The TSA is the most un-American agency

Just listen to them. They aren’t respectful and they don’t care who you are; they just want you to comply. They repeatedly bark orders because they’re frustrated, annoyed and tired of you. If you keep coming back, they won’t change.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was enacted shortly after the attacks of September 11, 2001 when Americans were in shock that terrorists could strike so boldly within our borders. There was some uproar over the expensive purchases of scanning devices due to the near-nude body imaging, radiation exposure and the inability to detect dangerous weapons and materials.

While these problems are bad, they don’t strike at the heart of the real danger of the TSA: They make Americans submit. Under the guise of protecting Americans, they discredit what it is to be a law-abiding citizen. The fact that I’ve never had an urge to carry out any violence against the United States carries no weight with them: “Empty your pockets, take off your shoes, keep it moving.” They don’t care about the principals that built America: “We have an opt-out over here!” They don’t care that the planes are carrying people to jobs that build our economy: “Sir, I’m going to use the back of my hand to rub your genitals and I’m going to hold your buttock as I move my hand up your inner thigh to your crotch.”

Americans, in general, submit. Maybe they’ve bought into the idea that it’s safer, or maybe it’s not worth fighting every injustice. In a groundbreaking show of irony, the TSA announced a pre-check, which absolves you of some of their harassment, if, along with the taxes you’ve already paid, you write the TSA a check for eighty-five dollars. Law-abiding, tax-paying, hardworking Americans must pay to prove they are good Americans and hopefully avoid extra radiation and harassment.

The terrorist attacks were bad, and I was shaken. Every American was. But it should not have shaken us from being fundamentally American and knowing how to trust and treat another Americans. The first thing that changed after September 11th, was that Americans would no longer sit idly by while terrorists flew an airplane. Prior to that day, we understood that the terrorists would likely negotiate and waiting until the negotiations were done was the smartest option. Americans won’t wait anymore.

Because of this, terrorists may no longer look to overtake a flight crew as their next terrorist plot. If they do, they’ll need weapons bigger than the type that fit in the crevice between their butt cheeks. Those types of weapons can be found in respectful, patriotic and intelligent search methods.

The TSA is an entrenched bureaucracy and they won’t change. They won’t listen to your concerns. The money’s been spent on the machines and they’ve got a large workforce who doesn’t care. I’ve decided that the pathetic show at the airport is sad enough to keep me from flying. I’m sick at watching my strong American brothers and sisters line up to be chided and harassed. Unless, there’s a family emergency, I won’t fly. Neither should you.