"...Lee was at O'Hare, Terminal 2, last Wednesday, engaging in the part of the airport travel drill that involves putting one's luggage on the conveyor belt for X-raying, when a TSA agent made a failed attempt at humor.
"The first thing he said to me was, Drop it like it's Chinese laundry," according to Lee, who is Korean. "I didn't know what he was saying, and he got mad at me for not laughing and then he said, Oh, yeah, and add starch."
... One has to be careful saying anything to a TSA agent, who has the power to interrupt your flight plans. But it sounds as if there's at least one TSA agent who could use some diversity/sensitivity training.
On Wednesday, a TSA official told me that the O'Hare videotapes are being reviewed from around the time Lee and Lecz would have gone through airport security. I was also given this statement: "TSA does not tolerate inappropriate comments from our officers. We are reviewing these allegations and will take action as circumstances warrant. All Transportation Security officers receive extensive training on interacting with passengers in a professional, courteous and sensitive manner."
You cannot 'train' someone not to be a racist, at most all you can do is demonstrate that certain behaviors result in negative consequences. Since there are no negative consequences levied by TSA for bad behavior - no change will result.
I take issue with quotes like this from the article:
Quote:
Originally Posted by mules
One has to be careful saying anything to a TSA agent, who has the power to interrupt your flight plans.
This is a mentality that most people need to get over. Those - and most of us here on TS/S C&BPD fit this category - in the know are aware that TSOs have no power of arrest and minimal power to keep you at the checkpoint you once you and your luggage have been cleared of WEI. That isn't to say that some people haven't have received retaliatory screenings for not being sheep. However, too many people are worried about getting on some secret list just because they so much as dare make eye contact with a TSO and by not having an attitude of "oh thank you, gracious and kind TSO for allowing me the privilege of traversing your checkpoint".
If you don't feel comfortable addressing the TSO directly, request a comment card or fill out a comment card online. Doing nothing doesn't help in stopping inappropriate behavior.
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"TSA does not tolerate inappropriate comments from our officers. We are reviewing these allegations and will take action as circumstances warrant. All Transportation Security officers receive extensive training on interacting with passengers in a professional, courteous and sensitive manner."
Either their "extensive training" isn't executed very well, or they've got a lot of employees who're simply untrainable, or both.
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"Fear profits a man nothing - unless they're a TSA employee, and then it's the only reason they have a job."
"...Lee was at O'Hare, Terminal 2, last Wednesday, engaging in the part of the airport travel drill that involves putting one's luggage on the conveyor belt for X-raying, when a TSA agent made a failed attempt at humor.
"The first thing he said to me was, Drop it like it's Chinese laundry," according to Lee, who is Korean. "I didn't know what he was saying, and he got mad at me for not laughing and then he said, Oh, yeah, and add starch."
... One has to be careful saying anything to a TSA agent, who has the power to interrupt your flight plans. But it sounds as if there's at least one TSA agent who could use some diversity/sensitivity training.
On Wednesday, a TSA official told me that the O'Hare videotapes are being reviewed from around the time Lee and Lecz would have gone through airport security. I was also given this statement: "TSA does not tolerate inappropriate comments from our officers. We are reviewing these allegations and will take action as circumstances warrant. All Transportation Security officers receive extensive training on interacting with passengers in a professional, courteous and sensitive manner."
The TSA Spokeshole lied to the reporter who bought it hook, line, and sinker. The surveillance video contains no audio.
