<p>moonchild: There are certainly many other people in the line of command who could put a stop to this whole thing but if many TSA individuals said “NO” and that they had enough, it would force so many others including Obama to take a definitive stance and stop this screening procedure. I’d personally like to know how anyone could look themselves in the mirror everyday knowing they were touching the genitals/breasts of fellow human beings and/or seeing their nude bodies. There is a host of people who have crossed the line in this whole practice but it includes the TSA agents who are “hands on” so to speak.</p>
<p>Keile: Have you been through the new screening procedures?</p>
<p>2ndof3: Have you been through the new screening procedures?</p>
<p>No, but don’t bother making an argument predicated on the “You haven’t experienced” basis because even if I were to be patted down, I highly doubt my opinion would change. As long as I’m not late for my flight and/or treated unapologetically, I’m fine with enhanced screening.</p>
<p>Thanks, folks. I’ll be here all night. And remember, the 9:30 show is totally different than the 7:30 show…</p>
<p>I would like to apologize for being goaded into labeling some of you muppets, but especially to the Mod that disciplined me, whom I am sure has no idea what the word muppet even means.</p>
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<p>I’m not really all that concerned for myself, personally. I’m a grown woman, and if I set off the beeper, I’d just make sure it was done publicly, with witnesses.</p>
<p>I do, however, object to them doing something like this to my 16 yo daughter. I object strenuously. The girl hasn’t even been allowed to date, yet, for crying out loud. I don’t think she needs strangers hands all over her. Sorry. In this case? It’s unacceptable.</p>
<p>Beyond that? It’s a violation of the 4th amendment. Whether or not other countries have a constitutional protection against search and siezure? I don’t know. We, however, do.</p>
<p>Keile: I sure have been through it. Glad to hear it wouldn’t bother you. How about some sensitivity for the 14 or 15 year old kids who have to go through it. Or how about some sympathy for the 60+ year old man who wears a urostomy bag that was popped off of his abdomen by some moronic TSA agent. And no the poor man couldn’t go through the body scanner because he is a cancer survivor.</p>
<p>poetgirl, my DH just returned from a very extensive trip all over Europe, and nowhere he experienced this kind of crap. Even in Russia, where human rights do not exist, there are no patdowns TSA-style. His carryon bag with his multiple charges and wires did get examined meticulously and swabbed for mass spec analysis. I guess it is hard to set off a chunk of plastic explosive without any wires in the mix!</p>
<p>poetgirl:“Beyond that? It’s a violation of the 4th amendment. Whether or not other countries have a constitutional protection against search and siezure? I don’t know. We, however, do.”</p>
<p>…There is substantial legal heft legitimatizing the TSA’s body cavity search in particular:</p>
<p>United States v. Aukai, 497 F.3d 955 (9th Cir. 2007) (en banc); Gilmore v. Gonzales, 435 F.3d 1125 (9th Cir. 2006), cert. denied, 127 S. Ct. 929 (2007); United States v. Hartwell, 436 F.3d 174 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 127 S. Ct. 111 (2006).</p>
<p>In short, the courts have ruled repeatedly in favor of the notion that the TSA security procedures satisfy the requirements of the Fourth Amendment. </p>
<p>BunsenBurner: Only 30% of all passengers are selected for random screening. You are overreacting.</p>
<p>Kelie- why do your offensive posts disappear quicker than I can reply to them? ;)</p>
<p>Keile: Doesn’t bother you that kids go through this groping as well as grandmas and grandpas. Where’s your heart? …</p>
<p>Wirefox:</p>
<p>It is better than the other alternatives, most of which would most likely amount to racial profiling. </p>
<p>poetgirl: I’m 18…</p>
<p>First of all, learn the correct terminology. “Arab” is not a race. “Muslim” is not a race. “Chechen” is not a race. :rolleyes: </p>
<p>FYI - “Scared to death, behaving erratically while approaching security” is not a race either. That is the profiling we are talking about - psychological profiling, done by trained professionals. Why not put some of our psychology grads to work at the airports?</p>
<p>Kiddo: it is time to go to bed. You will be late for your debate club meeting :)</p>
<p>Well you’re wrong there Keile…profiling is NOT wrong. It wasn’t black or white elderly people from the US who took down the Twin Towers. It wasn’t American 14 year olds. The unfortunate thing about the way the TSA is doing all of this is that they are looking for “things” and not the mindset of people. I’m sure many people who are not terrorists and never will be could figure out ways to circumvent what the TSA is doing. And whether you believe it or not, that is why profiling is needed. Profiling to find those who want to kill innocent people…not profiling just by skin color, religion or country of origin. “Profiling” goes way beyond that …</p>
<p>"First of all, learn the correct terminology. “Arab” is not a race. “Muslim” is not a race. “Chechen” is not a race. "</p>
<p>Please define race then because I’m pretty sure Arab and Chechen nor Arab and Muslim are analogous examples that can be used in this context. The argument for Arabs being of race in and of themselves is supportable by genetic research whereas the racial classifications of Muslims and Chechens do not have such corroborative evidence.
…</p>
<p>I haven’t heard about Harry Reid, but the new incoming House Speaker John Boehner …</p>
<p>Did anyone see the SNL skit about TSA? I just saw a preview on CNN - looked hilarious!!!</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>Common sense would go a long way, imo. A refusal to go through body scanners should trigger extra attention, but then it should not be automatic that one gets an enhanced pat down. Certain people most definitely would, and I think that John Tyner, a young man, might be one who would be selected for that screening. But for others, there should be some reverse profiling: you’re obviously not a threat, no “enhanced” patdowns, for the elderly man who explains his medical problem, young teens with their parents, grandmas in wheelchairs. If they don’t go through the scanners, they can be simply screened with the old-style minimally intrusive searches. </p>
<p>I was regularly searched a few times a fly with a knee brace that always set off the alarm. Wand, quick pat down, examination of the brace. No big deal. </p>
<p>Hopefully, the TSA is going to come out with these kinds of adjustments and accommodations that can allow TSA agents to use common sense.</p>
<p>Common sense dictates some measure of profiling be used, however, this sort of precedent can quickly degenerate to racial profiling as the most sensical thing to do would be just to search all Arabs, or at least those who come from dangerous states like Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, even Saudi Arabia.</p>
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<p>Why? There are plenty of legitimate reasons for a person to refuse a scan. I fully intend to refuse for what in my mind are two very good reasons: First, I do not want the government to possess nude photos of me; and second, I do not for one minute buy the line that these scanners are perfectly safe. Neither of these reasons makes me a terrorist.</p>