New poll supports airport security

Photo by redjar

Amid non-stop media buzz about the new full body scanners and pat down procedures that airports are undertaking in an effort to reduce the threat of terror, the Washington Post and ABC News recently conducted a revealing (no pun intended) survey (results shown here). In it, they showed that two-thirds of Americans have more of a “do what needs to be done” attitude toward terror rather than crying foul over intrusion of personal privacy.

Personally, I don’t understand what all the fuss is about. Yes, if a random person on the street stopped me and conducted a full body search, I would respond with a less-than-impressed attitude and declarations of invasion of personal privacy.

Yes, I’m sure the pat-downs are awkward, no fun things to experience. If I ever have it done to me, I’m sure it was be the sort of experience that I will forever complain about at family gatherings.

However, I’m wondering if the people complaining about these things also complain to their doctors when certain mid-life procedures have to be conducted to ensure they are maintaining normal bodily functions. Are these people complaining about their Constitutional rights when the doc asks them to turn their head and cough? I doubt it.

So, what’s the difference?

I believe that it’s one of necessity. People accept it from their doctor because, well, what else are you going to do? That’s life. However, people have flown on planes in the past without being violated at security, and now they continue with the same expectations.

Well people…it’s time to grow up and face reality. There are terrorists willing to hide bombs in their underwear. There aren’t a whole lot of ways for security to find an underwear bomb that don’t involve interacting with your underwear. But that’s too personal, so that’s what people don’t like. Well, to those people, I say “stop flying.” We live in a different day than the last time that you flashed your frequent flier card and got pampered all the way to the curb of your destination. It doesn’t work that way any more. A significant percentage of the world’s population relish in the thought of the next 9-11. We can either take action to prevent it, or we can stress out about personal privacy. I’ll take the former.

How about you? I’m sure you have an opinion. Share it in the comments.

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About Luke

My name is Luke, and I'm the Online Media Manager for a technology company, photographer, husband, and father. You can see a snapshot of some of my work at LukeCoburn.com. I cheer for the Red Sox and am completely in love with my wife and four little princesses.

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