Travel is an essential part of our daily lives. Concern has significantly increased recently within the US regarding homeland security. While the majority of American citizens are worried about potential terrorist attacks that may occur in the coming months, a large percentage (47 percent) agree that travel in the United States is safer today than it was on September 11, 2001. In the midst of all this anxiety and concern, the issue of homeland security has citizens acting and responding with more vigilance than ever. With the recent advancements in technology and security tighter than ever before, people are left wondering how the newly adopted policies and procedures in airports and other transportation venues will affect them. Over 100 million American’s fly each year, 12 million Americans travel on cruises, and over 30 million travels by subways and trains. Along with these people, millions of suitcases and carry-on luggage accompany them. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operates at over 700 security checkpoints and nearly 7,000 baggage screening areas nationwide each day. TSA checks passenger manifests against watch lists, conducts random canine searches, and provides air marshals on many flights to increase security. Some security measures are visible, while others are invisible to the public. The bags are screened with cutting edge technology to check for explosives and other dangerous items.
After the most recent scare on Christmas day, airline passengers headed for the United States now face tighter security measures after an attempt to blow up a US jet bound for Detroit. Beginning in January of 2010, TSA has decided to implement even more stringent policies and procedures that have citizens and US bound travelers second guessing the effectiveness of these safety precautions. Random pat-downs prior to boarding, no access to carry-on baggage during flight, an order to stay seated during the last hour of flight are among some of the new rules that will be imposed by TSA, airlines and security officials have reported. Should we assume that terrorists will cease and desist if they don't think they can down a plane in its final hour of flight? Although most of these new policies will only apply to international flights entering the US, a number of domestic airlines have reported that some passengers should also expect flight delays, cancellations, and missed connections.
For a number of minorities, those who are American citizens and those who are just traveling through the US, tighter security measures means more scrutiny for them. We live in a society that’s battling against discrimination, and other issues faced when different cultures, races, and lifestyles interact, and these newly developed security efforts by the TSA are in way affecting globalization on a small scale. The United States is a country that supports the growth of language and communication, technology, economic, and culture exchanges. A large percent of traveling minorities are placed under spotlights because of new processes and constant changes in procedures due to continuous terrorist threats and attacks. The steady changes in the 700 security checkpoints TSA operate at nationwide have negatively affected the way some people view certain races, cultures and religions. The most recent terrorist scare on December 25th of this year has travelers worldwide on edge a bit. However, it seems as if people are constantly finding ways around the system no matter how heightened security becomes. Which leaves me wondering, are the increased security efforts being enforced by the TSA going to help build a safer environment, or are they attempts to mitigate the concern of the citizens?
Sources:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/homeland-security/
http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm
http://www.fathom.com/course/21701714/session1.html
http://airtravel.about.com/cs/safetysecurity/a/HomelandSecurit.htm
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/comments_blog/2009/12/new-tightened-airport-security-measures-janet-napolitano-northwest-airlines-flight.html
http://tvnz.co.nz/travel-news/security-tightened-us-bound-passengers-3319048
http://www.aclu.org/national-security/five-problems-capps-ii
http://cruises.about.com/od/tipsforfirsttimecruises/tp/cruise_myths.htm
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
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