Airport Lines and Developing Virtues (op-ed)
In 2011 the United Nations World Food Program began emergency food airlifts to the drought-stricken Horn of Africa.
Sounds like a routine operation, but after the first airlift UN reports said, “Additional flights are expected to go next week … But were delayed by logistical problems in Kenya.”
In unofficial terms the famished, had to wait.
Most Americans saw the situation as problems of the “developing world” that are never encountered in the United States.
But which problem was these Americans proud of not encountering, starvation or waiting?
Recently, newspapers reported: Long Security Lines at Airports
And Americans all across the country had to wait.
In the “over developed world” technology has sped up production and granted instant access, so for Americans accustomed to “first class” accommodations waiting is a “third world” experience and they rather starve.
At some airports, lines during peak hours have topped 90 minutes, and travelers that refused to wait snaked up and down escalators and through food courts to reach terminal lobbies to board their flights.
(Those that waited for UN airlifts during the drought probably found this “first world” activity of sneaking through food courts a peculiar act of prosperity.)
Frustrated travelers believe the stalled security checks are due to understaffing.
In the past three years congress eliminated over 4,600 front-line screeners because a program called Pre-Check was suppose to speed up the process, but the Transportation Security Administration stated not enough people signed up for the new program.
But TSA didn’t stop there; they suggested the biggest problem was passenger preparedness. TSA mentioned more people are traveling with carry on bags, and bringing more things that are not airline industry standard. For example, a TSA spokesman claimed 10 screening can take place in a matter of minutes when passengers don’t have “water bottles and pocket knives.”
The Department of Homeland Security felt pressured to remind America’s frequent flyers that their job is to keep them safe and Homeland Security won’t neglect their duty to stop terrorist. According to the Heritage Foundation’s 2013 special report on terrorism, there have been 60 terrorist plots since 9/11, 56 were foiled and four were successful, and of the 154 people arrested or killed for plotting terror attacks 77 had US citizenship.
But for many travelers terrorism is a poor excuse, no first class citizen of the “over developed world” should have to wait.
But the problem isn’t waiting.
The problem is America is a culture of complaint in a climate of terror. Americans can’t change the climate, but Americans can change the culture.
In the meantime, the Department of Homeland Security asked travelers to be patient.
But that’s a more problematic request because in the “over developed world” patience is a “developing” virtue, and the impatient aren’t going to get accustomed to any more “third world” experiences after waiting.
First published in the New Pittsburgh Courier 5/25/16
Sounds like a routine operation, but after the first airlift UN reports said, “Additional flights are expected to go next week … But were delayed by logistical problems in Kenya.”
In unofficial terms the famished, had to wait.
Most Americans saw the situation as problems of the “developing world” that are never encountered in the United States.
But which problem was these Americans proud of not encountering, starvation or waiting?
Recently, newspapers reported: Long Security Lines at Airports
And Americans all across the country had to wait.
In the “over developed world” technology has sped up production and granted instant access, so for Americans accustomed to “first class” accommodations waiting is a “third world” experience and they rather starve.
At some airports, lines during peak hours have topped 90 minutes, and travelers that refused to wait snaked up and down escalators and through food courts to reach terminal lobbies to board their flights.
(Those that waited for UN airlifts during the drought probably found this “first world” activity of sneaking through food courts a peculiar act of prosperity.)
Frustrated travelers believe the stalled security checks are due to understaffing.
In the past three years congress eliminated over 4,600 front-line screeners because a program called Pre-Check was suppose to speed up the process, but the Transportation Security Administration stated not enough people signed up for the new program.
But TSA didn’t stop there; they suggested the biggest problem was passenger preparedness. TSA mentioned more people are traveling with carry on bags, and bringing more things that are not airline industry standard. For example, a TSA spokesman claimed 10 screening can take place in a matter of minutes when passengers don’t have “water bottles and pocket knives.”
The Department of Homeland Security felt pressured to remind America’s frequent flyers that their job is to keep them safe and Homeland Security won’t neglect their duty to stop terrorist. According to the Heritage Foundation’s 2013 special report on terrorism, there have been 60 terrorist plots since 9/11, 56 were foiled and four were successful, and of the 154 people arrested or killed for plotting terror attacks 77 had US citizenship.
But for many travelers terrorism is a poor excuse, no first class citizen of the “over developed world” should have to wait.
But the problem isn’t waiting.
The problem is America is a culture of complaint in a climate of terror. Americans can’t change the climate, but Americans can change the culture.
In the meantime, the Department of Homeland Security asked travelers to be patient.
But that’s a more problematic request because in the “over developed world” patience is a “developing” virtue, and the impatient aren’t going to get accustomed to any more “third world” experiences after waiting.
First published in the New Pittsburgh Courier 5/25/16
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