Friday, June 25, 2010

on being modular, III

(I & II)

In order to make us feel safe, the TSA abuses a young mother and terrifies her child - just because she's an amputee.

I found it interesting that Peggy and I both described our security theater experiences as humiliating. Though, really, what other word would be as apt when you're being treated like a criminal and forced to feel completely vulnerable in front of strangers? (Just about any female amputee will tell you she feels more exposed when she's sans prosthetic than even when she's totally in the buff.) *

But now, motivated by anger and a desire to help other amputees, she's joined with the Amputee Coalition to say "Enough is enough." (Thank you!)

*Before traveling, I would suggest that all people with disabilities go to www.tsa.gov and do a little research. Find the guidelines for your particular disability or medical equipment, and PRINT THEM OUT. Bring this paper with you when you go through airport security, just in case a TSA worker decides to ad lib their own rules.

18 comments:

T said...

If she lived in my town I would work overtime if needed to put her story on the front page of my paper.

They tell her four-year-old not to talk to her and then they possibly infect her medical equipment?

And Breda, enlighten me...what's a "devotee"?

breda said...

A creepy amputee fetishist. Ugh.

Lissa said...

I'm sure you know this without being told, but you're obviously more together and whole than a whole sh*t-ton of people who were born with all their flippers attached. :)

My first impulse reading the story was to wish I'd been there to snap pictures -- so I could email them to Peggy to help with her official complaint and bureaucrat ass-kicking. And then delete them from my phone as she watched. But she'd probably assume I was a freakish devotee and it wouldn't have been helpful.

Old NFO said...

That is pathetic, idiotic and a bunch of other words I won't use here... I have learned (carrying guns), that even when you have printed copies of their procedures, they refuse to acknowledge them...

Kristophr said...

Old NFO: Providing these retards copies of their own rules helps when you sue the pants off them afterward.

Robert said...

They're cops. Ad libbing the rules is S.O.P.

SpeakerTweaker said...

I just don't have words enough to describe how awfully I feel for her. I, well I just don't.

IN order to make us feel safe...

Strangely enough, now I feel even less safe than before.



tweaker

Anonymous said...

I've linked to this story. I agree. Print out copies of their own rules. Carry a small digital camera and tape recorder. Finally, refuse to do things that might put yourself at risk.

Be polite, be firm, be early, but do make a pleasant, polite fuss. The worst thing that can happen is you'll have to get another flight. Money can be replaced.

Anonymous said...

Fast-food rejects with police powers, again.

Jim

Anonymous said...

Outrageous. I tweeted a link to the article not that I have many followers but the word should get out. I was just in the airport the other day watching TSA, biting my tongue the entire time at the ridiculousness, the incompetence. All my anger at the 9-11 murderers comes back every time I walk through the screening area. And now reading something like this? Seethe.

John Richardson said...

@Robert

They're cops. Ad libbing the rules is S.O.P.

They are NOT cops. They are wannabe cops which makes them many times worse. Most of them could never get through a small town police academy much less a major urban one.

The TSA is one of the worst mistakes W ever made.

Anonymous said...

TSA
=
FAIL!

That is infuriating.
Maddening..

Neutrino Cannon said...

What would Darth Vader do?

Bubblehead Les. said...

Well, Darth Obama finally got an ex-FBI Director who had over 25 years with the Bureau to run the TSA. Maybe the new guy will be able to increase the competency by..oh, I don't know,,1-2%, maybe?

Murphy's Law said...

I've found as a BKA that I need to assert myself when approaching the TSA clowns. I don't let them improvise the rules on the spot simply because they don't know them--I try to corral one who looks somewhat senior and competent (which is tough, because, hey--it's TSA. It's like trying to find three wise men and a virgin at a DNC Christmas party.) and then I explain the situation and let them know how I expect it to be handled. None have given me any trouble yet, but I'm waiting for the day that I have to remove my leg and go upside some overpaid life-failure's head with it. (Accidentally, of course.)

And Robert, TSA gate guard have never been, are not, and will never be cops. But you might want to tone down the cop-hate, because there's a lot of really good ones who read this and other associated sites, and you just might need one someday.

Justthisguy said...

Auties and Aspies have a lot of trouble with these bozos, too. The "attitude inspectors" and behavioral profilers don't understand the socially-weird folks, in fact I betcha the TSA guys gave such people swirlies in school, and otherwise bullied them.

Oh, @Me: Sturgeon's Law applies to cops, as it does to everything else.

Justthisguy said...

I just looked at the TSA site. Under "Hidden Disabilities", there is no mention of neural divergence. (Autistic, Trisomy-21, Rett's syndrome, usw.)

Home on the Range said...

I see she shut down the blog post because of nasty anonymous comments from people that really don't know her, or her life.

I know how that feels.

Thanks for posting it.