After the events of 9/11, the ”shoe bomber” and now the recent “underwear bomber,”
it is obvious that current airport travel security procedures are ineffective and inadequate.
Please read the following article on “Smart Screening” and reflect specifically on the following:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/05/emerson.profiling.smart.screening/index.html
How can the US prevent terrorists from smuggling homemade bombs through security?
How willing would you be as a traveler to go through more extensive screening procedures?
“Smart Screening” is the screening process utilizing watch lists, ethnicity, religion, behavior, and travel history.
How far is too far when it comes to “screening/profiling” people for travel?
Where do you draw the line between civil liberties and security?
What are your personal feelings towards travel and security under these current conditions?
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33 comments:
The security always seems to become strict around big events. Why on earth would someone try to smuggle a bomb when they know the security is going to be strict? I think that no matter what day it is, the security needs to be strict no matter what. As a traveler I would do anything to make sure that I am safe, whether it took fifty security things to go through. For flying, I do not feel there should be a line between civil liberties and security. If it comes between staying alive, or dying in a plane because of poor security, I would rather have to go through all different types of security. In today’s society people will do anything to get what they want, so the security today has got to be stricter then ever. If you want to be safe, why should anyone care how much security it takes to get through?
Homemade lemonade...bombs...we continue to hear about these "radical" (no pun) ways of creating bombs right down to the underwear. The article makes a good point by saying that the terrorists should be stopped before getting on the plane, and not just building the process of removing the weapons. The "Smart Screening" process does sound invasive as described, but who cares? Why not try and see if it is effective? There will always be critics. Screen with some religious/ethnic basis. Critics. Terrorist attack from here to Oklahoma. Critics. Feed the cat dry food. Critics. Now they say that people will be screened for "behavioral signs; appearance; itinerary and travel history; appearance on watch lists; known connections to radical organizations or individuals; and yes, ethnicity and religious identity". By quickly calling it stereotyping, one may be stereotyping the process itself...careful whose toes you step on. So as the article so elegantly put it : "If a child is raped, the first suspects logically are pedophiles." Bah, logically, of course. The pedophiles. We see this in criminal investigations all the time (geographic profiling and psychological profiling), and the thing is, it works. The article acknowledged that the system is not perfect, which is obvious. I wouldn't care about additional screening if it means that my flight will actually land in my destination (not that freaky island from LOST, or something ridiculous). The TSA is trying to create a better system. It is not perfect, and I really doubt it can be. I would actually appreciate a background check on myself and the passengers...if they stop someone for a history of successful suicide bombing, I would be grateful.
The US can prevent terrorists from smuggling bombs onto planes by using the Smart screening procedure discussed in the article. Besides that whole prodcedure, more in depth screening must be used to make sure nobody is hiding any dangerous materials. As a traveler I would be willing to go through more extensive security if it means I will be safer on my flight. There is no "too far" when it comes to airport security because if security makes one mistake, thousands of people can die. Personally, I don't trust security right now because you constantly hear about people sneaking things past security.
Our country is yet again in a state of hysteria when it comes to flying. In order to gain back control we need to show that were taking more extensive measures to keep the citizens safe.
My personal belief is, I'll do whatever is necessary of me, testing wise, to keep me and the country safe. In the end I put me faith in the goverment to take whatever measures they deem necessary to keep us safe.
Bryan Martin Per.2
I think that new screen is something that needs to be done. Its getting to the point where we've have too many attacks or attempts not to do something about it. Personally I wouldn't mind going through more screening but then again I wouldn't be the one hiding the bomb. I think that it would help more if security would use "Smart Screening" with watch lists, ethnicity, religion, behavior, and travel history. Because if they aren't involved in abnormal activity they shouldnt mind the extra checking. It's only going to make our country safer in the long run. Obviously its going to offend other relgions but its a measure that needs to be taken to protect the people boarding U.S airlines.
The US can prevent terrorists from smuggling homemades bombs through security by making tigher security all the time. They Always seem to make security really tight around holidays and special events. If they did this all the time it would lower the risk of having bombs snuck into the US. As a traveler I would be more than willing to go through tighter security to insure my safety. I think that it goes to far for "screening/profiling" when they are contstantly targetting a specific race or ethnicity just because of past events. I think that their should be no line between civil liberties and security because if you want to be safe it shouldnt matter. My personal feelings towards travel and security under these current conditions is that we need to make security tighter and stricter.
