There have been a lot of comics recently about the new airport security scanners/pat-downs, but I hadn't planned to post any of them. I guess it's just irritating when things like this get so much attention - because they affect us, personally - while much more important issues face apathy and disinterest.
But I had to make an exception for this cartoon. Terrorism works best on cowards, because the whole point is to spread fear. And let's face it, our enemies have allies here in the United States, since the entire right-wing also sees an advantage in spreading fear. (That's not the only point of similarity, either. That joke about the difference between Sarah Palin and a Muslim fundamentalist - lipstick - isn't very far off.)
Hey, airport security is important, but nothing will completely eliminate the danger. And when we get to the point where we're banning nail clippers, removing shoes, and patting down grandma, doesn't it seem like overkill? Who really wins when we turn into quivering cowards who jump at shadows? It's not us.
I'm not saying that the security scanners are unwise, since that's debatable. But some of the things we're doing are just ridiculous. Banning fingernail clippers and scissors (even the tiny, blunt kind)? What's the point of that? Heck, even box-cutters wouldn't do any harm these days. After 9/11, no one is going to let terrorists hijack an airplane just because they have knives.
But I do think this uproar about the new security scanners is wrong-headed, because we're objecting out of embarrassment, when we should be asking how much of this really makes sense. We can't completely eliminate terrorism, no matter what we do. And when we let ourselves be scared into taking ridiculous measures, it's only the terrorists who win.
Edit: OK, two exceptions:
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