1. The 4th amendment protects Americans from unreasonable searches. 
2. Their is no evidence that current security procedures are effective.  The government has not established metrics or published data showing that TSA procedures reduce terrorism.
3. Israeli experts in airport security criticize TSA procedures for being wasteful and misdirected.  We can have effective security without racial profiling!

Passing through airport security is aggravating, humiliating, and sometimes scary.  I travel frequently, often waiting up to an hour to pass through the metal detector.  I approach the machine half-undressed.  My possessions, sorted in buckets, pass through the scanner.  One TSA official hollers at me “Take your computer out of its bag!”  Another official yells “Walk through the metal detector!”  They notice potential contraband in my valise.  It’s not a gun.  It’s not a bomb.  It’s drinking water!  Prepare to be detained.

They pull this same routine on an old man.  The let him off easy, on account of his wheelchair, only robbing him of his shaving cream. 

They pull the same routine on the nun.  She’s got something up her sleeve!  “Stand there spread-eagle!”  The wand goes up her thighs and over her breasts, detecting a concealed crucifix.

At no time during the security screening process does anyone ask my name.  The teenager checking boarding passes doesn’t ask “Where are you travelling to?”  The TSA agent doesn’t ask “Are you carrying weapons?”  They look at my identification, like zombies, but never confirm the details:  “What is your address sir?  How old are you?” 

No!  The TSA is looking for bombs.  They look in your shoes.  They look in your purse.  They look under your turban.  And now they can squeeze your tits and look in your pants.   This stupid, reactionary farce has made America a laughingstock, while the bad guys cook up new schemes to blow us up.

Tell the Transportation Security Agency that you demand more reasonable, practical and effective security procedures at airports.  Stop looking for bombs in our underwear.  Start interviewing people.  And watch.

“Dad! Something truly amazing has happened! You’ll never guess!”

“What?”

“Guess!”

“What?!”

“Guess!!”

Usually this game of call & response lasts for a few minutes before I lose patience and yell at her. This time, Segunda was so excited she blurted out her answer.

“Dad! Remember my hair stylist, William? Well. He got a sex-change and now her name is Willa!”

“Hmm. Is that so? You know something duaghter, you’re right! That is amazing.”

Segunda ran off to telephone her friends to tell them the great news. My wife appeared to provide more details about their encounter with Willa.  She nearly wept as she described Segunda hugging Willa goodbye and thanking her for the beautiful hair-do. (Transgender barbers do create great hair styles)

What makes this story amazing to me, is not that a he-she hairstylist works in our local salon. Ho hum. That’s not so uncommon. I like the fact that my 8 year-old literally embraced her. She didn’t see anything abnormal.

Why is that?

Last year, my 12 year old (then 11) and her friend were watching De Grassi High School in their secret clubhouse, while I puttered around nearby. I overheard this classic bit of conversation:

Friend asks, “Why did that guy call the other guy, faggot?”

Prima replies. “Because. This show is from the 80’s. People were prejudiced against gays in the 80’s.”

“Oh!” replies the friend with absolute naivety.

People were prejudiced against gays in the 80’s? Like that’s a thing of the past.

I’ve known a lot of homos who were beat up, thrown out, disowned by their parents, abandoned by their friends, kicked out of their jobs, ostracized, mistreated and abused. (That’s no way to treat people) Take heart if that’s happening to you! There are little girls in San Francisco who think you’re all right.

1. No guilt. No embarassment. No shame.
2. All people are entitled to their dignity.
3. Restore chivalry.

Principle #1 is my mantra: “No guilt. No embarassment. No shame.” It’s natural to sometimes feel these emotions, but they don’t really serve any purpose. You are encouraged to move beyond them as quickly as possible. In future posts, I’ll explain how to do this.

Principle #2 means you should treat people with respect. That doesn’t mean that an occasional off-color joke is off limits. It also doesn’t mean that you have to love everybody. I’m not a freaking hippie! You can believe whatever you want to believe. Just don’t go around degrading people.

By the way, a substantial portion of this blog will be devoted to the Arab-Israeli conflict. I hope to demonstrate principle #2 as I offer pointed analyses of the situation. How will I call-out the terrorists and theocrats and fascists and hypocrites without offending people? I won’t. I’ll probably offend lots of you with my opinions. But, I won’t degrade people.

Principle #3 is admittedly old-fashioned, but it’s good for society. Rude boy is out. Bushido is in. That’s the code of the Samurai. Harry Truman expressed it succinctly: “Walk softly but carry a big stick”.

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