Courtney Widmer Per 2
I think security always should be strict. It shouldn't matter weather it's a big event or airport, everyone should be on high watch. Anything can happen at anytime. Even though the secuity in airports are long and annoying and seem very useless, in the end when your on a safe plane it all worth it. I would actually like it more if the security was alittle tight and more strict.
Jackie Saggese
period 8
The Smart screening process seems a little intense, but after all the threats we've seen, it seems neccasary. Airports have the strictest security around important dates for traveling, and the anniversaries of attacks, but what protection do we have on any average day? Terrorists shouldn't even make it as far as the airport because theres always the chance that security wont pick up on some new way they found to hide a bomb. It may seem like an invasion of privacy but if you have nothing to hide it really shouldnt matter. In the long run I think it will keep more people safe.
Julianne Russo per 8
I think the more security in the aiports, the safer we will be. The way some people have gotten bombs on the planes, it cant hurt to have more security. Personally, I would like more security in the airports. A few extra minutes of security checks is not a problem if it will prevent future attacks.
Matt Scicchitano
Airport security could have prevented these incidents. I belive that using "Smart Screening" is a great way to improve security. There should be no line between civil liberties and security. Profiling based upon ethnicity, religion, affiliation, and behavior should be used at every airport in the United States and the rest of the world. Doing "random searches" on mothers and babys and old women do nothing to improve airport security. All the people who comitted or tried to comitt terrorist acts were all arab looking young males. Why not chech those people more insted of hasseling the old people and mothers who are oviously not terrorists.
I honestly think that in times like these, we should be willing to take every measure possible in order to insure our safety. With all of the terrorist problems our country is facing airport security needs to be improved and I don't care what at what cost it is to civil liberties. I want to have the liberty to feel safe and to me that is the most importatnt thing.
Just the other day President Obama was talking about the terrorist bombing attempt on Christmas Day. More needs to be done rather than just saying that it will be done. The US has to prevent terrorists from smuggling homemade bombs by simply devising a better method of searching airline passengers. As much as airports have tried to change over the years it hasn't been enough. I definitely agree with the article which states that a full body scanner needs to be instituted in order to make sure that everyone is scanned from head to toe. After 9/11, I would do anything to ensure myself a safe traveling experience. I would rather have airports have several screening stations instead of one poor ineffective way of checking what passengers are carrying. I do not think that anything could be too extreme when it comes to traveling. People shouldn't need to worry about risking their lives in order to go on vacation or to visit family friends. I know a lot of people would say that this has gone to far and that it isn't fair to subject a certain race to extra checking but it's not like the security officials are targeting them. They are just trying to make sure that everyone else is safe. Civil liberties and security at times might need to conflict with each other. I'd rather lose one of my rights by going through extra security at an airport than dying. In today's society many people could care less to what others have to say so security officials need to take extra precautions to ensure that what they say is followed. I feel like "Smart Screening" procedures should be installed right away because I'm sick of hearing of the innocent individuals who lost their lives due to terrorist's bringing a bomb on an airplane.
Gabriella Sehne, Period 8
I am no securities expert so for me to say how to stop terrorists from entering our country would be near impossible for me. However, I am willing to be double screened and full body examined if it means I could be safer. Also, smart screening seems like a step in the right direction and a useful tool as well. I'm not sure where I draw the line, but I have nothing to hide so I don't care about being searched. I am fine with traveling and I will continue to do it.
Chris Grenzig pd 2
This is really a hard question to answer. I dont believe it is right to catagorize all middle easterners as threats to the United States, but I feel like it would be the safest thing to do. But it is not even just limited to the middle east right now. The man who tried to blow up the plane was from Nigeria, Africa. He had Al-Qaeda ties. The safest thing to do would be just to completely revamp the security process so that everyone from wherever you are is screened the same way. If you are on a terrorist watch list like he and 400,000 other people in this world, they should go through a more thorough search like a frisk or something. I actually wouldnt even allow them to fly to the US. If i had to go through more screening that would be alright. I mean i normally sit in the terminal for about 2 hours anyway.
