BY-NC-SA We have sacrificed a lot for a false sense of security. We, as a nation, have allowed the fear of terror attacks to justify all sorts of invasions of privacy, as well as some of our constitutional rights.
I have lost ounces of refreshing beverages, hygiene products, and even a little dignity to air safety. But the agony and audacity of traveling has made me believe that we are sliding on a slippery slope towards a total police state. Recent suggestions from a retired US military general confirmed my fears.
On a Fox News program, retired Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney suggested that all Muslim men ages 18-28 be strip searched before boarding planes. The Fox News Host did call the idea outrageous.
More after the jump...
I am convinced that if such measures were to be put in place, it would cause numerous problems without making us any safer from terrorist plots. And those actions could damage airline industry. A lot more people, including myself, will take to the roads and railways to avoid undue scrutiny based on religion and/or culture. How do you differentiate between a Muslim and a non-Muslim? Is religious identification the next step--along with your birthday--to buy an airline ticket? How long before we start suggesting the strip searching of Muslim women?
While the threat of terror is real, they are not limited to international sources. Domestically, Americans are vulnerable to maniacs who attack shopping malls, office spaces, abortion clinics, and school campuses. Strip Searching Muslim males would not stop these attacks. This is a path that we cannot afford to venture down because the pavement is both slippery, and rocky. While I am not a military official or soldier who “fights for our freedoms,” I recognize that such measures undermine the very freedoms being fought for. Humiliation is NOT a real weapon against terror.
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