Today We Are All Terrorists

Imagine this scenerio: A bank is robbed. When asked for a description of the individuals, law enforcement officials reply "it could be anybody, so therefore we're going to search and inconvenience everyone we see in hopes we might stumble on to something". How would the public react to that? And yet that is basically the approach the government is using when it comes to air travelers.

Time after time after time we see terrorist plots conducted by young Muslim men, most often of Middle Eastern background (though this latest group is Pakistani). And yet, in true democratic fashion, today we are all terrorists. In fact, you probably have a greater chance of avoiding scrutiny (at least from officials) if you are young, male and Middle Eastern out of fear someone will be accused of profiling. The passengers will watch you like a hawk, but the cops will probably give you a pass.

If you're a blonde haired, blue-eyed, 25 year-old surfer chick mom with an infant, you will be required to taste-test your child's infant formula (or your own bottled breast milk) in front of TSA officials before you walk on the plane.

If you're a 50 year old white guy who likes to carry contact lens solution on board so it doesn't end up in lost luggage (which happened to me a few years ago), you will be required to throw the solution away lest you accidentally transform it into high explosive while moistening your lenses.
If you're a handicapped elderly black woman in a wheelchair who just wants to see her grandkids in Kansas City, you will be subjected to any number of indignities in order to get on the airplane.

And the list goes on. Which one of these three examples is likely to be the "Islamic Fascists" that we are at war with, according to today's statement from President Bush? With today's new restrictions on all travelers, air travel is going to become such a burden that many people will simply refuse to do it. I see rocky days ahead for the airline industry.

I frankly get more than a little bugged about being treated like a terrorist. I almost feel a "Howard Beale" moment coming on. I think I'll go down to the airport, throw open the terminal door, raise my Crest Extra-Whitening Formula to the sky and shout "I HAVE A TUBE OF TOOTHPASTE AND I'M NOT AFRAID TO USE IT!!"

I'd do that but I'd probably get shot.

I think we can rename these latest rules the Procter and Gamble Full Employment Act. People will be buying all kinds of their personal care items to replace the stuff they had to throw away at the airport.

It's time to wake up to the reality that the focus of terror today seems to be confined to a pretty easily defined group, and although there may be exceptions, there's enough evidence to indicate that this particular group deserves extra scrutiny not required of most other travelers. Let's quit wanding 6 year-olds and start pulling people out of line who fit the description.