Security Theatre
Security Theatre
On the heels of glider pilot Robin Fleming being wrongfully incarcerated in South Carolina, I felt compelled to say a few things about the state of security in the US. Here we have a 70-year-old glider pilot who was such a threat to national security that he was cuffed and put in jail for 24 hours (the charges were dropped, if he agreed not to file suit). He was accused of over-flying a nuclear power station. How’s that for justice?
The incident with Fleming is a disturbing metaphor for how far this country has strayed from its roots. It seems our government agencies have begun to operate with almost complete impunity in the name of security.
Because of the tragedies of 9/11, aviation has been mercilessly persecuted; airports locked down like prisons; passengers treated like terrorists; airspace restrictions imposed; aviation paranoia propagated. Anytime an airplane goes overhead it is viewed with suspicion – truly sad. And we wonder why student pilot starts are down and why some existing pilots are leaving the fold (admittedly this is only one of the several reasons).
I only hope that time will heal this great national wound, whose epicenter is not NYC, but aviation at-large.
This quote sums up how I feel about the “security theatre” we have placed upon ourselves in this land of the free and home of the brave.
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety” – Benjamin Franklin
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I couldn’t agree more with you. Little by little, out liberties are being taken away. I just wish voters would wake up
Dana,
I know. I hate negative articles, but I felt compelled to help spread the word. Especially since this recent case with Fleming was swept under the rug because he cut a deal to make the case go away. The sheriff’s office got off the hook completely – wrong.
Brent
Agreed – I gaped in disbelief at my computer screen while I read about the glider incident. I know of a few instances where local pilots and their families were detained by armed (not just packing…weapons drawn) CBT agents for “ramp checks”. I witnessed one example and heard of two others from the pilots themselves. As I put myself in the places of these pilots, I shudder to think about agents drawing weapons on my family because they happened to be sitting in a single engine airplane within 50 miles of the Canadian border.
Chris,
Scary stuff indeed!
Brent
I did not know that the charges were dropped if he would not file a lawsuit. Hindsight being 20-20, he should have fought the charges. I am sure fellow pilots would have helped provide a defense fund if needed. It is more than losing our liberties little by little. I believe that in reality we have lost our country. The voters in this country cry for change but vote the same people in term after term. We have become a nation of brain-dead sheeple. I believe we have gotten pretty much beyond help.
Glenn,
I agree, he should have fought it.