Virtual Strip Searching

The TSA has started with their new virtual strip search policy. That's right, if you want to be able to fly today, you have to submit to a machine that is able to see underneath your clothing. What's the big deal? After all, don't we all want to be safe when we fly? Well, yeah. But, what are you willing to give up as a result of your fear? I think this is the real question.

Do you think they (our government) are applying these same standards to people that fly on ... say ... Air Force One? What about private jets? Do you think someone like Bill Gates will be subjected to these kinds of screens? What about his wife and kids? What about people in the Obama administration (those that fly commercial that is)? Do you think they are being subjected to these screens? What about the other elites - any of the elites?

So, is it Justice when we have laws like the one they are using to perform a virtual strip search of American Citizens? How can this be Justice? Can this be applied equally to every American Citizen? The simple answer is no. Those who have the financial means to fly on private jets will not be subject to these screens. Likewise, those with "celebrity status" will not be subjected to these kinds of screens. Is this Justice?

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963

This is discrimination plain and simple. It may sound absurd, but, think about it. doesn't this law put those who cannot afford to fly, in a private jet or at the expense of the taxpayers, at a distinct disadvantage? Isn't that the definition of discrimination and injustice?

Fear is an amazing thing. And, it is a great motivator. People seem to be afraid of lots of things. Now, I believe in caution, and I am not saying that we should be taking all kinds of risks. But, I think we also have to be rationale about what we are asking the public - Innocent American Citizens - to do.

How do we measure the loss of liberty against the gain in security? More importantly, are we really gaining in security by giving the government even more control over us? And, doesn't it seem interesting that the federal government will not protect our borders, but, they are willing to have armies of TSA agents performing virtual strip searches and walking through airport terminals asking for our "papers"?

Terrorists succeed because we let them make us afraid. Nobody wants to die. And, its even more tragic when innocent people are victims. But, lets face it: lots of people are killed by violent crimes and drunk drivers every day - innocent people. Isn't a virtual strip search kind of like stopping every vehicle on a road, in the hopes that you are going to catch a drunk driver? How long before our benevolent government sees fit to remove more of our civil liberties in the name of protecting the population?

How is it possible that our Supreme Court upheld this absurd law? What's next? Government agents monitoring all our phone calls and email? Cameras on every corner recording our actions day and night? Police who can take you into custody and keep you for as long as they deem necessary? Biometric scans as we enter any public building? Transponders and RF-ID chips inserted into our bodies?

When the government uses these kinds of tactics to erode our civil rights, then what is next? Is it really better to have security at the cost of liberty?