Don't touch my junk: TSA officers hear complaints

http://start.toshiba.com/news/read.php?rip_id=%3CD9JMCJBO0%40news.ap.org%3E&ps=1011

By TAMARA LUSH and SARAH BRUMFIELD Associated Press The Associated Press

Wednesday, November 24, 2010 3:15 AM EST

In Tampa Florida the TSA has voiced reports on being punched, kicked and shoved during pat-downs.  One woman is said to have headbutted a screener who was searching her laptop.  Airport security officer Ricky McCoy is one who has heard the jokes of what TSA stands for : "The Sexual Assailants."


People are becoming big complainers and accusing the TSA of being too invasive during their searches at security, but the officers want to remind the travelers this holiday to remember they are just doing their jobs and trying to make it safe to fly.

McCoy, who is the head of a local TSA union for Illinois and Wisconsin said, "We just want the public to understand that we're not perverts, we're not sexual assailants."  While TSA chief John Pistole has also heard the complaints from travelers and has been trying to be more understanding with the balance of safety with invading people's privacy with the pat-downs.

"We are exploring again ways that they might be less invasive and yet with the same outcomes in terms of detection, but that is really the challenge that we have and that dynamic tension between security and privacy and reasonable people can disagree as to exactly where that blend is as it relates to you as a passenger," John Pistole said to reporters.

McCoy said that most people are more calm when they are going through the airport's security checkpoint, but that he has noticed a change in the atmosphere the past two weeks.  One man told McCoy flat out, "I don't know what I might do to you if you touch me,"  McCoy looked right back at the man and said 'touching an officer would be the worst mistake he's ever made because authorities would be called.' After that the search went smoothly.

The Hawaii chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is said to be planning to give out flyers to passengers before security that explain their rights.  This shows the discomfort that is growing with the invasions of privacy that travelers are having issues with.

I have heard a lot of news going on about airport security and also have heard lots of people who have been complaining with lots of anger towards the searches at airports now.  

One woman I was talking to the other day went off forever about how terrible and horrible and down right anti-American it was to have it possible for normal travelers to be searched so privately.  I understand why the crack-down at air ports has become such an issue and it does concern me and is stressing me out a bit for traveling with my baby for the first time this Christmas, but this woman blew my mind.  She kept repeating how they don't need to search us because we don't look like terrorists.  I asked her how they would know and who they should search then.  I kid you not, her exact words were "They should only search middle eastern men."  What?!  Has she not watched any news ever?  I was uncomfortable with her ease of saying that the middle east was the only target and that no one else could possibly be a threat to the safety of others on an airplane.  

I found it interesting how this article was one of the few currently that is showing the TSA as people who are just doing their job to keep the rest of us safe.  I thought it was refreshing from all the other reports that are said about the searching.  I do think sometimes it might get out of hand and they may not be as respectful as they should be and that is an issue. I do  think though that people should be more calm about it, understand the purpose of it and maybe holiday traveling would be a little bit smoother.

"For California, a New Month, a New Deficit"

In San Francisco on Wednesday, University of California students and workers protested proposed new fees and benefit changes.

By ADAM NAGOURNEY

Published: November 17, 2010

The article I chose to write about talks about the budget gap in California.  California is among the largest economies in the United States.  What I found interesting was that _____ mentioned how California usually recovers not by itself, but through a national recovery.  This shows that California, although it is a large economy, is not the leading economy in the sense of recovery and strength.  The article also mentions how they have already made cuts to programs that are essential to the integrity of the state.  Such programs are welfare, education, even state universities.

I having gone to a public high school in California I can vouch for their sparse funding.  I graduated high school in 2006 when the economy was supposedly at it's peak.  The programs were limited, the education was less than sufficient, and the number of students were over crowding the schools.  I can't even fathom what the situation is not only currently, but will become due to these massive cuts to public education.  This will cause an even greater polarization among the poor and the wealthy.  Those children fortunate enough to attend school which requires tuition are the only ones that will be receiving a decent education.

