Terrorists Win When Our Privacy Is Invaded
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Who needs to pose for Playboy when you can have pictures of your naked body taken at T.F. Green?
I wish I was joking but recently, the Transportation Security Administration began more extensive use of full body scanning equipment (click here for an image). Steve Brown of the RI ACLU noted that “people are in jail for doing what the TSA operatives now do as a matter of policy.” If you don’t want to your birthday suit on full display you have the option of a pat down. According to the TSA:
A pat-down inspection complements the hand-wand inspection. In order to ensure security, this inspection may include sensitive areas of the body. Security Officers are rigorously trained to maintain the highest levels of professionalism. You may request that your pat-down inspection be conducted in private.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWell, at least the TSA will allow you to be groped in private, right? Rhode Islanders are you happy that this is the world we now live in? What happened to liberty, freedom, and privacy? With the 9/11 attacks and heightened security have those gone the way of the VCR? Is the 21st century world becoming more and more like the novel 1984, with Big Brother watching, scanning, or groping everything we do?
It sure seems that way and as one who ardently believes personal privacy should remain private unless there is overwhelming need to invade said privacy, this seems to be over the top. I can hear some groans among you now thinking, “Don, terrorists used airplanes as missiles and won’t hesitate to do that or worse again. A five-second scan is worth a few hundred lives!”
Using that logic, I wouldn’t disagree but what TSA is missing is terrorism seems to be continually eroding our personal freedoms. Today it’s invasive scanning/groping at an airport but what if terrorists find another way to attack us in public spaces. Every time we enter a McDonald’s will we need to be scanned? Or every time we go to Wal-Mart will one of the associates have to take us in the back and give us a pat-down?
You see where I’m going with this. In a way I feel terrorists win when we allow the government to invade privacy and supplant the freedoms our countrymen fought and died for with advanced security measures. Yet, according to a CBS poll, most – 80 percent – agree with increased scanning.
If that number is anywhere close to accurate, it’s disappointing as it signals victory to terrorists who want America to feel the terror and change from her freedom and democracy-loving ways. Still, I am torn as to how we address the seemingly competing needs to protect privacy and secure passengers on planes.
Do you find what the TSA is doing offensive or would you rather the TSA take these measures versus facing the prospect of a terrorist on your flight home for Thanksgiving or Christmas?