Peggy Noonan, among the finest writers alive, laments the treatment of middle-aged women by the TSA.
All the frisking, beeping and patting down is demoralizing to our society. It breeds resentment, encourages a sense that the normal are not in control, that common sense is yesterday.Having just spent another week on the road, I will add only this: The president and his fear hawks will say "Noonan doesn't get it. (Or, Hodak doesn't get it.) This is a war against terrorism."
It isn't, Mr. President. It's a war against your own people. Osama bin Laden created only few hundred criminals. You created a nation of criminals. As Noonan points out:
But America knows not to ask. America is guilty until proved innocent, and no one wants to draw undue attention.
Comments (2)
Great pic. Is that an old man in a scooter? The normal are truly not in control.
Posted by jd sinclair | April 30, 2008 10:16 PM
Posted on April 30, 2008 22:16
My last trip through airport security was quick and uneventful. Although I don't disagree with Noonan's contention, I also think that travelers could make the whole ordeal easier for themselves and everyone else with a few commonsense actions.
Most people I see in security lines are carrying far more than they need to. Carry on luggage, laptops, suit bags, backpacks, purses, and on and on. And then they seem totally oblivious that the screener is going to have to look through all of that stuff, and they are going to have to take it all out of their pockets. Checking your bag is the easiest way to avoid the hassle. The last time I traveled, all I carried through security other than the usual watch, wallet, keys, and cellphone was my boarding pass and a magazine to read on the plane. If I had been wearing slip-on shoes it would have been totally painless, other than waiting for all the other travelers with their multiple bags. Same thing during the loading/unloading process. People wandering up and down the aisle looking for a spot to stuff their luggage in to. They apparently think that they are saving time by carrying on their luggage, but I have my doubts. I think we could have taken off ten minutes sooner if people had just sat down.
Sorry, my rant is a bit off topic, but I had to vent.
Posted by Sam | May 7, 2008 6:13 PM
Posted on May 7, 2008 18:13