Beyoncé's Travel Comfort Changes Course of National Security
The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) announced that they are going to ease up on security measures for celebrities at the airport. Well, well—it seems that exclusive clubs and restaurants aren't the only places that will pull aside the velvet rope for celebs and give them special treatment. Is this unfair?
Perhaps, but it is a more realistic approach to airport security. Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Homeland Security Transportation Subcommittee, said: "There are certain people that are just so well-known that you've just got to use your common sense. Because if you start patting them down, people are going to say, 'They're patting down Beyoncé.' I mean, she's not going to blow a plane up." He has a point, but it would be comical to watch her go through that awkward x-ray machine with her arms up and try to stay posh at the same time.
The TSA might also "want to stop patting down recognizable passengers such as former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger," say sources. They are attempting to repair their poor customer service image in response to the public's ongoing frustration. Administrator John Pistole said they have already implemented screening methods for older passengers that are less intrusive (travelers 75 and older may now leave their shoes and coats on when they go through security).
The TSA said they have gotten complaints from people of being treated in an unprofessional manner. Americans are "disgusted and outraged with the department that they see as bloated and inefficient," said Rogers. Some people say they are even flying less because they don't even want to deal with the hassle of going through security.
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People will call this treatment unfair, consider two points. (1) TSA screening guidelines are developed to deal with a large volume of people that are not well known - in this specific instance, how necessary in the in-depth screening (although I believe some level of searching is necessary, regardless)? (2) How will they determine that someone is well known enough to have relaxed or no screening?
In England they're nice enough, I mean, it's fucking annoying now-- after so many times I've lost count, but at least they're civil 95% of the time.
The looks you get from everyone else in line digging a hole in the back of your neck while you're trying to talk to two men in uniforms as they note down everything you say and flicking through your phone while you're standing like an idiot juggling your belt, shoes, wallet and headphones is a dick though. @_@;
I've also noticed their entire demeanour shifts once I open my mouth and they hear this fluent, friendly, American accent coming out of this brown 20 something year old with facial hair travelling alone. They're so much more friendly all of a sudden. It rubs me the wrong way.
I've been twice to England, and they pulled me aside both times. I'm not even Arabic looking. I'm your typical Southeast Asian girl. But it's true, they're nice unlike the guys over at Frankfurt.
My mum has quite a strong African accent and I have an RP one and I feel like we get looked at/treated differently.
It's made me sooooo super sensitive about our accent tbh because apparently having a foreign accent detracts from your intelligence. Oy vey -__-