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CANDLELIGHTING

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THE JEWISH VIEW

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HOLIDAYS

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JUDAISM 101

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{weblog_name} - Fear of Getting on the Plane
Comments (1)

Like so many other survivors of sexual molestation, this entire TSA screening issue has me on total edge. I don’t have any flights scheduled in the coming weeks, but there is one that possibly could come about in January. Already I’m nervous. Is somebody going to touch me where I absolutely cannot be touched? Am I going to have to go through a screening device? How do I know with absolute certainty that the guy who is gazing at my body scan or touching me, doesn’t have the background of a molester? Seems like these are going to be the most wanted jobs on the jobs list for some of these people. They get to gaze and/or touch and get paid for it. Some of us who get use every bit of emotional energy we have just to use… read more

I obviously can not speak to the emotional trauma of molestation survivors who are touched in potentially inappropriate places in the name of security.  However, I can potentially provide my two cents in regards to the efficiency and effectiveness of these new “security measures”.

There are two ways to look at these new measures:
One way is to argue that there is no doubt that there is a deterrent factor involved.  I would argue that some would-be terrorists re-evaluate their plans due to these new security measures.

On the opposite side, from a security specialist point of view, all of these actions are futile.  As you mentioned in your statements above, it takes a few seconds for an Israeli security person to recognize a threat.  You were asked who the rabbi of Baltimore is to evaluate your response time, you are asked about others in your party to see if it is consistent, and who packed your bag is important because you may slip in your answer.  Yes, it is called PROFILING.  A word that took on a negative connotation in the USA, but by all means, it keeps us safe.

If TSA would recognize that there are better, less invasive, ways of keeping security high maybe this would be a mute point.

As a side note, did you know that the City of NY, which owns Port Authority, is considering forcing TSA to remove all scanners from their airports.  They proved them to be ineffective, and as it turns out they have the power to do so if they choose to.

Safe travels,
BK.