Flying and Fascism

I recently flew to California to combine a visit with my family and a working meeting on the screenplay of my book.  Going through security has always been an ordeal for me as I have two artificial knees and one artificial foot, so I beep a lot.  However, I am used to the pat downs and always allow extra time for this.  What I was not ready for were the secondary security procedures.

Now just because some guy tried to blow up a plane with stuff shoved in his underwear, does not mean that every single person flying has to have every last bit of belongings checked not once but twice.  Common sense should prevail at some point.

After going through security, I noticed a large seating area cordoned off; it was where I usually sat and many people were standing as there were not enough seats without those being available.

“Why are those seats roped off?” I asked a security person.

“Those are for secondary security,” he answered.

“Secondary what?”

I watched as two other tables were set up – one for men and one for women; each person travelling had to be submitted to further searches.  Every single thing was checked; individual coins in a coin purse, a beautiful woman with long blonde hair had her hair lifted up and examined, everyone, including very young children had a total pat down. 

I left my gum in my pocket by mistake.  “We need to check your gum, ma’am.”  They checked my gum.  Belts were undone, the bottom of our shoes were lifted up to be examined – for what I have absolutely no idea.

I watched a young four year old in a bright yellow t-shirt being subjected to a total pat-down.  What does this teach our youngsters about our world?  She was a sweet little girl, well behaved and probably came away from the experience not trusting a soul.

“What are you reading?”  I looked up to see a security guard checking my literature choice.  I told him and he asked further questions about the book and then carried on to ask other people about their choices.

I asked the flight agent if the security people have ever found anything since they started doing this.

“No,” she replied.

“Somehow I don’t feel any safer,” I said.

“Me neither,” she concurred.

“How long will they keep doing this?” I asked.

“Oh, it’s on a day to day basis now,” she shook her head in disgust.

Once we were patted and checked to the ultimate degree, we were ushered into the cordoned off sitting area.  Only people who had gone through the secondary security were allowed to sit there, and you had to sit there before you were allowed to board the plane.  All for a little twenty minute flight to Seattle.

I kept waiting for a surprise tertiary security.  But I guess security felt they had earned their pay.  It took twice as long to go through security than it did to fly from Victoria to Seattle.

I fear we are entering a time of fascism and I worry for my country, for the people, for the young ones.  What is the message coming from all of this?  Will my writing soon be censored?  Will they take away my gum?  Where are we going with all of this?  And why?