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Posted 1/22/2010 10:56 AM CST The Philadelphia Inquirer tells a tale of stunning stupidity that left a young woman shaken and crying, other passengers trying to console her and ended the TSA career of the agent. Earlier this month, 22-year-old college student Rebecca Solomon arrived at the Philadelphia airport the requisite 90 minutes before her flight to Detroit. She dutifully put her laptop and shoes through the scanners, engaging in the security theater that frequent fliers have become so familiar with. She was just a college student headed back to the University of Michigan for the spring session. And then she was pulled aside, presented with a tiny, clear plastic bag - the kind earrings sometimes come in - containing white powder. What about it? The TSA agent wanted an explanation. Rebecca said she broke into a sweat, wondering what exactly she would say to explain the unexplainable. It wasn't hers. She'd never seen it before. But isn't that what suspects always say. The seconds stretched out. Tears welled up. And then the agent said it was his bag, his white powder, his little joke. Rebecca gathered her things and, accompanied by a sympathic witness, went to her gate in tears. TSA agents, of late clad in new uniforms that look very much like police uniforms, are figures of authority in a system that presumes guilt, includes tiers of watchlists and no-fly lists and lists of people of interest that are secret and often inaccurate. Being on the other end of that system is not a comfortable positionfor most Americans, regardless of how seriously, or not, they take the process. To do the TSA's very necessary job, the agents - of all people - must take it seriously. Little jokes like that played on Rebecca Solomon undermine the system, scare people and fuel the criticism of the quasi-police agency. Was he trying for a date? Battling boredom? Just a sick puppy who likes to look at terrified faces? Whatever, he's gone. Fired or quit? We're not allowed to know that (or his name) because of federal employee privacy rules. Let's hope it's the former, and that the reason cited is extreme ridiculousness. ------- And I TOLD you guys it's the world's best travel blog. Click it over on the sidebar. |
