by Thomas Purcell

Created on: November 22, 2010

The story of the intrusive searches by the TSA at airports continues daily, as more and more people grow disturbed with the specter of living in a police state; but many are missing the more important issue.

 The President yesterday issued a brief statement about the growing controversy, saying 'their really was no better way'. The TSA chief added to that, stating that although some refinements may be made, essentially the pat downs are going to stay, no matter how many or how much people howl.Obviously, there is some disparity in the way government perceives the problem and the way the average American does. And that's the REAL problem- that government feels that it is smarter, better equipped, and better educated about how to handle airport security. Most importantly, government acts like it has a right to do what it wants, regardless of the will of the people, or how ridiculous the situation may spin out of control. It views Americans as the problem- and not the terrorists. 

The issue of airport and air travel security is not new, either to America, or the world. For almost as long as Americans have traveled by air, there have been hijackings, bombings and terrorist threats to travelers. As each air attack has hit the industry, government has sought ways to prevent and stop more attacks. From an historical point of view, almost all have failed, and yet the security continues to increase. 

 Much to the terrorists delight, of course.

 The goal of terrorism is not blow up planes, that is merely the mechanism of their attack. Terrorism, particularly terrorism against capitalist nations like America, seeks to disrupt and destroy trade, and personal freedoms. The very concept of individual freedoms, is hateful to those who stand for Islamic fundamentalism. They view an individual acting with free will, as a threat not only to their power, but also to their religion of control and self sacrifice to their leadership. The concept of individualism stands in direct opposition to religious fanaticism, which gains strength when the individual acquiesces to the will of the whole. 

Thus, when they attack air travel, they do not need to actually blow anything up, or destroy anything; only the potential of it happening is enough for their goals. In panicked fashion, we blockade our own air ports of entry, we bend the 4th Amendment rights of citizens, we infuriate the population against our own

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