Lately I’ve been hearing a lot of talk about the TSA and their “x-ray” machines as well as the people complaining about getting groped. In fact, my daughter who will be flying home for Christmas told me she wanted to deal as minimally as possible with the TSA. When I asked her why she said, “I don’t want someone touching my junk.” Go through the machine was my response, but she said she didn’t want the radiation (for lack of a better word.)
As fate/luck would have it I went to the airport today to pick up a friend. Normally I pull up and wait at the curb for a few minutes, if I am there too long a guard comes over and tells me to go around the airport. That’s what happened today, but it was much quicker than normal. So after I did my tour around the airport (5 minutes for anyone who is wondering) I got to the curb to find my friend waiting. After he settled in, I said I’m sorry I’m late but the guards were kind of hinky today. How was it dealing with the TSA?
Fine he said, I went through the machine, they saw the metal in my knee (he had a knee replaced last year) and they cleared me. So naturally we started talking about the “pat down.” Of which I’ve heard numerous complaints. He told me when they “pat” you down, they actually grab you and squeeze. That got me thinking, so I have two choices? I can either pollute my body by going through the machine or I can be groped by a stranger. I wondered, how does this work, can I choose the person who gropes me? Maybe I can request a Johnny Depp look-alike, wouldn’t that be cool? Of course then I may have to see where I can have a cigarette after it’s over. Should I offer him one as well? Maybe it would be the start of something special, I would go up to the airport day after day trying to get a pat down.
Of course I jest, but what about people with small children, I mean they tell us that x-rays are safe, but when I go to the dentist they put a LEAD cape on me! At the hospital if I can’t prove I’m in menopause then they will make me take a pregnancy test, but these machines are safe? So if you don’t want to expose your child to the harmful rays of the machine, they can be groped by a stranger? I cannot imagine having to make that choice. So I decided to do a little investigating.
I went to the TSA website and did a little reading, if I understand it correctly, you will only (and I use the word lightly) be asked for further screening if you set off the initial metal detector machine. There are steps you can take to make sure you don’t set the machine off and they are listed on the website. I also discovered that your “pat down” will come from a member of the same sex…there goes my Johnny Depp fantasy, but I may still pick up a pack of smokes before heading to the airport, you never know when you might get lucky!
Haven’t flown anywhere in years! Not sure HOW I would handle all these new “harassments”. I’m not convinced that they are anything more than a way to assuage nervous flyers. Just another “reaction” from our fearless leaders instead of some “proaction”. Ok – that’s my two cents worth. :o)