The Terrorists are Winning
Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Terrorist. You are winning, it would seem.
In a recent announcement, the TSA said that scissors shorter than 4 inches (sewing scissors, basically) and tools less than 7 inches would be permitted in carry on luggage. TSA felt they were spending too much time screening for items such as these, and instead of wasting their time confiscating these items, they decided instead to permit them. When I heard this news, I thought it was great. I felt that it was ridiculous that items such as these had been banned in the first place. They were banned just after 9/11 when restrictions and security measures were outrageous. It seems, though, that I am in the minority when it comes to the approval of the newly relaxed security measures. A poll of Bay Area residents today overwhelmingly said that they believed these relaxed measures were "an invitation to terrorists."
COME ON PEOPLE! THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE GOAL OF TERRORISM IS - to scare common people with everyday things. Terrorism isn't about scaring people with only major things like nuclear holocaust - it is about making people scared to do everyday things like drive a car, fly across the country or go to work. If over 70% of people really think that a pair of sewing scissors makes an airplane more dangerous, then the terrorists are clearly winning. They have successfully convinced the American public that it is unsafe to do everyday things.
A terrorist is not going to be dissuaded by a simple sewing scissor restriction, OK? Let me tell you a story. A friend of mine, who shall remain nameless, mistakenly packed a large switchblade in his/her carry-on luggage. This was within a year or 2 after 9/11 when security restrictions were at their height. This wasn't a boxcutter, or a pair of sewing scissors, it was a dangerous weapon. Airport security didn't even see it. It wasn't until he/she was unpacking that he/she realized that he/she had mistakenly packed it. Which is more dangerous, allowing sewing scissors or being so preoccupied with finding the sewing scissors that you overlook a switchblade?
Average Joe America, you are stupid. I'm sorry, but it is true.
Comments
Let's hope that international airports adopt our guidelines for non-dangerous carry-on items. When I went through customs in Colombia, one of the security guards opened my toiletry case and insisted on breaking off the file portion of my toenail clipper. I agreed, not wanting to be identified as a terrorist. When I unpacked my luggage, I realized that the guard had left me with my fingernail clipper file! What a dangerous world we live in.
Posted by: Ryan Greenberg | December 4, 2005 12:50 PM