[nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando

Tue Jul 12 04:09:16 UTC 2011

Hi Joe,

You're assuming I feel intimidated , and this isn't the case at all.
However, I will say that as someone who travels for work, travels for fun,
and travels often, I'm inclined to smile and nod and just let the TSA guys
have their way rather than risk my livelihood and my lifestyle over
something that is very low on my list of issues.  Using my cane to go
through the machine is likely to set it off, as it has metal on the tip, the
chain, and sometimes things attached to the chain.  To me, putting my cane
on the belt and walking maybe five to ten steps at most and getting my cane
on the other side is not taxing my skills, my patience, or my dignity.
There are plenty of other things that do, however, but this isn't one of
them.  

I've said that it sure sounds like you got rotten treatment at the hands of
the TSA guys, and I think you should pursue a complaint, but don't put words
in my mouth, impune my integrity, or frankly insult me because this just
isn't my fight.  Do I like the brutalizing we all get at the security check
points?  Of course not, but this is an issue way bigger than all of us here.

Airports are full of idiots who know nothing about blindness -- have you had
a sky cap assist you lately?  Talk about insulting!  A gate agent recently
accused my wife of faking being blind because she was such a competent
traveler.  Now that's something I'm willing to go to the matt over... 

Best of luck,

Brian M

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of T. Joseph Carter
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 11:29 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando

So what you're saying, Brian, is that you're willing to be intimidated into
giving up your rights, because the big boogeyman TSA agents can do too much
to you if you don't do exactly what they say, whether it's illegal or flies
in the face of every battle we have fought long and hard for as an
organization?

Just want to be sure I understand here.  Because the TSA said that of nearly
3,000 blind people going through the airport, I'm the only one who insisted
that I had a right NOT to be led around like a child, denied the use of my
cane for travel.

Joseph

On Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 09:07:58PM -0400, Brian Miller wrote:
>Hi Peter,
>
>I don't think anyone feels that Joe was treated well, or with the 
>respect he deserves, but security checks are a serious hassle and a 
>drag for everyone, and indignities abound.  I think solidarity across 
>the board, and not just for blind people, is in order.
>
>I merely say that for me using my cane to walk a few feet through the 
>metal detector is not worth fighting over -- the last thing I need is 
>to end up on a "no fly" list.  The point is, you are exactly right that 
>the blind have been fighting, and getting arrested, and going to jail, 
>for years over our right to have our mobility devices, and we've won 
>some, and lost many others.  I think we need to figure out where to 
>focus our energies to maximize independence while recognizing that we 
>face a very difficult environment in which to make our arguments when it
comes to security.
>
>Heck, we still don't, and maybe never will, have the right to sit in 
>the emergency row -- now that makes me feel more like a child than does 
>a quick guide through the magnetometer .
>
>Not long ago Dr. Fred Schoeder was denied the right to fly to a meeting 
>because he was traveling alone... Granted, this was not in the United 
>States, but that kind of right of freedom of movement, is something I'm 
>willing to lie down on the tarmac for and go to jail.... Maybe not a 
>jail in Thailand, though *smile*
>
>In any case, I don't think Alicia, or any of us, are trying to miminize 
>the fight we all face.
>
>Brian M
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>On Behalf Of Peter Donahue
>Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 11:30 AM
>To: Alicia Richards; NFB Talk Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando
>
>Hello Alicia and everyone,
>
>The next time you pass through a TSA Check point we'll cut both of your 
>feet off and demand that you walk through like anyone else. Blind 
>people have fought long and hard to be allowed to keep their canes and 
>dogs with them at all times while passing through TSA check points and on
planes themselves.
>Blind people were arrested and went to jail to insure these rights are 
>protected and we don't need our own people telling us that it's not a 
>big deal.
>
>Peter Donahue who along with Mary took their last flight ever on a 
>commercial airliner and can look forward to avoiding TSA screeners in 
>the future!
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Alicia Richards" <alicianfb at gmail.com>
>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2011 11:37 PM
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando
>
>
>I agree with Mike and others here.  Yes, the TSA has been given too 
>much power.  It's shameful that they can perform such invasive 
>patdowns, violating one's personal space and dignity.  but as Ryan 
>said, that's not a blindness issue: they can do that to anyone.  And, 
>I've never understood people's issue with giving up their cane for 30 
>seconds, taking someone's hand to walk five steps through the security 
>check, and then have their cane handed right back to them.  I question 
>someone's mobility training if they are unable to walk five steps 
>without their cane, and also can't help but wonder if they're 
>exhibiting what I believe was once called, "rebellious independence," 
>by refusing to take the hand or arm of a TSA official for that very 
>brief time.  But to each their own.  Joseph, I'll be curious if you get a
reply from Scott LaBarre about this?
>
>Alicia
>
>
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