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Airport Insecurity Mood lighting. Soft music. Relax and kick off your shoes—someone is about to peek beneath your clothes. No, you aren't at the honeymoon suite yet—you're still stuck at the airport security checkpoint. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is adopting some "calming" techniques to make you relaxed for their ever-increasing security procedures. My latest Civil Discourse comic goes through some of features at the Indianapolis Airport that were designed with the help of psychologists to create peaceful acquiescence in passengers. Besides making security checks a relaxing vacation destination of their own, they seek to normalize full-body scanners that make sure that really isn't a bazooka in your pants. In case there is any doubt the TSA would like all airports to operate this way, they are calling it a "Checkpoint of the Future." The IndyStar reports the "TSA will be looking for people who aren't calm." A stranger having a quick look at your genitals. Who wouldn't be calm? Of course, you can opt for a good old fashioned pat-down if prefer. (And who doesn't?) The naked machine isn't mandatory...yet. So calm down. OR ELSE.
Tags: Civil Liberties News
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May 18th, 2009 at 9:54pm
For every 2 flights that I take at least one of them I am frisked and bags searched. It doesn't matter wether I am with my children or not, wether I am flying domestic or internation. They have even had the audacity to ask my 3 year old child what her name was, to make sure I was her mother. She was extremley shy at the time and they frightened her to tears. This just does not make sense. Once or twice in the past 10 years the beeper has gone off when I am wearing an underwired bra. To be quite honest after this weekend in the see thru scanner, which I had no idea that it was see thru until I googled it, I am getting quite fed up. When they tell you that you have been randomly selected it makes one wonder how random is 1 out of 2 flights? I am an average looking 44 year old woman. Nothing that makes me stand out, but after this weekend I am beginning to wonder if it could possibly be my British accent. I am a naturalized American Citizan so perhaps my British accent is odd. I am beginning to feel discriminated. Being pulled out for scanning and searches has been going on since 1999. Now I am wondering if I am going to have to bare all on all my future 1 out of 2 flights!!! Getting frustrated. If only my odds were as good on the lottery!!!