous amounts of radiation (where is the health analysis of these machines?), then they must have their genitals handled by a TSA employee who, no, is not trustworthy to not make inappropriate sexual innuendos.

When did this become okay in this country? The only people allowed to see or touch my body at all are my husband and my doctor, and even then, the doctor only within certain parameters. Random TSA employees are not on the permissible list.

I realize that people expect security measures in high-risk areas, and that terrorists have tried (and succeeded) to blow up airplanes. But the "post 9/11" mentality is really out of proportion. It's outright paranoia now. When is it enough? When are we as an American collective just going to live our lives and stop being afraid of our own shadow?

My husband and I briefly considered traveling from Jackson MS to Portland OR for the holidays, but once we became aware of this, those plans were discarded outright. Our family of five will not be contributing over $2000 to the airlines this Christmas for the privilege of being molested by TSA flunkies. We will not travel by plane again until such intrusive "security" measures are canceled and removed from airports.

Thank you.