2006 Soap Box Archives

Flying 08/21/06

I have a cross-country flight coming up soon and Ive already started
dreading it. Not the actual flight itself but the aggravating preamble to
getting on the plane. Getting your ticket, checking your luggage and going
through the security checkpoint.

Personally I want all the security I can be given and I certainly am not
knocking the harried security personnel who put up with a lot. It's just
that I think a lot could be done to hurry things along.

First of all, it's maddening to stand in a long line and see two or three of
the checkpoints closed down. Why even spend the money to have metal
detectors and such if you're not going to man them during peak hours.

Secondly, I think the lines should be allocated as to how many pieces of
carry on luggage you have. One piece in this line, two in that line and so
on and if you're only carrying a book or a small purse there should be a
line for that.

This would move things along considerably. The people who are willing to
take the time to pick up their luggage on the other end of the flight could
be processed faster, thus encouraging travelers not to bring so much carry
on. Isn't that what this is all about anyway?

There has been a lot said about profiling the A.C.L.U. and the Ted Kennedy
Democrats almost have a heart attack if it's even seriously mentioned.

Well first of all, I seriously doubt if Mr. Kennedy does much flying on
commercial airlines anyway so he doesn't have a dog in this fight and
insofar as the A.C.L.U. is concerned everybody should know by now that it's alright for us to take a chance on a plane load of people being blown out of the sky, just as long as we don't offend anybody.

This is nonsense and people can argue from now until the Cubs win the World Series that you don't necessarily have to look like a Middle Easterner to commit an act of terrorism. Just how many acts of terrorism have happened around the world in the last few years that haven't been done by somebody who looked like a Middle Easterner?

There have been a few but even the most liberal among you must admit that the odds are just too one sided to ignore. So I think security should have the right to stop and search anybody they want to, race and ethnic origin notwithstanding.

As out of touch as I am with technology even I have to admit that the
electronic ticket is a step forward and a time saver but think about this.
What if, when you make your reservations, you were issued, by mail, a hard
ticket and two luggage tags? You would have your ticket in hand and your
luggage could be collected at the curb, sent through security and put on the proper flight.

Sound simple? It is, probably too simple for a bureaucracy to ever adopt.

Pray for our troops.

What do you think?

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels

 

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