I've lived in Mtn Home since 1989, so that's...hold on...I'm thinking...WOW! Exactly 25 years! Boy, I think I can almost declare myself an Idahoan. But my family is British and I grew up in Louisiana around lots of other Brits so I still think I'm a little bit of a mutt. Those of you who have been around awhile may remember when I used to blog all the time. My opinions weren't very accepted and there was always an issue because I work for the county. That really wasn't fair because I NEVER blog at work! And I am still entitled to my opinions and thoughts about city and county issues, right? However, it stirred a lot of pots and those pots certainly can make a lot of noise! Since I'm a writer, I took what I wrote in my blog seriously so I spent a lot of time researching things which got exhausting to do when you're not even get a paycheck for it. So I stopped. That was a blessing to many! However, to this day, I still have people stop me and ask me why I wasn't blogging and t! hey missed it. I've missed it. Mainly because there are so many issues that come up and I have no voice except around my friends and I'm sure they are tired of it.

Sexual Touching Mandated by Government

Posted Wednesday, November 17, 2010, at 8:34 AM

It has disturbed me greatly the new situation that travelers are having to face at airports. Passsengers are faced with having a full body scan that will show them completely nude on a screen for strangers (TSA officers)to look at as they search for possible terrorist bombs. If you refuse to go through, then you are taken to another area to be "patted-down". This pat down includes touching (repeatly) the private genitals.

I listened to a man who was getting a physical search. The Security guard explained that he would be taking his hand up the inner leg up to the groin area and back down the other leg. He said that he would do this once in front and again from the back. The man stated that he was fine with the legs but to not touch his "junk". Immediatedly, the guard told the man that based on his statement he would need to get a manager. Female manager arrives to explain the process of the pat-down. Again, the man states that he will not allow anyone to touch him in his private area, "that I only allow my wife and doctor touch" and when told he had to allow it, the man stated that this was a sexual assault. The female manager told him that it was mandated by the federal government. "So you are telling me that what would be considered an illegal sexual molestationn anywhere in this country, is now okay because the federal government has mandated it?" The TSA manager said, "Yes. If you want to fly today, you must allow the search." The man refused to allow the TSA to touch his "junk" and was escorted out of the airport. Case closed.

Another report: A female is traveling with her two little girls and she doesn't want to have the girls go through the body scan. They are taken to another area where a MALE TSA officer proceeds to give a "pat-down" to the mother. I listened as she explained how this male touched her breast exactly like a Doctor giving an exam for lumps; and being touched in her private area between her legs! As if this wasn't enough of an assault on this woman, the little girls were also touched in the same manner. The woman was furious that a TSA man could do what he did legally when the exact situation outside, anywhere in this country would be illegal and a sex crime!

This is very disturbing to me and many others who are voicing their disgust on radio, TV and newspapers. Woman, men and children are now being subjected to molestations in the name of national security. Is this what we have come to? In the name of political correctness or whatever you want to call it, it is wrong to "profile" or "target" any specific person, so we must all be subjected to this disgusting molesting. In the name of all that good and holy, how can this be allowed? There are stories all over the country. Do you think that this is crazy?

"TSA Administrator John Pistole told a Senate panel Tuesday that the measures are a balance between privacy and security." (NPR.com) And later Pristole's statement about the discomfort that people feel..."If you have two planes getting ready to depart and one, you say, everybody has been thoroughly screened on this plane, and you can either go on that plane or another plane where we have not done a thorough screening because people did not feel comfortable with that, I think most if not all of the traveling public will say, 'I want to go on that plane that has been thoroughly screened.' "

Balance? Could you stand there and watch as an officer touches your daughter in places that if done any other time, you would have that person arrested? This is not security! This is an offensive violation! I was shocked to see a TSA male putting his hand up the dress and touching a 3 year old toddler! What? A toddler! People need to continue to protest this violation. In the name of common sense, this can't continue. That is my opinion for today.