Flying used to be something people did religiously, but now, its more of a fear than a want. I do feel that the security procedures done in the airports need to improve greatly. I think that body scanners should be a requirement and would help us detect more of these surprise bombs that we're not seeing in the security scans now. Honestly,. I like traveling and don't really mind all the extra security checks and if anything, it only makes you feel safer knowing no one has anything. When it's to the point of a strip search, I think you are then violating a persons' rights because that is something personal that shouldn't be done; unless you are from out of then country, then I feel that you can be because there is more suspition leaning on them.
When it comes to keeping us safe, the United States needs to do whatever necessary, even if it means profiling. As a traveler, I would have no problem going through extensive screenings because I have nothing to hide. I believe as long as everything our security is doing is keeping us safe, there is no such thing as going too far. If people feel this is violating their civil liberties: don't fly. Besides the long lines that will most likely come along with these new security changes, I have no problem with it what so ever.
Safety. It's not really safe if there's no guarantee. I think that airport security- store security- school security- any PUBLIC security should be maximized if we know our country's going to be under this kind of pressure. They aren't going to stop their attacks now, only make them more advanced and harder to be caught. I think we should forget anything anyone has every said about rights when it comes to being secure; lose rights for safety- you know how much you'd end up gaining off that God forbid anything ever did happen?
The US can try to prevent terrorists from smuggling homemade bombs through security however they want, but I feel that no matter what, they will never come up with a fool proof plan. If a terrorist knows that security targets Middle-eastern men, they will obviously send an english woman. If they know that they will have to walk through a metal detector, than they will not carry anything on them that is metal. They will always find a way around the system that is in place. However, this doesn't mean stop all the current security systems. I'm not really sure what the answer is, but I am willing to try whatever they feel can make me even a little bit safer. I'll wait on however many lines for however long I have to. it is well worth it to me.
Overall I’m not completely sure how the US can prevent terrorists from smuggling homemade bombs through security, however maybe taking the time to look at more people closely may help. It is possible, however not necessarily, that a person who has a bomb won’t be acting like everyone else in the airport. The person may seem nervous, or may look around a lot. I am very willing to go through more extensive screening procedures because I believe that this may help the safely of planes, and a few extra minutes is nothing compared to being in danger. I think “Smart Screening” is a good thing because it can help security. Just by watching security may be able to see something that they wouldn’t have noticed if they weren’t paying as attention enough. Although, I think it is going too far to check only people or certain ethnicity or religion. I think that everyone should be checked thoroughly, and only checked more than someone else if they looked like they were acting different. I think the security right now is pretty decent, but can still be improved immensely.
Jackie Loveland
Period 8
I think that if the US wants to prevent more terrorist attacks, which it should, they have to step up their security. As a passanger it probably would be annoying to go through all that security but it's better to be safe than sorry, and i think that once i was on the plane i would feel safer. I don't think that screening or profiling should be such a big issue. I have nothing against Islamic people but their track record doesn't really state the best for them. We have to learn from history so that it doesn't repeat, and unfortunalty only a few select groups tend to be associated with terrorism. Personally i like to travel and i usually go to florida each year. I like when security takes extra percautions even if that means me waiting in line longer because it makes me feel much safer.
Profiling is always a touchy issue. But in this case, I think it's somewhat of a neccesary evil. Stopping terrorists rather than stopping terrorists' weapons is definitely a good plan, and if profiling helps keep the majority safe, I think the government should go for it. Nobody HAS to get on a plane to get where they're going - if they don't like the extra waiting time because of tighter security, they can go ahead and take a train or a boat. Civil liberties are nice, but staying alive is better.
Steph Chocko Period 8
Ever since 911, security has been tight. Ever since the first "homemade" bomb incident, security ahs been tight. I believe that the goverment should do whatever is necessary to keep individuals safe. Unforunitly, people will find ways to get around security, but hopefully our protection is well trained and prepared. I think that smart screening may be neccessary to keep us safe. At times it may seem disciminating, but saftey is neccessary. I think that security is good at airports and they can never be too careful. I feel that civil liberties can be broken when it comes to being protected. Maybet that is because i would never do anything " bad", but i would never want anything bad to happen to anyone else. Liberties should not be done inappropriatly, but just taken care of.
