Originally Posted by IloveParis
This is the crux of the issue. We want our privacy and personal wishes respected. We also wish to fly on safe flights. Where is the division? It seems to me that we have to be willing to give just a little for the safety of all. If we were speaking about stripping down to underwear, I'd be the first to say, "No way!!" That's ridiculous. But, I think that to most of the world, exposing the feet in stockings or hosiery is not exposing private parts, and although inconvenient, it may prevent terrorists from trying to hide plastic explosives and other undetectable acts of terrorism.
Bottom line: we have to choose our battles. If someone has a major hangup about his exposing feet in stockings, then that's his battle. But there comes a point when we have to be willing to sacrifice for the sake of safety (which is not the same as saying that we should submit to every imbecilic request that is made).
While not having read this entire thread, I must respond to IloveParis who I guess has not read the other posts about the shoe carnivals. My issue (and others, from what I read) with the shoe stupidity is the lack of consistency with some airports requiring it and some not...even though the TSA claims you are not required to remove shoes. Please explain how we are any safer when I don't remove my sneakers that don't set off the metal detector..and then they wand them...and big surprise - no alarm! If they are really concerned with our safety, they would swab them for explosive residue. In my opinion, this is an imbecilic request!