July 22, 2005

TSA Singles Out My Kids as Possible Terrorist Threats

Building on Suzanne's post below and Michelle's observations here, let me tell you what happened on our trip coming to sunny California. My entire family was singled out for security pat down. Twice.

The geniuses at the TSA decided that they had to search my six year old daughter, my three year old son, and my one year old infant. You know, cause terrorists could be anybody.

Just before we boarded plane number 3 (yeah, it took 4 planes to get here) they pulled us off the boarding line to pat us down again. I'm talking the full search on us all, including tearing apart our diaper bag, swabbing our little portable DVD player and Barbie Princess and the Pauper video for bomb residue, and running the metal detector over our one-year old.

I'm thinking it was the flip-flops I was wearing. Or maybe the In-'n-Out Burger tee-shirt. Nothing says terrorist more than that.

Alright, I'm off to the beach. Let's hope the Baywatch lifeguards don't take my pasty-white skin as a tell-tale sign of potential terrorist. And, no, that bulge in my bathing suit is not bomb. I'm just happy to see you.

By Rusty Shackleford, Ph.D. at 01:14 PM | |