My Father's Son

I can remember from when I was still living with my parents how much it bothered Mom when Dad would come home from work and the first words out of his mouth would be "did we get any mail today?" while shuffling through everything on the dining room table (since that's where the mail usually got placed once it was brought in).

Now that I'm married, I find that when I get home from work my eyes immediately sweep the dining room table looking for mail.  And I have to remind myself to say hello to my wife before asking about the mail if I don't see anything there.

Suspicion

I've always been a bit suspicious that some of the airport security practices currently in place in the States are designed to make passengers feel like much is being done to protect their safety, while in reality the practices do little to protect passenger safety.  This suspicion grew stronger while in Japan.  

We flew on two domestic flights while in Japan.  The first time I don't think I even emptied my pockets.  There were restrictions against carrying plastic drink bottles, but that's about it.  Before putting my carry-on through the x-ray machine, the security official asked if I had any plastic drink bottles or dangerous items in my possession.  I responded that I did not and he directed me through the metal detector...with my shoes, belt, and jacket on.  Not even so much as a peep from the metal detector. 

I figured the lax security must be because these were domestic flights (maybe more of a focus on making sure questionable individuals don't get into the country to start with).  However, when we departed Japan to come back to the States, the experience was the same.  

Is Japan more relaxed on their airport security?  Maybe so, but I honestly find that a bit hard to believe.  Having lived in Japan I have a great respect for the country's culture and its people.  They may do things differently than we do in the States but often with similar, or better, results (quickly ask yourself what brand of car you drive, TV you watch, stereo you listen, etc.).  I have a feeling that my safety is being protected just as well at airports in Japan as in the States, but through other means.

I don't want to scare anybody, but a few weeks ago I read the article here.  It's about a reporter who has managed to get through airport security using fake boarding passes as well as carrying various restricted items (pocketknife, box cutter, 24 oz. of beer, and the list goes on).  He goes on to quote "security guru" Bruce Schneier: "Counter terrorism in the airport is a show designed to make people feel better.  Only two things have made flying safer: the reinforcement of cockpit doors, and the fact that passengers know now to resist hijackers."

I won't claim to be an expert on the matter, but found Goldberg's article and Schneier's opinion very interesting.  Is airport security truly protecting us against the next terrorist attack or is Schneier correct in saying "the whole system is designed to catch stupid terrorists" and we're potentially letting the smart ones through?