Has it really gone too far? All these full body searches, or pat downs, passengers have to go through at U.S. airports have most passengers protesting the latest security measures by the Department of Homeland Security to ensure the safety of Americans. Many Filipino-Americans have been subjected to these searches and if you are among the few who have not tried what many would call a humiliating experience, read an account of a Dumaguete native (who prefers to remain anonymous for obvious reasons) to have a vicarious experience of how being patted down feels like — editor.
TEXAS — I don’t know if any of you has had to travel lately. Well hopefully none of you experienced what I did.
I did travel over the weekend and what started as a nice trip turned out to be a not so pleasant trip. I don’t know if all of you are familiar with full body scanners. Well these are scanning devices that allow airport security to see underneath your clothes. Obviously these are for security reasons the need for which was heightened by that “underwear bomber” incident almost a year ago today. When I first heard about this almost two years ago, I was initially for it. Better to lose one’s privacy than to get blown up into a million pieces.
Several months ago , I have began reading articles about how these things might increase the chances of cancer. This changed my opinion on these machines a bit to the point where I told myself maybe this is not such a good idea.
So coming home to Dallas, I was just so “fortunate” to get picked out to “have my picture taken” so to speak. I don’t know why I have the luck that I have. I don’t win lotteries but I get picked for things like this. Like several years ago, when I get picked to a jury from a pool of 750 people. Do I just look unique ? I have more incidents like this but that is a story for another time.
Anyway, you have the option to turn down a full body scan. In exchange you are get a “body pat down”. Sounds so innocent right ? Right !!!! anyway I was brought to a private area by a male TSA agent to do the “body pat down”. I cannot describe in detail what happened in there, (since this is a family oriented forum) but I can tell you, the term pat down is a gross understatement of what happened.
After the “pat down” I didn’t know whether to get angry or give the guy my number. After what he did, we probably should be dating na. I mean, he now knows more about me than my doctor will ever will. By coincidence I am seeing my doctor next week, and I was thinking if he asks me how I feel, I should tell him, ask the TSA agent he knows exactly how I feel. He felt me up for like an eternity.
Anyway, am not a prude or anything but, somehow, being so defenseless like that, not a good feeling. Makes me wonder though, are job applications increasing at the TSA from the ‘third’ gender? Just wondering.
With my luck, I may get another jury summons soon, and I know exactly what happens when I get there.
But you all don’t have to worry. For most of you, in fact for all of you, if you travel soon, it will most likely be just that old reliable metal detector when you go through the airport. Me, I am just lucky.
But the funny (I don’t actually mean funny) thing about this though, is if faced with the same situation in the future, I am not sure what to prefer–hanging or firing squad?
I’ll just take Greyhound next time.
Name Withheld
