Seems today that most people traveling are way too upset about strangers patting them down and having to go through the full body scanner to even fly today. I heard a report on the morning news that air travel for the holidays (Thanksgiving) is down by at least 15% (estimated). All best guesses are that this is due to the TSA's new safety measures. Namely the Full Body Scanners. And if you decide to opt-out of the full body scanner then you will have to undergo a seemingly standard pat down.
I don't know about you, but the pat down in itself is harmless. Same with the scanner. Sure the scanner will give whoever is viewing the monitor a general outline of your body, but it is not like they are getting some rated X view of whats hiding under your clothes. Are we that shy as a society that this is going to bother you? Don't we know what guys and gals body's look like by now? And that being the case, why are so many people trying to avoid these scanners? To me, the scanners seem like a great way to avoid another terrorist attack! Being that the scanners will find every type of conceivable weapon that can be hiding on ones person, this is a huge safety win for travelers!
So now you have the protesters. They picked today, the busiest travel day at the airports to stage their protest. And sure, strategically that makes perfect sense to me. If your going to protest something, anything, you would want to do it when you will get the most publicity and attention. That is by far the best way to get your cause out there. So sure, pick the day before Thanksgiving to do it and pick a few if the busier airports to do it in. And you are sure to get noticed. However, is this really necessary? Are the scanners and the pat downs really an invasion of your privacy? Or are you just trying to say that everyone's safety takes a backseat to the fact that your worried the TSA agent behind the scanners monitor might spot that mole your hiding under your left breast?
Look, after all that has happened over the years with regards to terrorism and the various attacks, especially 9-11, are we really that ready to pack it all in and declare that we are no longer in danger? I don't think so. The threat is still very much real and we are still very much a target. We must stay vigilant in this for the foreseeable future. Because as soon as we let our guard down in when we will be the victim yet again. Tensions amongst the global community are still high, and the attack on South Korea does not make things any easier.
And I will make one guarantee. If these protesters were to win (which I highly doubt) their argument and get these scanners pulled or the pat downs scaled down - they will be the very first ones calling for help when there is an attack because someone was able to smuggle a weapon on board a plane!
Be safe! And if you do have to travel by plane this holiday - use the scanner. Because of all the people opting out the lines for the scanner is much shorter and you will get through security without a hitch! I guess that is one thing these goofballs are doing for us, making the wait and the lines much shorter for all the "normal" people out there!
