This week as I was traveling for work, I had my first experience having a full body scan done, courtesy of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). After all the uproar I had heard about whether or not it should be considered a violation of one’s privacy, the process itself was quite simple. I’m not sure what made them pull me out of line for the body scan while my co-workers went through the regular metal detectors. Regardless, I was happy they did. I was all done in about 10 seconds, while my fellow passengers were stuck waiting in line, and being further delayed by items passengers forgot to remove, invariably setting off the alarms.
As I sat on the bench collecting my stuff and putting my shoes back on, I paid notice to flutter of activity going on all around me. One gentleman, who went through the metal detectors with no problem, was asked to step aside while TSA officials wiped his hands with what I can only assume to be an explosive trace detection swab. He was then asked to wait while they took the swab somewhere else to “analyze” it. An elderly woman who was in a wheelchair was wanded and patted down by security officials and then asked to stand up with assistance from the TSA officials and a cane for the full body scan. I wondered how necessary it was to perform multiple security checks on a physically challenged elderly individual. A mother coming through with a young baby wreaked such havoc on the system you would’ve though Osama bin Laden was coming through the checkpoint himself. We all know of the numerous new security measure TSA has put into place since September 11th, but I was staring to wonder has all that time and money gone to waste? Are we scanning and searching the wrong people?
A recent Washington Post – ABC news poll showed 70% of Americans would support the TSA profiling people and using available information about passengers to determine who gets selected for extra security screening at the airports. Of those 70%, 32% favor taking gender into account, 39% favor taking religion into account, 40% favor taking race into account, 50% favor taking a passenger’s personal appearance into account and 86% favor taking a passengers behavior at the airport into account. Currently, the TSA does have enhanced screening procedures for U.S.-bound travelers, traveling from “state sponsors of terrorism, or other countries of interest” including, Pakistan, Yemen and Nigeria. TSA has yet to admit to any form of profiling passengers on domestic flights as all the September 11th flights were. Critics of profiling say the practice is discriminatory and goes against the American ideal of being judged on the content of your character.
So my question to you this week is “Do you think the TSA should profile certain people to determine who gets selected for extra security screening? If so, what characteristics should they use? If no, why not?” Answers are due no later than Tuesday, May 31st, 2011. Happy Memorial Day – enjoy the day off!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Change is A-Comin', Oh Yes!
Last week, I happened to get home early enough to see that Oprah was celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Freedom Ride with an audience full of original activists. Some of you may have never heard of the freedom riders, but rest assured, our world would not exist as we know it today without their courageous actions.
In the spring and summer of 1961, 436 “Freedom Riders”, boarded buses in protest of segregation laws. The group consisted of blacks, whites, males and females, both young and old. Their plan was to buy bus tickets in Washington D.C. bound for New Orleans. Along the way they would test federal laws prohibiting segregation by having African Americans ride in the front of the bus and by sitting in “whites only” waiting rooms. The riders were trained to be nonviolent and prepared to be met with violence. As the first wave of buses crossed the Alabama state line, they were surrounded by a KKK led mob which threatened them with metal pipes, clubs and chains. They slashed the bus tires, set the bus on fire, and blocked the doors in an attempt to kill everyone on board. After the fuel tank exploded, many people ran off as the riders struggled to get fresh air. Many freedom riders were savagely beaten and left for dead. Others were imprisoned and tortured for months.
On September 22, 1961 the Interstate Commerce Commission issued an order that all segregation signs be removed from bus and rail stations in the South. The Freedom Riders had won. You can check out an inspirational video in which the original riders explain why they got on the bus, here: http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Freedom-Riders-on-Why-They-Got-on-the-Bus-Video/topic/oprahshow
I knew about the Freedom Riders long before I saw the Oprah show last week. However, watching the show made me realize just how much they had sacrificed for what the cause they believed in. I’m not sure if we have that same kind of willingness to change the world today. So this week, in honor of the Freedom Riders, I’m asking you the same questions Oprah challenged her viewers to answer, “What do you see wrong with the world today? What could you do to help change it?” Answers are due no later than Tuesday, May 24th, 2011. Please note that you have an extra week to post your answer because I will be out of town May 16th – May 19th. I may not have access to email, but I will be available by phone or text if you have any questions. P.S. I absolutely loved your blog responses from last week. You made me proud! Keep up the great exchange of information!