Comments

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I BY NO MEANS AGREE WITH THIS TYPE OF SCREENING those that are taking it to the 10 th degree should be removed.this also should be gender priortized women seach women, men search men.WITH THAT SAID THE BODY SCANNERS ARE THE WAY TO GO.I SAY THAT BECAUSE WHAT WOULD BE SAID IF WE DIDNT SCREEN AND WE HAD AND INCIDENT,I SAY WE CANT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.SEARCHING anyone is offensive regardless of the cercumstances.there is no monoply by any one group around the world on terrorism so every one is suspect.POINT being anyone with and axe to grimnd could be a terrorist.AND airplanes MAKE for sensational news stories,I SAID ALL OF THIS TO SAY THEY CAN FIND A BETTER WAY THAN THE PAT DOWNS

-- Posted by lamont on Wed, Nov 17, 2010, at 3:11 PM
yeah its pretty disgusting, im really shocked that the people working for TSA didnt walk out, when finding out what they would have to start doing to people, especially little kids.

-- Posted by shockwave on Wed, Nov 17, 2010, at 3:41 PM
Neighbor said she was going to start traveling more until she found out it was another woman that would feel her up.

-- Posted by skeeter on Wed, Nov 17, 2010, at 5:04 PM
Kim where did this happen at? Did you see the little 3 year old getting padded by a male and do you know these statements are true?

Me I don't care if male or female pats me down before a flight and they can do it in front of other people lol !

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Wed, Nov 17, 2010, at 5:22 PM
Kim, have you ever gone through it yourself? This is all a complete exaggeration of what actually happens. I've gone through it myself. The picture is not of you NUDE...it actually looks a lot like an x-ray. Second, it's a TSA person, not a bunch of random people looking at you. Does it bother you when an x-ray technician looks at your x-rays? No? Well why should it bother you that a TSA employee is checking to make sure you don't have non-metal explosives in your underwear?

Secondly, I was patted down right after I went through the scanner. The lady described exactly what would happen, and asked my consent, and offered to do the search in private. I told her it was ok, and she patted me down. In the private areas, she used the BACK of her hand, not the palm.

As far as the story about the mom and toddlers? Well, that's the mom's story. Maybe she exaggerated the truth so she could be on TV?? It is supposed to be a same sex TSA employee that searches, and IF it was truly a man that did the pat down, she could have said no, I prefer a woman. I think, IF she's telling the truth, and she really feels victimized, it's her own fault, for letting it happen. Did he lock her in the room? Did he force her to get searched by HIM? No, she consented. And yes, CHILDREN have been used to hide bombs too. That's why the toddlers in your story had to be searched also.

I think all this outrage about this is ridiculous. Go ahead and fight about getting searched and x-rayed and put an end to this. Then DON'T YOU DARE shed one tear when Al Quaida successfully brings down thousands of innocent Americans AGAIN using our own planes and a few suicide bombers to do it.

-- Posted by Lil Miss's Mom on Wed, Nov 17, 2010, at 7:02 PM
Lil Miss's Mom, I just watched a news show where they were discussing that children were going to be searched the same way as adults. Sorry, NO ONE would search my child that way. Who knows WHO is a pedophile and who is not.

I flew a few weeks ago and didn't have to go through the xray part, that choice is made by one of the people who tell you to walk through the magnet or go to the xray area. Pictures have proven that this xray does more than just xray, it shows EVERYTHING. Do you think that the average looking housewife is going through that xray? I'm not a perfect size eight, oh wait, NOW a perfect size is, what, a four? Any way, women are complaining that they watch the plain Jane's go through the magnet while they, the better built, are forced to go to the xray.

Think that's the end of it? Do a search and find the articles about how hundreds of those supposedly secure xrays were "accidentally" released to the public and even ended up online. All the while we are being told that the images are not stored or kept at all.

I think security is a necessary thing, I don't think the extreme that it has been taken to is a necessary thing.

Who exactly do you think you are, telling someone not to dare shed a tear when something happens? Just because you are okay with this obvious invasion of the privacy we are losing inch by inch in this country, doesn't mean everyone has to follow your lead. We'll cry when we find the need to thank you very much, if we support this stupidity or not.

