TSA intensive searches, scans fly in the face of Christian teachings

Photo by Kay B. DayIn a previous column I expressed frustration about ramped up security measures at airports. The Transportation Security Administration now expects Americans to agree to very detailed full body scans and/or what amounts to intensive pat downs. Travelers have been vocal about the intrusions on privacy.

I predicted a backlash from those who practice the Muslim faith, and it didn’t take an advocacy organization long to issue cautions to women who wear hijabs. Such women, said the statement from the Council on American-Islamic relations, should tell TSA they consent only to searches of the head and neck area. CNS News was one of the few media outlets to report the statement.

We Christians often overlook our own faith, in part because of ongoing assaults on the faith by government-friendly media.

Fact is body scans that show graphic images of nakedness as well as groping at the hands of a stranger infringe on Christian teachings on modesty. For references turn to the Biblical books of Genesis, Leviticus, Matthew and John among others.

The infringement on Christian faith is complimented by The Bill of Rights—at least two articles in the first ten amendments to the US Constitution. Aside from the issue of unreasonable search and seizure, current TSA protocol in essence impedes the tenet of Christian modesty.

In my column I also asked the age-old political question—Who benefits?

The Washington Examiner cites companies who benefit from body scanner sales—all have ties to or past associations with Washington politicos and the contracts for the scanners are worth hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.

As long as four years ago, even government-friendly media like CBS posited the idea of behavioral profiling, the sort of security measures Israel uses. Of course the United Nations frowns on such profiling, but fact is the UN could care less whether Americans are blown up, in my opinion.

Despite the expense and offense of body scans and intensive searches, a revolving problem with terrorists has been visas. Nothing much has been done to address this issue although it led directly to the freedom of the 9/11 attackers to wreak havoc on the U.S.

Meanwhile, it seems that if any percentage of cargo is not scanned or searched, there is no 100 percent threshold on security.

Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano penned an editorial published in USA Today wherein she attempted to allay fears about radiation and invasion of privacy.

The Washington Examiner article, however, pointed out, “Even before the devices were rolled out, they sparked predictable mischief: During training on the scanners, a group of TSA workers noted and mocked the genitalia of the guinea-pig employee sent through the scanner. The guy soon beat down one of his mockers and was arrested for assault.”

(Commentary by Kay B. Day/Nov. 15, 2010)

Update on Monday, November 15, 2010 at 11:52AM by Kay B. Day, Editor

Here's an excellent option from Forbes. In his column The Economic Imagination, Art Carden says, "Abolish the TSA."

I'd add the federal Dept. of Education to that recommendation. It was created by a Democrat president to reward a Democrat governor and has contributed nothing but a bureaucratic quagmire to education in the states.