This morning I had the privilege of being scanned by the new back scatter x-ray machine at Charlotte - Douglass Airport in Charlotte, NC. Now this is my first time through the new machine, so I don't know how long a scan takes. I realize that Mr. TSA man stands there and scans thousands of people and knows how long it takes until the scan is completed; He may even have a light that flashes when it is ready. So Mr. TSA man, when you tell me to step into the scanner and raise my arms with my face facing away from you, and 10 seconds later you say O.K to someone else (some one I can't see), how am I supposed to know that you are not talking to me and the scan is not completed? Just wondering.
And what did I get for my inappropriate and "threatening" stepping out of the machine before the scan completed? A very ugly attitude from Mr. TSA man and a full (and I mean full) body pat down. I realize that 45 year old Presbyterian pastors with three children are very dangerous, but this was a little much.
Compare US security with the Israelis? No comparison. In 2007, I really did have the privilege of going to Israel for two weeks. My experience with Israeli security was superb. They were very serious and thorough, but there was never an attitude. As it has been said, Israeli's look for terrorists while the TSA looks for weapons. Thus 85 year old grandmothers can be made to take off their diapers in American airports. Wouldn't happen in Israel. By my opinion, Israel has the better and safer system.
Today was another reminder why I want to get my PPL. I sure would like to get in a 172 and fly where I want to go and avoid the pat downs and poor attitudes that you run into with the screening process when flying the scheduled airlines. I will fly 1 day!