The California financial crisis is about to face another dynamic.  As Governor Schwarzanegger hards off his duties to Governor-elect, Jerry Brown, from the view of this article the consensus is that although Mr. Schwarzanegger will be remembered for the good he has done for California he will also be given a label similar to that of President George W. Bush.  The label being an executive leaving behind a financial disaster for his predecessor. This is unfortunate for Governor Schwarzanegger who has been instrumental in much of the progress in California before the national recession took its toll on the state.

This article, although brief gives good insight to some of the details troubling not only the state of California, but other states throughout the US.  My thoughts and prayers are with Governor-elect Brown as he is entering a challenging position.  We can all only hope that he is able to handle the unavoidable difficulties that will try his abilities and endurance as the new Governor of California.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/us/18calif.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp

In One Moment in Afghanistan, Heroism and Heartbreak

Three years and three weeks ago. Dusk was falling fast on the Korengal Valley. We were crouched on a shrub-laden plateau some 8,000 feet up in the mountains. The soldiers were exhausted and cold. We’d been sleeping in ditches for five nights. Insurgents were everywhere.
We could hear those insurgents on the radios saying things like: “They are all the way on the end at the top sitting there.” Pfc. Michael Cunningham, a deadpan Texan, said, “That is so us.”

Actually, it was much of Battle Company of the 173d Airborne Brigade, which was spread across the mountains — First Platoon around Honcho Hill, watching over Second Platoon in a village below called Landigal. And the Taliban were itching to hit us again.

None of this had been part of the plan for Rock Avalanche, Battle Company’s six-day mission to tame the valley before the onset of winter. But then again, that is what war is, the mocking of plans. The reaction in those moments of mockery is why we have Medals of Honor. But no one knew that Rock Avalanche would be one of the defining events in the Afghan war. That Honcho Hill would be Afghanistan’s Hamburger Hill.

Two days earlier, the Taliban had ambushed Battle Company in the forests and spurs of the Abas Ghar ridge. At stunningly close range, they had shot and killed Sgt. Larry Rougle, one of Battle Company’s best, toughest and coolest. They had wounded Sgt. Kevin Rice and Spec. Carl Vandenberge, two of Battle Company’s biggest. And they had stolen night vision goggles and machine guns. That’s why, on this night, Dan Kearney, the 27-year-old captain, had sent Second Platoon into Landigal — to demand their stuff back from the villagers, who played dumb.

For a day or two everyone had been in shock and mourning and out for blood. Now the fear was palpable. “If they can get Rougle, they can get any of us,” said Sgt. John Clinard........
...
......“I ran to the front because that is where he was,” Giunta said, talking of Brennan. “I didn’t try to be a hero and save everyone.”

On Tuesday Giunta will become the first living soldier to receive the Medal of Honor since Vietnam. He has said that if he is a hero then everyone who goes into the unknown is a hero. He has said he was angry to have a medal around his neck at the price of Brennan’s and Mendoza’s lives. It took three years for the Pentagon to finalize the award. And it is puzzling to many soldiers and families why the military brass has been so sparing with this medal during the last decade of unceasing warfare.

As for the Korengal Valley, Giunta was right. The Korengalis would never leave or give up.

Last April, after three more years of killing and dying in that valley, the Americans decided to leave the place to the locals.

I decided not to summarize this story, I felt it was much more reasonable to keep it the way it was written.  One reason I chose this article was because my dad and uncle both fought in Vietnam and my brother is stationed in Iraq right now.  Learning about the troops over seas worries me.  My sister-in-law had a baby a few months ago, my brother wasn't there and he won't get to see them tell Christmas, then not again until their baby is nine months old.  This is normal for soldiers who are deployed, but I still feel awful for the families that have to miss their husbands and dad's that way.  While these men and women are doing great in the middle east, I worry about them.  I honestly don't understand the reasoning for them to be there any longer, and I feel this story shows how unnecessary it is.  These young kids, just my age are dying and their lives are changing completely only to have to draw out of the areas they were fighting in.  

EVE OF BATTLE Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, center, before the fight in which Sgt. Joshua Brennan, far left, and Spec. Hugo Mendoza, far right, would die

.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/weekinreview/14rubin.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&hp