I just returned from a trip to Nevada and had the "pleasure" being one of the first Americans across the nation subjected to the newly-implemented federal government policy of inspecting all "checked baggage"--not simply carry-on baggage but all baggage.
As mush as I fully support all reasonable measures designed to ensure the safety of passengers I draw the line when privacy boundaries are insensitively invaded under the guise of protecting the national security interest. Case in point: After collecting my boarding pass, I was escorted to some gigantic machine nearby to have my two checked suitcases scanned for inspection---fine, no big deal. One suitcase had six wrapped gifts that somehow this easily $1,000,000 scanner could not see through so baggage inspectors took the suitcase off the conveyor belt and put it on a separate table for manual inspection--still fine, no big deal.
What I take issue with is the fact that:
1.) The manual inspection table was clearly in the public view so everyone else who was waiting for their luggage to be scanned could be entertained watching other people's unmentionables and personables being openly displayed without ANY care for privacy or sensitivity to the passenger.
2.) If you are a woman, most likely someone of the opposite sex will be inspecting your luggage to include rummaging through your unmentionables and exposing other personables for all to see with the sensitivity of a rock. Same concerns hold true with men. In fact, one fellow behind me was mortified at the fact a woman was going through his suitcase for the very same reasons.
Lucky for me I had a woman inspecting and packing my luggage, but when another male security screener decided he was going to come over and assist her in packing my personables that's where I drew the line. I politely, but firmly informed him that as a woman I wanted only a woman handling my personables. He looked at me and responded with "But I work here", to which I replied "I don't care. I am a woman, she is a woman. I have unmentionables that I want handled only by a woman, and that I want my stuff inspected and repacked by a woman, and it is my God-given, American right to make such a request." He nodded and dutify backed off, and allowed the woman inspector to finish packing my bag.
Since September 11th, I have been paying attention to matters of privacy. I cannot begin to tell you the feeling I had throughout this process. It is an invasive feeling, and I am not usually given to rises like that. I wear the uniform proudly to ensure the full body of freedom is maintained from all manner of assault, and as much as I want the government to be equipped as much as they can to catch criminals, terrorists, and thugs, I do not want it at the expense of my personal privacy rights no matter how big or small the expense may seem. Feet are made up of inches, and inches can add up to feet.
Also, if you think airport delays were bad prior to September 11th, you haven't seen anything yet.
After arriving at the airport 2 hours and 45 minutes early to check-in, and spending 30 minutes just having ONE of my checked bags manually inspected I proceeded to the security gate for my carry-on luggage, my shoes and my person to be checked---no problemo. However, my "red-eye" flight home was delayed 1 hour due to security screenings the passengers had to go through at the destination from which the plane had departed. Then it took another 45 minutes to refuel, recheck every passenger to include random searches beofre take-off. By the time we were in the air our flight was delayed--by the bureacracy and checks--2 hours and 45 minutes. Ladies and gentlerman, this experience is not an abberation, it will be the rule. So the next time your travel agent says that your flight will be at a certain time, count on it being delayed at least an hour if not more as a standard. I don't see how long the aviation industry will be able to suffer these impairments to customer service without it severely impacting the economics of the industry.
If I were Amtrak right now, I would be salivating ways to capitalize on the frustrating experiences noted above.
My two cents.
Denise Tolbert, East Harriet Farmstead, Ward 10
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