I have traveled on many airplanes this year. I am scared of flying and am always happy to get to my destination. Over Thanksgiving, on a trip to Colorado, I thought a lot about how upset people were about the possibility of having a body search done. It looks intrusive and upsetting and I am sure it is.
But, you know what, we are in a war. Six American soldiers died in Afghanistan today. If we allow terrorists to feel comfortable wearing explosives in their underwear as they board airplanes then shame on us. I would bet any person on the airliners who crashed on September 11 would gladly exchange a body search experience to death. Last February, I was asked to have a body scan done. I think I alerted them because I had misplaced my driver's license or something and was searching frantically through my things while in line. The body scan was nothing.
I will say what many people may hesitate saying, but, if I am getting on a plane with several people who look like they might be from Iraq or somewhere similar, I wonder about them. I am not a prejudiced person and realize a terrorist could look like my Uncle Joe. But, so far, they haven't. It reassures me to know everybody else on my plane is going through the same thorough scrutiny I am.
