Still, I would like to offer a humble proposal for airport security. My proposal is a compromise between what I really want, and a security program too limp-wristed to bring order to a kindergarten playground.
What I actually want is…nothing. Just stop reacting to the actions of terrorists. What did the Brits do during the Battle of Britain? They continued to live their lives as normal as they could. I remember several years ago visiting an exclusive tailor’s shop in London. The front of the shop still clearly showed shrapnel damage from German bombs. The shop had no intention of repairing it, and was proud of having conducted business as close to normal as possible throughout the war.I would like the opportunity to be as brave, but unfortunately my government has decided that I must cower as they protect me from the fingernail clippers and shampoo bottles of my fellow passengers.
I understand the government wants to appear it is proactive, doing something, anything. In today’s nanny state, a government must do something about every problem, but I do not understand why the government is against profiling. I do it all the time. As I have written, my hobby is rabbit hunting. What would happen if the next time I went out in the desert to thin the hare herd if I didn’t profile?
“Yes, your honor. I shot two dogs, a pickup, and a steer, but at least I wasn’t profiling.”
My actual proposal is small, I want to empower the most effective security force in aviation today; the passengers. The only hijacked plane that failed to reach its intended target on 9/11 was brought down by the passengers. Both the shoe bomber and the underwear bomber were stopped by passengers. This despite the fact that all our security measures have done to date is disarm the passengers.
This is why I want to rearm the passengers. No, not with guns, I have no illusions that TSA will suddenly allow the stewardess to walk down the aisle saying, “Coffee, tea, thirty-eight?”
No, my proposal is a return to basics: Rocks. As the passengers board the plane, hand each of them a rock. One about the size of a baseball. Imagine the shoe bomber. Now imagine the shoe bomber being hit with 110 rocks. Crisis over. Ask yourself, if you are on a plane that someone is attempting to hijack, which would you prefer? A Sky Marshall somewhere on the plane who will probably try to reason with the hijacker while not injuring his self esteem? Or a plane load of people winding up to release a blizzard of 2 pound fast balls? There will be no need to subdue the would-be hijacker, he will be the lump under the pile of rocks.
No training is necessary, we all know how to use rocks, and as a society, we use them responsibly most of the time. I mean, you don’t have to build a fence around your rock garden to prevent a mass stoning. Even in Massachusetts you can carry a rock without a permit. Rocks are cheap, natural, renewable, and I guess they fit the definition of green.
America is at war with a fundamentalist Stone Age enemy with the brains of gravel. To fight them, America should return to the original missile defense system. Clearly, rocks are the perfect weapon. Let our motto be: Keep Calm and Carry On A Rock.
I agree on the efficiency of Airport Security. I work in security, and find the checkpoint at airports to be, at best, a joke. If a person wants to get a weapon onto an aircraft this is not very difficult. I'll not give pointers, as assholes are free to read this, but it is not complicated.
ReplyDeleteThe only way to prevent violence abord is to have people on board who can intervene. This I have done myself on one occation, when an intoxicated person attacked a stewardess... sorry "Flight attendant".
The best defence against airplane violence, in my experience is large, experienced gentlemen on planes.
Not a bad idea. So my question is -are- rocks still allowed in carry-on luggage? Because I don't remember seeing them on the list of banned items last time I flew.
ReplyDeleteThe "Carry On" sign was not actually used in WW2, England printed them to be used in case of German Invasion! Since they were never actually invaded, they never distributed them.
ReplyDeleteGiven the current state of fear, if America was facing invasion, our posters would probably read; "When in danger, or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout!"
That works. I also submit that a 3' long rubber self-pleaser as available from Eros might be the sort of thing noone would confiscate, and I guarantee it would be not only combat effective, but morale-shattering.
ReplyDeleteOver a dozen people have written me asking if rocks are legal to carry on. What in the world is going on when people honestly don't know if they are allowed to carry a rock?
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