P.P.S. One thing you could do to help change our world it vote! On a recent quiz, many of you stated that you weren't registered. You can now register online in just a few easy steps. Make a difference! Register today here: https://indianavoters.in.gov/PublicSite/PublicMain.aspx
In the spring and summer of 1961, 436 “Freedom Riders”, boarded buses in protest of segregation laws. The group consisted of blacks, whites, males and females, both young and old. Their plan was to buy bus tickets in Washington D.C. bound for New Orleans. Along the way they would test federal laws prohibiting segregation by having African Americans ride in the front of the bus and by sitting in “whites only” waiting rooms. The riders were trained to be nonviolent and prepared to be met with violence. As the first wave of buses crossed the Alabama state line, they were surrounded by a KKK led mob which threatened them with metal pipes, clubs and chains. They slashed the bus tires, set the bus on fire, and blocked the doors in an attempt to kill everyone on board. After the fuel tank exploded, many people ran off as the riders struggled to get fresh air. Many freedom riders were savagely beaten and left for dead. Others were imprisoned and tortured for months.
On September 22, 1961 the Interstate Commerce Commission issued an order that all segregation signs be removed from bus and rail stations in the South. The Freedom Riders had won. You can check out an inspirational video in which the original riders explain why they got on the bus, here: http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Freedom-Riders-on-Why-They-Got-on-the-Bus-Video/topic/oprahshow
I knew about the Freedom Riders long before I saw the Oprah show last week. However, watching the show made me realize just how much they had sacrificed for what the cause they believed in. I’m not sure if we have that same kind of willingness to change the world today. So this week, in honor of the Freedom Riders, I’m asking you the same questions Oprah challenged her viewers to answer, “What do you see wrong with the world today? What could you do to help change it?” Answers are due no later than Tuesday, May 24th, 2011. Please note that you have an extra week to post your answer because I will be out of town May 16th – May 19th. I may not have access to email, but I will be available by phone or text if you have any questions. P.S. I absolutely loved your blog responses from last week. You made me proud! Keep up the great exchange of information!
P.P.S. One thing you could do to help change our world it vote! On a recent quiz, many of you stated that you weren't registered. You can now register online in just a few easy steps. Make a difference! Register today here: https://indianavoters.in.gov/PublicSite/PublicMain.aspx
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Checkmate: Osama bin Laden Killed
By now, we have all heard the news regarding the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the September 11th attacks on the United States. I admit that when I first heard the news, I did feel a sigh of relief. Now I am not naïve enough to think his death represents the end of terrorism. Terrorism comes from hate and ignorance and the death of one man is not going to stop that. Rather, my feeling of relief came more from feeling that our long national nightmare is over. Ever since September 11th, it has seemed like our country has been in one long downslide. From a war that seemed to not have an end in sight, to our economy collapsing, it seemed to me that it all began around the time those planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania on that clear September morning.
Once the news had been confirmed by President Obama, Americans began literally celebrating in the streets. Americans flooded Ground Zero and the area surrounding the White House waving signs, American flags and singing the national anthem. I can understand how some people feel this way. Osama bin Laden and his network are responsible for the biggest national tragedy we have ever had on American soil. However, it crossed my mind that celebrating in this way may be the very thing that fuels people like Osama bin Laden in the first place. I flashed back to the pictures of people in the Middle East cheering when the towers fell and how sick that made me feel. It made me wonder just how the rest of the world was viewing us.
So my question to you this week is, “Do you think it is appropriate for Americans to publicly celebrate the death of Osama bin Laden? Do you think it helps or hurts our fight against the war of terror?” Answers are due no later than Tuesday, May 10th 2011. For all the mothers out there – Happy Mother’s Day! To all of you who lost loves ones in the September 11th attacks or the war on terror, may you feel a sense of peace and closure. For those of you who have served in the arms forces – thank you!
Once the news had been confirmed by President Obama, Americans began literally celebrating in the streets. Americans flooded Ground Zero and the area surrounding the White House waving signs, American flags and singing the national anthem. I can understand how some people feel this way. Osama bin Laden and his network are responsible for the biggest national tragedy we have ever had on American soil. However, it crossed my mind that celebrating in this way may be the very thing that fuels people like Osama bin Laden in the first place. I flashed back to the pictures of people in the Middle East cheering when the towers fell and how sick that made me feel. It made me wonder just how the rest of the world was viewing us.
So my question to you this week is, “Do you think it is appropriate for Americans to publicly celebrate the death of Osama bin Laden? Do you think it helps or hurts our fight against the war of terror?” Answers are due no later than Tuesday, May 10th 2011. For all the mothers out there – Happy Mother’s Day! To all of you who lost loves ones in the September 11th attacks or the war on terror, may you feel a sense of peace and closure. For those of you who have served in the arms forces – thank you!
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