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| Fourth Amendment underwear for edification of the TSA |
look a little intimidating. Add six days back and forth to a visit and you're longer on the road than visiting.
Sooo....despite the fact I hate to fly, we are thinking of biting the bullet and going by sardine can (Whatever happened to the "friendly skies?") with a bargain nonstop to Dallas and a rental car for the last two hours to Austin. (We'd rent a car in any case so that is no addition to the cost.)
Last time we flew (several years ago) we were able to go through the metal detector and avoided the X-ray machine and the invasive pat-down. If they ever try to pat me down I'll just refuse and go home. I'm not about to be groped.
As for the X-ray machine, it sparked some creative entrepreneurs to develop underwear with a message. I'm thinking of buying some. The less controversial version carries the text of the fourth amendment:
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| The less subtle message for TSA agents |
Amendment IV. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.The more in-your-face version is less subtle, and likely to get you the invasive pat-down in retaliation. Gosh, the more I write, the better that six days on the road is looking.
Years ago, when the excessive pat downs were all over the news, we turned down a trip to England, paid for by our daughter. She had actually bought the tickets and I told her to cancel them. I was not going to fly again until this madness stopped. Not going to be humiliated at the airport because they refuse to profile.
ReplyDeleteThink of it from the positive side, my friend. For the duration of the flight, you will be that many feet closer to heaven. And, the opportunity to say the Rosary with your feet off the ground, surrounded by clouds and breath taking views of creation is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm already rethinking whether I will get on a plane. If we take our time travelling we can make a nice vacation out of it and stop in a few places along the way. A revisit to Hot Springs, Arkansas would be fun.
ReplyDeleteApply for TSA pre-check. Shorter lines and less hassle. It was the response to 9/11 that started all this and until we can designate funds to better equip our airports (like the newer terminals at London Heathrow or any of the cities in Germany) to be able to pick up threats adequately and not invasively, this is the bargain we struck to keep the airways as safe as possible. Flying is no longer fun, but there are things you can do to make it easier. I fly about 40 weeks a year.
ReplyDeleteYou are much safer going by airplane than auto....way too many crazies on the road! Also, airline pilots don't text on their cell phones while they are piloting the plane.
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