Realistic checks

Wake up, America! They are taking away our rights while they are reading the terrorists theirs. How much more are we willing to give up to "be safe"? What a joke. This latest guy was putting up flares and they didn't get it.

Most people who get on a plane are just trying to get from Point A to Point B. There is no reason that the technology available cannot make it possible for the person who travels on a regular basis to have official clearance after some detailed screening to avoid this ridiculous scene we have today.

As syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer stated in an assessment of the El Al policies that have been so successful: "The Israelis look for a terrorist, we look for tweezers." After the "shoe bomber" we all had to take our shoes off going through security. This latest clown had the explosives in his underwear. What's next, cavity searches? We are treated like common criminals just to conduct business or go see Grandma.

For those who are squeamish about profiling, I would like to have an album put together of the pictures of those who have been involved in the attacks thus far. If they were all blond-haired, blue-eyed females, I would expect the authorities to take a good look at my background. Does it mean that every dark-skinned, dark-eyed person should have to be screened more carefully? No, but we ought to take a close look at those whose father comes to our embassy concerned about what his son might be up to and at someone who pays cash, has no luggage and is headed for Detroit in the winter without a coat.

It is time that we stop accepting new restrictions, when what we need is a realistic approach to recognizing those for whom we are looking.

 

PEGGIE P. RICHARDSON
Upper St. Clair