I really try to avoid controversial issues on my blog. The world is a very serious place. I want my blog to be a light-hearted space where we can all discuss our mutual love of things like food, friends, movies, and Justin Bieber. Go solve the world's problems on somebody else's blog.
But right now, I'm sitting here watching TV in the comfort of my living room--and I'm horrified.
I just saw a news story about a 95 year old woman who was stopped by the TSA in a Florida airport and was required to remove her adult diaper before she could pass through the security checkpoint
You can read more here.
I get it. Terrorists can plant a bomb anywhere and on anybody, therefore no one is exempt from TSA screenings. Even this poor woman, dying of leukemia, too weak to stand let alone walk through the metal detector. She, too, must be screened. Fine. But isn't that what those metal detector wand thingies are for? For situations like these? She actually has to suffer the humiliation of taking off her soiled diaper and exposing her naked body to airport security?
Is this who we are now? A people so shell shocked from 9/11 that we think measures such as these are in any way, shape, or form justified?
Taking care of the elderly is heartbreaking work. Growing old sucks for everyone, but in my father's case I think it is particularly difficult. My father was a carpenter and construction worker. The sixty plus years of back-breaking labor have taken their toll on his body. He has had two knees and one hip replaced, along with surgery on his lower back. The hands that at one time could build houses and uproot trees can barely button a button now. He has troubles with continence, too. I don't have the heart to suggest he start wearing an adult diaper, so I make sure he takes regular bathroom breaks throughout the day. At church, I take him to the bathroom between classes so that he doesn't have an accident. Accidents invariably happen, however, and when they do I try to clean him up as quickly as possible, all the while reassuring him that it is no big deal.
When I heard this poor woman's story, I cried. I have been trying to find the words to express exactly why her treatment by the TSA affected me the way it did. I guess it comes down to this: I love my father more than anyone else on this earth. I spend my days fighting to protect his dignity. It is a priceless commodity, and for the elderly, it is unfortunately in very short supply. The idea that someone could use their authority to rob someone of their dignity, thinking that this violation somehow makes our world a better and safer place is disgusting to me. This woman's daughter, when told that she would have to remove her mother's diaper, broke down in tears. Her emotional response earned her a pat-down of her very own.
Hear me clearly on this: I would rather get blown to smithereens 30,000 feet in the air by a shoe bomber than live in a world where it is OK to treat the elderly this way. I am willing to roll the dice and bet my life on the odds that this woman is not a terrorist. If that means that I might be wrong, that she is actually one of al-Qaeda's elite operatives and is there to hijack my plane, so be it. I am willing to take my chances. I suppose other people do not share this opinion, and so ass-hat TSA officials will continue ripping diapers off babies and little old ladies until they come up with a better system of "protecting" us.
I just feel so helpless. They know we have to fly. Of course we are going to submit to the stupid 3 oz. carry-on rule, the pat-downs, the $20 checked-bag fee, THE IN-FLIGHT BEVERAGE THAT IS MORE ICE THAN BEVERAGE!!! What can I do? Who do I write to? Do I stage a protest? A sit-in? A march? I have to do something. The entire air industry is spiraling out of control!
I'm serious. What can I do?
7 comments:
I'm right there with you, Rad. It's absolutely unconscionable that we have allowed fear to lead to policies that so clearly violate our rights (I'm really sorry, but no one--No. One.--has the right to subject people to the kind of pat-down that TSA now uses). And that they would go so far as to do this to an ill 95-year-old woman makes me see red.
When will they realize that they could do a full strip search, with body-cavity searches, of every passenger and still not prevent every potential attack? The question is what price we as a society are willing to pay for our "security" (in scare quotes because frankly most of the "security" TSA provides has as much, if not more, to do with the psychology of fear than with any actual threats). And I think we have gone too far.
I wish that this woman was in a place where she could push back, but the problem is that when the elderly are victimized they so often are not able to push back, literally not able.
I'm with you on wishing there was more we could do. I just don't know what it is. If I find anything, I'll pass it on.
And I hope you know how much I admire you for the care you give your dad. It was so fun to see him again this spring. And I'm glad he has you there to care for him.
A majority of TSA officials are barely high school graduates who could give a rat's ass about their jobs or protecting the people they are supposed to protect. I swear one of the biggest qualifications for them has to be to simply show up for work. I think some of them get off on the power trips, which is why they do it. I'm sure there are some who are good, hardworking people with a vision of protecting America and her people, but most of the ones I've dealt with don't seem to be that kind. I'd be interested to see how many terrorist plots and plans have been thwarted through the years since 9/11 by the TSA's tactics. Probably not very many. Ameila is right; bad will find its way in when it wants in. Everyday when I drive onto the the air force base where my husband is stationed, I think of how easy it would be to pack a little terrorist in my trunk if I were that kind of awful person. This Air Force base houses predator pilots, who remotely fly planes in active war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq from here in the middle of nowhere Clovis New Mexico. Stripping diapers of 95 year old women at the airport does not do anything to glorify our country or what it stands for. Shame on them and us for letting it happen. Send a copy of your blog post to your congressmen and representative and ask where to go from there.
Love you, Randi. You are so wonderful for taking care of your pops this way and letting him have his dignity to the end. And I'd love a front row seat if any TSA agent tried to pull that crap on your or him. You'd go to jail for sure.
This story also disgusted me. Like you I had a visceral reaction to it and I am just so sad for the woman (and her daughter) who had to go through that.
It's amazing how when you give some people a little power, they immediately become crazed with it. Ridiculous! There should be repercussions for the TSA agents who subjected this elderly woman to such humiliation, but of course there won't be because it was all done under the auspices of the TSA. It is incredibly frustrating to feel so powerless.
There was a move for a national 'opt-out' of body scans on Thanksgiving last year.
How about a national 'opt-out of flying?' day?
As you point out, although the TSA experience tops the list of indignities of flying, they are far from alone.
Only when the public wakes up and decides that the 'convenience' of flying is not worth the hassle and discomfort will market pressures force the airlines and the TSA to change.
So can someone get on that?... Me, I got a plane to catch.
Outrageous. We have had two successive administrations that have prayed on the general public's fears (mostly, fears that have been grossly inflated by said administators). I'll save my diatribe about the U.S.'s actions in the "war on terror" for another time. They have created a culture of fear that includes fear of raising objections and outright disapproval.
Write to your senator and congress rep about this. Post it on FB (I personally hadn't seen the story until I read your blog). Forward it to the AARP with your reaction.
And good luck!--Timo
Randi - That story was horrible and so very sad. Reading this post made me love and respect who you are even more though. What a loving and selfless thing you are doing each day to take care of your father. You are beautiful for caring so much to do all that you do. I'm not sure all daughters are as good as you. Good luck with it all. I'm sure it is hard and at times depressing. I'm also sure you will be very blessed for the care you've given to your Mom and Dad. Love you.
Alicia
Oh Randi, this is appalling, to be sure. I loved what Scott wrote to/about you, and I agree 100 percent. I admire you so much for your devotion to your parents. They have both been so blessed with your loving care.
I feel like you do... so helpless about what to do to fix our stupid "security" system. We just flew back to NY, and I had to have a pat down or open two baby foods (that I needed to stay sealed so they would be good 6+ hrs later when I would feed them to the baby, not to mention the mess they'd make leaking all over in my carry-on). Tell me, how does a pat down equate to opening a jar of baby food? And what is the point of opening a jar of sealed gerber baby food anyway?!? So lame. So I took the pat down, which was ridiculous. I feel as outraged as you... wish I could somehow boycott flying. hmmmm....
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