I think that terrorist are going to come in to this country no matter what we do. It is easy enough for them to hide it. We tighten up security around 911 but terrorist are not going to attack us again on that date because they know people are more alert on that day. I dont think people should take profileing affensive at all because security is just trying to help make the country safer. i think that they should be aloud to profile and search as many people as they want because its better to be safer then sorry and have a horrible attack on this country again. This country is not ready for another attck and the economy is not stable enough for it.
I think that airport security has been pretty strict, but there are a few flaws. I think the U.S. has the intelligence to make some sort of chemical detecting device that will alert authorities. As a traveler I would be willing to go through extensive screening to ensure my safety on a plane. I rather wait an extra hour or two so I can keep my life out of harms way. I think there is a line that shouldn’t be crossed. Since some of the countries in the Middle East have come out in public saying down with America, I believe people from the Middle East should be screened but not anymore then anyone else. I think everyone should extensively be screened. You never know who can do what. I think security should tighten up and be more extensive and thorough.
Kevin Schlakman
Period 2
I honestly think our security strength cycles like our economy. Security needs to be ontop of everyone so taht way there is no possible threat what-so-ever. I would go through anything I had to to ensure my own safety. I feel Smart Screening isn't a bad thing. It's thorough and may be what we need. The only time things would not be ok to me, is if one was being tortured just because of suspicion. Now would not be a time I would enjoy traveling because I'm scared of all the recent happenings.
Security needs to definatly be tight. I don't care how tight it gets unless they start making it so that everybody has to strip naked and be checked like that to get into a plane. If they don't cross that line, I'd say im perfectly fine with a super security check to stop those terroist bastards from trying to bomb us. Who wouldnt?
I think that security is always going to be an issue, and we can't start giving up all our freedoms to deal with it. We should give up some because its only reasonable, however, there are others that just go a little overboard. If someone looks like they're doing something suspicious then they should be searchedand everything like that, but normal people that are doing nothing wrong should not be punished and inconvienced for the actions of others. Its just not fair.
US security needs to step up on travling security after these recent attacks. However, it neccessary to be precautious in how we boost security. I think full body scanners are smart idea since we have been shown terrorist will go to any extent to complete their task. On the other hand picking out people with "smart screening" will cause a lot mahem when people are screened based off of ethnicity. That everyone should be screened equal unless for non prejudious reasons. I feel as long as I am safe it shouldn't matter how long I have to go through security.
Under certain circumstances security precautions must be taken. When acts of terrorism, such as the “underwear bomber” take place the TSA tightens security. But once time passes things slowly return to the way they used to be, with a few more rules. I think that after the first attack on 9/11 whole body scanners should have been put in place as well as the idea of “smart screening”. It may seem invasive but I’d rather be safe on a plane in the air and not have to worry about sitting next to the suicide bomber. Islamic groups are highly targeted because their history and religious beliefs. Unfortunately, because of a specific group the entire ethnicity is looked upon as a threat. But, as country that is threatened every day I feel we need to whatever needs to be done. If I have to stand on line for another hour I won’t mind, because I would feel much better knowing that security is doing their job efficiently and effectively.
I think that peoples rights should be, not disregarded, but they shouldn't have to worry about a specific persons constitutional rights when saftey is a factor. I honestly feel that security should do what ever it needs to do to ensure that we are safe from terrorists.
After 9/11, I would do anything to ensure myself a safe traveling experience. I would rather have airports have several screening stations instead of one poor ineffective way of checking what passengers are carrying. I do not think that anything could be too extreme when it comes to traveling. People shouldn't need to worry about risking their lives in order to go on vacation or to visit family friends. I know a lot of people would say that this has gone to far and that it isn't fair to subject a certain race to extra checking but it's not like the security officials are targeting them. They are just trying to make sure that everyone else is safe. Civil liberties and security at times might need to conflict with each other.
I think it's ridiculous that people are making such a big deal about this. I would rather go through extra precautions and KNOW that I am safe. And if you have nothing to hide, then why make a big deal about it? I think it's a good thing that security is becoming more strict. At this rate, we really need it. Especially with the underwear bomber, etc. These things are really important and very necessary for our safety.
There can never be too much security when it comes to protecting the people of our country. I don't mind going through more extensive screening procedures if it means everyone being safe. I think personally that security checks should be located on the outskirts of airports, intead of around the middle. By doing this, if there were to still be a terrorist attack, less people would be hurt and killed, and the airport would be a safer place.
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