Features > Air Travel > Air Travel and Security Is Just A Pain
I help run this travel website and even I dread air travel these days. Once was a time when I was excited about flying. I loved going to the airport knowing I was going to see new places and people. I used to even like to go early and watch other people get on flights to other fantastic destinations that I could only dream about. People were happy.
Now I think about taking off shoes, standing in lines and obeying stupid rules that make no sense at all. A person can't try to be funny or frank with anyone because they may label you a troublemaker. We all have to be serious and grim. We have to act like scared children going into the principals office. We need to behave like a politician and show no personality at all. You can however, pay for lots of alcohol on a plane and make the flight miserable for everyone else. The airline is making money so it's okay.
No peanuts! The rights of the many succumb to the rights of the few. If you have an allergy, it is not your responsibility to avoid it or carry your medicine. Just make everyone else responsible for your safety and become outraged if someone else wants to eat something that may have once been close to a peanut.
Years after 9/11, we are not any more safe. we just have less freedom and more annoyances. Now the airlines have an excuse not to let you sell your ticket or give it to someone else. The airports have an excuse to make you throw something out of your luggage even though they'll sell you a replacement on the other side of security.
No profiling allowed. If you look like a bad guy, you'll get waved on through without question. If you look like a school teacher, an 80 year old lady or a cute young girl, you'll get examined like an apple in a strawberry patch. I've seen more young girls in bikini tops and short shorts get patted down than Arab looking guys in overcoats. The girl couldn't hide a safety pin in her clothes while the guy could be carrying a injection molded bazooka. Make your skin darker and wear a trench coat to get right through.
Cargo is still not screened and crooked baggage handlers outnumber the bad guys. I've said for years, if you have an elaborate plan to breach security, you just go get a job at an airport and bring your stuff right in the back door. Just like a spy, one can be a good employee for many months, even years before doing what they think has to be done. Giving up freedom for fake security is shameful and we're becoming veterans at it.
Adam | June 28, 2007 | Category: Air Travel
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