cbs2chicago.com - Fliers Complain About X-Rated Security Screenings

cbs2chicago.com - Fliers Complain About X-Rated Security Screenings

AIRPORT SECURITY

Except in an emergency, I don’t fly anymore. I was born an American citizen, I have a college degree, am an active member of the South Dakota Bar Association, was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army as a Captain in the JAG Corps, was a Special Assistant Attorney General in South Dakota, was Executive Assistant to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, Deputy Undersecretary and HHS, chaired the White House Working Group on Agent Orange and had so many security clearances I can’t remember all of them. Airport security, with my social security number and drivers license, can access enough of this information to feel comfortable passing me on to my flight terminal. He or she might even say, “Have a nice trip, Sir.” Instead I get to have my bag searched, my shoes removed, my billfold pitched on a conveyor belt , and a few other indignities.
My friend of 50 years, Sheldon Songstad, has been one of South Dakota’s most respected businessmen, was a state senator and chaired the finance committee for many years, was chairman of the state fair, and has an unimpeachable reputation for honesty and integrity. Returning home from California several months ago, he was pulled out of a flight line as a terrorist suspect. His crime—he purchased a one way ticket only 36 hours in advance of the flight. He had been in California for heart bypass surgery and was returning home to Sioux Falls after a long recuperation. He was treated as a criminal, physically searched, and his luggage, including his medicines, was roughly handled. Sheldon Songstad, Norwegian in heritage, a great grandfather, and a well known respected business man subjected to such indignities. All of this could have been easily avoided.

THIS IS NOT AMERICA–IT REMINDS ME MORE OF THE SOVIET UNION DURING THE HEYDAY OF COMMUNISM. It seems that the only thing missing at airport security is a gulag.

Why is it that Israel has a much better and less intrusive system than does America? Why aren’t we using their system—it’s certainly less expensive and less intrusive.

9-11 was an excuse to turn America into a police state. If memory serves 18 of the 21 participants in 9-11 were Saudis. Americans are insulted daily, yet a few weeks ago I saw a picture of the President walking hand in hand with the Saudi king. I guess in his own mind he has his priorities straight.

I think America is at a tipping point. We can either return to being the “land of the free and the home of the brave”, or to get lost in the historical garbage bin of failed democracies. Jim