Blog #9

The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) procedure with the body scanner caused some passengers to feel uncomfortable to go through it. They even considered this procedure to violate their freedom rights, as in the case of John Tyner, who refused to go through the full body scanner and the pat down at the airport. He considered it as sexual assault. What made him get mad the most was the pat down, not only because it was an invasion of his freedom, but because it was demeaning. Although they explained to him the steps that were going to be performed beforehand, still the pat down was extremely offensive, because it is like being rape without consent. I think there should be a line drawn in the TSA procedures, whether using the body scans or metal detectors, but not the pat down and the physical touching by itself is very offensive and humiliating. John Tyner’s incident certainly might be encouraging people to take a stand on their right of their privacy and opt for other traveling alternatives, rather than allowing tyrant authorities overstep their freedom. Traveling by airplane will no longer be a pleasant experience for passengers, unless the Federal Government does some adjustments on their policies for travelers.