But today's weather is quite cool compared to the last month or and as things cross my mind, instead of filing them away for future consideration, I've been feeling more and more like jotting them down.
Something I've been thinking about is security at airports. I went to Victoria a few weeks ago, and I was "randomly chosen" at the Cranbrook airport to be searched.
I had feared that I was in trouble for bringing a 4 ounce container into a 3 ounce world, but it was apparently was a genuine random search since nothing was confiscated.
Our small airport doesn't have the scanner, so my choices were either right there, in front of everyone, or behind a curtain. I didn't really want to know what was behind Curtain #1, does someone sit back there all day, waiting for his chosen one? To me it was a simple case of "the devil you know", and the woman who said she would check me right there seemed grandma-ish and friendly.
Plus, I didn't really want anyone to see me being led away....
So, it was nothing, she ran the wand all over me, patted me down, took an extreme interest in my shoes, the whole thing took less than 3 minutes. Not a big deal. Not like being searched in Amsterdam....that's another story for another day.
I'm sure they are trained in how to do the pat-down, I mean, I'm sure they do it the same way to everyone, regardless of the airport, so it made me wonder why people get so upset and irate and consider it to be so invasive. And in bigger airports you can chose the scanner. And people get upset about that too, which makes me say "Really? After 9/11 and shoe bombers and underwear bombers and people with box cutters in their pockets, you want to complain about the fact that security is tight? You'd rather just chance it? Tell ya what, why don't we have two types of flights, one where anybody can get on, and one where there are random checks...I'll bet my flights have more passengers than yours."
I mean, yes, people still get through the check points with contraband, and there will still be hijackings and bombings, but I think that because that statement is true, it proves that we probably need those security measures.
And please...don't tell me that you're uncomfortable with your child being scanned....whoever is looking at the X-ray (for lack of whatever they call it...the picture) didn't take that job for any perverse reason...they don't see your child in person; they are in a different area totally; the face is blurred out; they see this X-ray picture of your kid for approximately TWO seconds, and they see far more adults than children.
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| Its likea slightly fuzzy negative. |
Any sicko who wants a thrill is going to see way more at a public beach or a swimming pool rather than sitting in a booth for 8 hours hoping that today is the day that a child is pulled aside and that they will get a 2 second glimpse of some bones . I mean, I know that people want to protect their kids, but its a new world out there...not everyone is wanting to view your child...lighten up. If you are truly that afraid of an airport scanner tech looking at your child, then you may as well wrap that kid up in blankets and store them away.
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| you walk in, you stand two seconds, you walk out. |
I guess what it's all about is the fact that you don't have to fly. You can drive, take a train, bus, or you can stay home. if you want to fly...you pay the price, literally and figuratively.
