Perhaps you have heard the one about the U.S. elected official and two Muslims on a plane. No, it is not a tasteless joke, it is however an interesting little story. As the story goes, one of our fabulous elected officials was on a plane accompanied by two Muslims. The three of them made a common observation of a young lady who also happened to be on that particular flight. Hence the birth of the “tampon bomb.” It could well be that the story was a pun, but it makes you wonder to what extremes the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will go to in order to provide air plane security for America’s fair citizens.
TSA Inappropriateness
The TSA has fallen under attack for good reason. When we begin to hear the call to teach our children “good touching versus bad touching,” a distinct line of inappropriateness has been crossed. From the groping of even juvenile passengers to the full body scans which display a “nude” picture of the would be flyer, nothing remains sacred when it comes to air travel.
In response to the criticism, the TSA warns of fines up to $11,000 and even imprisonment for not subjecting one’s self to such personal intrusions. President Obama claims this is needed while Secretary of State Hilary Clinton insists that if given a choice, she would not undergo pat down. This governmental indecisiveness only adds to the discontentment of American air travelers. Despite the controversy, the key piece of the puzzle is being grossly overlooked.
Impact of terrorism
This is exactly how terrorism works. It forces the free and innocent to reevaluate the norms of everyday life as they react out of fear. It was Benjamin Franklin who wrote; “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Profound words when we compare how we are destroying liberty out of fear because we have failed to understand why America was founded and have become apathetic as a government when it comes to appreciating freedom as it was meant to be. For wherever there is freedom, there are those seeking to disenfranchise the free from the liberties of life they enjoy. Fear is defeating freedom.
Loss of founders intent
“No man thinks more highly of patriotism than I do,” it began. Patrick Henry ended his speech on March 23, 1775 with “… give me liberty, or give me death!” An American patriot imploring both government and the people to be courageous enough to defend freedom without sacrificing liberty. The courage in government has been lost to political correctness and foreign policy that places the political interests of other countries before the needs, rights, liberties and freedom of the American people they have sworn to protect. Rather than employing strategies of firm protections, the government removes liberties from the people in order to appease and placate foreign nations forcing American affairs to play second fiddle to foreign affairs.
What is happening with the TSA demonstrates cowardice in the face of adversity. It declares to the world that America will succumb before it will strongly endure.
We must return to the intent of our founding fathers before we fully relinquish the freedoms they intended us to have.
As the old proverb states; adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals it.
Paul Johnson - Paul Johnson, a US Navy Veteran served aboard defending American freedom with units of the 2D Marine Division and 3D Marine Air Wing. ...
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