Friday, September 01, 2006

Vacations, Terrorists, and Paranoia


Kira and I are leaving early tomorrow morning for our vacation in Nova Scotia. Just to make sure everything was cool, she checked with the airline to see exactly what is now banned on flights.

The list includes all liquids and gels, chapstick, eye drops, nasal sprays, and vitamins or supplements that contain gels, ice packs, and god knows what else. When Kira told them that she needs the eye drops, they told her, and I quote, "Safety comes first."

What?

Safety comes before possible eye damage to their customers?

All this is due to a largely exaggerated plot to blow up some airplanes by a bunch of guys with no passports, airline tickets, or actual bombs.

The terrorists don't even have to actually do anything to achieve their goals -- disruption of American life. The mere thought that there might be a "plot" creates so much paranoia that the government can convince its citizens that surrendering their freedoms is in their best interest.

The day that I can't take a factory-sealed Advil gel-cap on an airplane is the day we have totally and completely lost the war to the terrorists.


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