I'm with Rourke.
Fear is a terrible thing. In their willingness to accede to restriction of the freedom of others (including their fellow Americans), Americans since 9/11 have made Osama bin Laden look like a genius. I mean, come on, when someone can point, as Rourke has, to the fact that Europeans have a better attitude in this regard, something is seriously wrong here.
Let me ask four questions:
Suppose, my next time through the security screen at USA airport X, I do the usual, politely putting everything including my shoes and my belt and my goddamned 3-1-1 bag on the conveyer belt. However, instead of being my meek sheep imitator, I also loudly complain about the stupidity of TSA, its rules, its treatment of ordinary USA citizens as criminals, etc. In short, I articulate everything that Rourke has, but I do it *at the security checkpoint*, and in a loud enough voice that people in nearby lines will also hear it.
Oh, yes, and I have happened to forget to trim the dark beard I've been letting grow rather shaggy over the last few months. And sticking out of my carryon bag is the book I'm currently reading, it's title (
Arab Seafaring, a book whose subtitle ("In the Indian Oean in Ancient and Early Medieval Times.") is only going to be visible if someone opens the book to the title page.
Here's my four questions:
1. What should happen to me?
2. What will happen to me?
3. What will my fellow "passengers" say/think/do about #1 and #2?
4. What *should* those fellow passengers say/think/do?
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)