The sad thing is that the terrorists are still winning. American people are so paranoid that things like the xray and sexual assault are now being forced upon us if we choose the convenience of flying. I wonder how hard they are laughing at us. They win and they know it.

-- Posted by ItsJustMeAgain on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 8:54 AM
Lol !! I got that email too. Off in the distance at the terminal you hear a muffled explosion and then someone comes on the Loud Speaker " There's one more seat available on flight xxx

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Thu, Nov 18, 2010, at 2:30 PM
Does our loss of the right to dignity and freedom from fondling mean the terrorists are winning? Just something to think about.

-- Posted by jtrotter on Fri, Nov 19, 2010, at 11:57 AM
i SAY YES,WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR FELLOW AMERICANS AND POINT FINGERS,THEN THE VERY BASICS OF OUR SOCIETY HAS BEEN WOUNDED BADLY.WE CAN SHOW STRENGTH AND RESOLVE WHEN THAT SORT OF THING STOPS

WE ARE A DIVERSIFIED NATION AND THAT IS WERE OUR STRENGTH IS, WE NEED TO EMBRACE THAT.

-- Posted by lamont on Fri, Nov 19, 2010, at 4:24 PM
There is no way I'll fly again getting x-rayed or patted down, I'll drive or not go. Criminals get patted down, I will not be treated like a criminal when I choose to travel or have my children groped.

-- Posted by Moanah on Sat, Nov 20, 2010, at 2:07 AM
I'm with Cantjustwatch too!!Perfect resolution for ALL of us!!

-- Posted by Lil Miss's Mom on Sat, Nov 20, 2010, at 7:41 PM
Moanah, the problem is that sometimes it's very hard to identify the criminals.

CJW- Here here!

-- Posted by lilmissmelmo on Sun, Nov 21, 2010, at 10:44 AM
Sorry, I was so focused on writing the last blog, I didn't give my vote. AYE! I say that would end the problem. If you have no bomb attached to your "junk" then you are safe! Problem solved!

-- Posted by kimkovac on Sun, Nov 21, 2010, at 11:59 PM
There's other dangers when flying...........Once when I was flying and we were up in the sky and climbing I noticed the flight attendants had a scary look on their faces and were putting things away and flying up and down the aisle. I kept watching and then finally the pilot came on the speaker and said

"the back door didn't get shut"

EEKKKKK !! I was sitting towards the back of the plane......

He went on to say that he was going to take on more speed and more altitude in hopes the door would shut on its own. All I could think of was "am I going to get sucked out the door"

After awhile he came back on and said the door shut on its own and we were safe. What a relief !! However it was short lived because about a half hour later he came back on to tell us we didn't have enough fuel to make it to our destination, but he was hoping to make it to the nearest air port.....

This was the flight from you know where ? I don't want to say from where because then my post will get deleted lol !

The pilot once again came back on an announced we will make it to our destination because of the speed we were flying, we had enough fuel to get there without having to stop else where. To this day I don't know if the pilot was joking or if it all was really true

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Mon, Nov 22, 2010, at 10:54 AM
MsMarylyn: You and the other passengers had some serious angels with divine intervention to have all of that happen! However, I couldn't help but wonder, was it April 1st that day? If so or not, waht a SICK joke.

I mean, we can't say hello to our friend, Jack on a plane without causing a panic, right? God forbid if you have a IBS problem and spend too long in the bathroom. I had a friend with this exerience. How embaressing to keep saying, "No, I'm fine. Really, I'm okay. You are going to do what?" Rushing to finish, "No need to force open the door. I'm finishing!" "Lady, I have just deposited something that smells like death warmed over, so I wouldn't want to have that filtering through the air system! Okay! You asked for it. I'm opening the door!" Poor, poor passengers were grabbing the barf bags, breathing in and out; while several pleaded for the masks to fall for some relief. Hilarious! And yes, it really was a friend! It was! Have a great happy Thanksgiving!

-- Posted by kimkovac on Wed, Nov 24, 2010, at 5:04 AM

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