Valya’s Blog

I find it ironic that after the “necessary” tightening of security via a complicated system of color-coded alerts, homeland security overarching mandates to infringe on people’s privacy, wireless tapping and domestic spying, and all sorts of other lawless crazy measures instituted by the Bush administration, I somehow, unbeknownst to me, ended up on a plane outbound from San Francisco with a box cutter in my purse. I was in the city for a business trip that included a lot of showcase set up and I had kept a box cutter in my bag most of the week I spent running around opening boxes of signage and giveaways. I took the knife out of my purse and shipped it back to the office in a parcel full of other materials. But apparently I had a second one burried under the planner, wallet, camera, lotion, tissues pack, gum, etc. etc. etc. Going through the security line, I later realized, I also had a nearly full sanitizer bottle hanging from a keychain locked onto my belt. The only thing they did take away from me before I boarded was a plastic bottle with two sips of water left sloshing at the bottom. They asked if I wanted to drink it before I move on from securtiy or else they had to take it away because it wasn’t allowed on board. Hah.

I slept the whole flight through. I was unpacking the following morning when I realized one fo the orange plastic handle box cutters was still tucked way at the bottom of my purse. And then I remebered the full santizer hanging from my pants’ belt. Wow. We pay with our rights and freedoms. We purchase a fake sense of security.

P.S. The 9/11 hijackers used box cutters… ironic, and a little eery. Of all the things to miss in a security scan!