<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by FlyAAway:
If you do not think the response to the particular book was predictable and preventable, then no explanation is necessary. In this environment, it will raise eyebrows and garner unwanted attention. Would you carry the same book through the security checkpoint?</font>
I'm sure it wouldn't even occur to me to worry about what book I'm reading (although it does now, obviously). That said, it certainly doesn't bother me in the least that it got undue attention, so we're in agreement there.
I consider it "irresponsible" that once they determined the guy was just reading an unfortunate selection from the library, they still denied letting him fly. Then they told him he COULD fly later that day. Then they stopped him AGAIN when he showed up to fly.
It is, at the very least, unprofessional in the extreme to treat your customers in such a non-straghtforward manner.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
What if we staffed the checkpoints with professionals earning high 6-figure incomes, like surgeons and attorneys. Would these intelligent, educated, and highly discerning individuals wave the guy through? If not, are they ham-fisted? Officious? Arrogant? Incompetent?
</font>
I never used any of those adjectives previously, and I'm not bothered by the security personnel's investigations -- I'm bothered by the airline refusing his boarding (with apparently no reason, or they would have arrested him), then telling him he could fly, then refusing him again when he comes all the way back to the airport.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
If this gentleman sat across the aisle from you while reading that book, would it be O.K?
</font>
Sure. Why would it bother me? It's just a book. If the guy was frothing at the mouth, then I'd worry.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
If you think the guy exercised responsible behavior, I will respectfully disagree.
I believe he acted responsibly in allowing the search, answering their questions, and contacting the airline afterwards to find out how he could travel. He acted responsibly in arriving the second time with a different book.
This is like asking if I think the first person caught with nail clippers after 9/11 was irresponsible -- no, I don't. I'm sure all the folks with nail clippers are simply not thinking about it and bringing them along accidentally. If you want to paint them as irresponsible hooligans for not cleaning out their toiletry items, thats your prerogative.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
I would not wish it on anyone, but when you taste it firsthand, you will drop your "cutesie" views on terrorism like a hot potato.
The enemy relishes "soft-targets" like you; philosophers so enamored of their own folly and ignorance that taking them out is scarcely a challenge.
</font>
It is not correct to assume that, if only another had gone through the same experiences as you, they would agree with your opinions. There are many relatives of 9/11 victims arguing against the bombings, many arguing they should be enlarged, many still sorting it all out.
I believe it would also be incorrect to assume that no one else on this board of well-traveled persons has lost loved ones to terrorism, or seen its effects up close.
Not everyone here wants to advertise the ways in which they've been affected by the events in the past 6 weeks, but by discussing the aftermath we can try to sort out our feelings in a socially acceptable and productive way. It sure beats crying ouselves to sleep at night!
[This message has been edited by artboy (edited 10-24-2001).]