Where does security concious become paranoia?

[David43515]

With all the remembrances of 9-11 going on lately and the possability of anniverary attacks of some kind I understand people being on edge. But when does it cross the line? So far this week we`ve had two seperate stories of people being lead off planes in handcuffs and held for questioning (one of the planes was escorted to it`s destination by two F-16s and the other was diverted to a different airport where it sat for 4 hours). The "suspicious activity" that made them a risk to freedom and democracy? They spent too much time in the bathroom.

Here`s a link to a story about one of the people held for questioning. http://news.yahoo.com/passenger-cuffed-searched-over-appearance-003800344.html Not only was she not doing anything suspicious, but she wasn`t traveling with the people that the flight crew were freaked out about. They just had the seat next to hers. So she wound up getting hancuffed, strip searched, questioned by Homeland Security and the FBI, and after they said she didn`t do anything wrong they STILL took her fingerprints before they let her go. I`m moving back to the States in April, but I wonder if I`ll even recognize the place.

 

[seasoned]

For the most part I feel that our freedoms are still intact. Some inconveniences maybe, but still better then most other countries. There has always been a price on that freedom, but I do fear that the price is going up.

 

[MJS]

With all the remembrances of 9-11 going on lately and the possability of anniverary attacks of some kind I understand people being on edge. But when does it cross the line? So far this week we`ve had two seperate stories of people being lead off planes in handcuffs and held for questioning (one of the planes was escorted to it`s destination by two F-16s and the other was diverted to a different airport where it sat for 4 hours). The "suspicious activity" that made them a risk to freedom and democracy? They spent too much time in the bathroom.

Here`s a link to a story about one of the people held for questioning. http://news.yahoo.com/passenger-cuffed-searched-over-appearance-003800344.html Not only was she not doing anything suspicious, but she wasn`t traveling with the people that the flight crew were freaked out about. They just had the seat next to hers. So she wound up getting hancuffed, strip searched, questioned by Homeland Security and the FBI, and after they said she didn`t do anything wrong they STILL took her fingerprints before they let her go. I`m moving back to the States in April, but I wonder if I`ll even recognize the place.

Well, like any news article, I'd take it with a grain of salt. I mean, really, how often are these things 100% accurate? I'd be willing to bet there are things that were left out, overlooked, etc. Is it really odd that someone gets up 10 times over the course of a flight to use the bathroom? Depends. Are you up to no good....or are you really sick? Perhaps, instead of crapping my pants, its necessary for me to get up and go 10 times. LOL!

This is one of those things that you're damned if you do, damned if you dont. The airline could have done nothing, but God forbid something happened, I'd bet my life that everyone on the plane would be asking, "Why wasnt anything done!?!?!?!?!?!" Come on, we all know all hell would've risen. Yet something is done, in an effort to keep everyone safe, and what happens? People still *****! Its a no win situation. For clarification when I say "People" I'm making a general statement, not pointing fingers at anyone in this thread.

This woman was probably a victim of guilty by association. No, she may've not known the males next to her, but she was next to them, she was half Muslim, so yeah, wrong as it may be, she was a casualty.