The newest rant against government employees just doing their jobs comes from California resident Kevin Payne. He is upset because his 10-year-old daughter underwent a pat-down by a female TSA agent at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Let’s get a few things straight before anyone gives a knee-jerk reaction to what happened.
First, if terrorists are crazy enough to blow themselves up in order to accomplish their agenda, then they are crazy enough to use children in terrorist acts. In a sane world, a 10-year-old child would not need to be patted down before getting onto an airplane, but we are not living in a sane world.
Second, whenever families fly on commercial airlines, parents have a duty to make sure that their minor children are not violating the long-established rule against liquids greater than 3 ounces in carry-on luggage. That particular rule has been in existence for several years and is mentioned in instructions made available to all purchasers of airline tickets. If Mr.Payne didn’t know about that rule, then he didn’t do his homework before flying. If he did know about the rule, then how does he explain the contraband in his daughter’s carry-on luggage?
Third, the TSA agents in this case didn’t necessarily do anything wrong. Sure, there have been cases in which TSA agents acted like the Keystone Cops, but that isn’t always the case.
In the comments section of the San Diego Union-Tribune website, California realtor Joanie Hynes Selby writes the following:
The girl didn’t seem to be traumatized, the agent was very professional…this is the price we pay for the security of all of us. I also feel it would not be hard for a terrorist to convince a child to carry something like that. Especially if they believed that a child would not be scrutinized as strongly as an adult. I also think a terrorist wouldn’t care about endangering a child or an adult. We have got to stop thinking like good people and start thinking like a terrorist!
Selby is correct. Terrorists are barbarians, and anyone who expects barbarians to act civilized has never seen the episode of Star Trek in which Spock has a beard.
Instead of complaining, Mr. Payne could simply have told his daughter, “This is what happens when one violates the rules.” Yes, the situation was uncomfortable for all, but the situation was easily avoidable.
The “Wanted” posters say the following about David: “Wanted: A refugee from planet Melmac masquerading as a human. Loves cats. If seen, contact the Alien Task Force.”