As the Olympic athletes, fans and media descend on our fair city of Vancouver and many Vancouverites prepare to leave, the airport is making sure security is ready for all those would be terrorists. We have been on alert since December when Detroit and Northwest Airlines inadvertently played host to a nut case that decided to load his underwear with more than the traditional package sported by males. As a result we Canadians were only allowed to carry on the essentials; medications, canes, wallet, laptop and camera. Good thing that we are more safe but our luggage isn’t, as some passengers have complained.

Besides the suspected terrorists in the midst, the ever present baggage handling thieves are having a hay day. Funny, they tend to strike more often than terrorists but nobody has managed to thwart their criminal operation. Maybe instead of just body scanning the public as we embark on our travels they should body scan all the baggage staff. Make sure nothing is strapped to their bodies, in their bags or purses, like say…our precious jewelery, gifts or expensive camera.

I hate the body scans and intend not to offer my body up for low level radiation and view. I know it’s minimal risk, but I have heard that a lot. Like when we have product recalls, medication lawsuits, household contamination removal, all sorts of previous “minimal risk of exposure” stuff. While security inspects our bodies and rejects our rights I can’t keep wondering where was the debate on this issue with citizens? We think other countries are living in a dictatorship, maybe there is more of that going on in our own back yard than we are willing to admit.

A “private” security firm that trained for five days has a person that gets to sit in a room viewing passengers with complete anonymity. Meanwhile, we bare all on his/her screen; arms up, maybe doing a ballerina turn in public view. Not so comforting is the acknowledgment that they can’t guarantee such scans will not make it out to the public, though they will do the utmost to avoid such a breach of privacy. I have heard that line before, but then there is that loser who didn’t quite make the grade in security school; he sees more fun in leaking naked pics of people on the Internet.  OK, maybe the scan is not sooo naked but still an invasion of privacy none the less.

These scans wouldn’t have even picked up the “powder pants” guy and what about devices up in body cavities. No! Already perfected by drug smugglers, what’s the chances things will escalate to such a perverse act with a deranged idiot who believes he is about to become a martyr. Obviously, these guys believe all of their parts will still be intact on the other side with a promise of 72 virgins awaiting them. That would be funny if that turned out to be a misinterpretation of the scriptures…

“No, we said 72 vermins will await you.” “Due to bad karma, vermin (dictionary definition coming up) noxious, objectionable, or disgusting animals collectively, those of small size that appear commonly and are difficult to control, as flies, lice, bedbugs, cockroaches, mice, and rats or an objectionable or obnoxious person, or such persons collectively, are all you get for your actions.” “In your next life I hope you will think twice before blowing up a plane.”

An interesting fact that has been talked about is the people who managed to prevent a successful attack have been the passengers themselves. Security failed but passengers didn’t! All of these measures are designed to make us all feel safer but is really lining  the pockets of the manufacturers of scanners and security firms. Big expensive technological devices instead of good policing.

There has been some tongue and cheek in this post but generally I feel security is important. Where I fail to see the value is in taking away peoples rights, everything worked out unilaterally, without public consultation. Canadians aren’t the enemy and have not, I repeat not, been the gateway for terrorists. We can’t keep jumping through all of these hoops to satisfy the fears of a nation. The terrorists will always find ways to breach security, how far are we willing to go? Are they not winning if they strip us all of our own rights and freedoms? Keep us all living not in the land of the brave but of the fearful.

Message: Profile all you like, use intelligence and other means of security even before they get to the front door of our airport, but stop treating everyone as a potential suspect. We are one step away from losing what our ancestors fought for and it won’t be because of terrorism it will be due to our willingness to let our Government think for us instead of working with us.

Enjoy the following clip by Canada’s own Rick Mercer.

target="_blank">Rick Mercer’s Transport Canada Video