I am generally sympathetic to our country’s crackdowns on terrorists and suspected terrorists. I support the Patriot Act. I grin and bear the added security (as annoying as it can be) at airports, museums, government buildings, and so on. But this commentary piece in the Post by Diana Abu-Jaber illustrates just one example of what we are doing wrong.
Stupid behavior like continually stopping one woman who is clearly not a terrorist every time she attempts to reenter the United States—her home country—is unacceptable. As is destroying people’s film by refusing to do a hand check (ask Melissa about this one). I’m willing to make a lot of sacrifices for security when appropriate and necessary, but innocent Americans should not have trouble every time they enter an airport for something as innocuous as having an Arabic-sounding name.
Newsflash: Mindlessly and unnecessarily harassing law-abiding citizens will not help stop terrorism.
- What’s in A Name? Ask This Traveler (Washington Post, free registration may be required).