I don't know what has gotten into the minds of Americans post 9/11...

Let me give you a little situation. Pre 9/11 I was on a connecting flight in Germany. In between my LH flights I had to go through security. I buzzed in the metal detector and had the pat-down. Let me tell you it was tame in comparison to what people are accusing the TSA of. But the fact of the matter is that at the end of the day, I don't care how I was treated. The fact of the matter is that airport security is nothing new. Remember Lockerbie? I think we all want to prevent another one of those. If that means that I have a pat down that's fine. I have nothing to hide and it doesn't bother me!

Flash forward to the days after 9/11...

Americans were united and we promised that we would make a stand and not allow terrorism to infiltrate our airways again. People gave RESPECT to the TSA. There was no shouting or screaming at people who are doing an honest job making an honest living.

Flash forward to the days after Richard Reid...

People seem to forget that a major reason that your shoes are inspected is because someone tried to blow up a plane with his! For some reason it became a huge hassle to take off your shoes if you were asked to. If you don't want to, then charter a jet. I don't want someone jeopardizing my family's safety when we are on holiday because enough people complained about their "shoe hassle" that the policy was revoked. It's not a big deal! In fact, the TSA people are often a big fan of designer shoes from what I can see. I had a TSA employee ask me if my shoes were Ferragamos and she was right on the money!

Flash forward to today...

Once again the media has over hyped the travel season hassle of air travel. Yes, I know most of us travel for business and we have a family of 20 who flies maybe once per year in front of us at the security line. Yes, I know it can be frustrating. But come on people! If you are that inconvenienced and worried about missing your flight, just get to the airport earlier! We all have to work together. More people travel at this time of year, thus the lines are longer. BE PREPARED!

And as to the groping...

I was in JFK yesterday and was waiting to go through the metal detector. I saw a woman being patted down by another woman and screamed that she was being groped. COME ON! This woman had nothing to be proud of in the looks department and her personality also was pretty ugly when she said "Get your hands off me you low-wage TSA *****!" Look, people, let's get real here. Plenty of people are applying to work for th TSA. NONE of them want to risk their job being accused of sexual harassment. In fact, if I were a screener I would ask not to be assigned to that duty. I am amazed at the lack of respect that these FEDERAL EMPLOYEES get! If the FBI showed up at your house, I would bet that no one on this board would treat them with the disrespect that some of you give TSA employees! If you are going to be searched you have the right to ask for a member of the same sex to search you and you can be searched in a private area! I have never seen it denied!


This is a bigger problem overall. There is a serious lack of respect of authority post 9/11. I know we are all feeling venerable and afraid about terrorism; and some us dislike our administration. It is not an excuse to give the TSA a hard time though! As some of you like to refer to them with (un)clever acronyms, I say this; if you were treated as these people are treated on a day to day basis you would be grouchy also! For G-dsake people, haven't you ever heard the golden rule? IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR! "Do to others as you would have them do to you" If you need to find it it is in Luke 6:31.

In closing, I have a question for the TSA screeners on this board...
There is a lovely group of TSA staffers at a small airport I fly out of every once in a while. They are truly funny and nice human beings and are just lovely. I know you can't tip a federal employee, can I give them a gift like nice chocolates or a donation to a charity in their names (I know most of them)? Or is a simple thank-you sufficient for they great job and service they provide?

That's my rant! If you want to flame me, fine! I think this is a topic that should be discussed in a season where we should reflect and treat each other with respect!