[nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando

Tue Jul 12 08:01:25 UTC 2011

I also feel sorry for the 95-year old woman.

How humiliating!

Gloria Whipple
Corresponding Secretary
Inland Empire chapter
nfb of WA

Cell: 509-475-4993

-----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 23:46
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando

Thanks Gloria, I’m glad to not be completely alone on this one.  The 
thing is that it’s not even about me, personally.  I’ve heard of much 
more invasive pat downs by TSA, and indeed I’ve had more thorough 
security screenings myself by trained officers (albeit without the 
need to remove any clothing), and despite everything the TSA agent 
missed something he should have noticed and at least asked me to 
explain—I only realized I was carrying it when I sat down on the 
plane.

It’s all 100% about the fact that the extra screening was punitive in 
nature, that I was told I would be exposed to it expressly for trying 
to assert my right as a blind traveler, and that the agents tried to 
cover it up.  This makes it a rights issue, and more importantly a 
blindness rights issue since what got the extra attention was the 
assertion to my TSA-acknowledged rights as a blind person.  I 
wouldn’t much have cared had I simply been selected for additional 
screening either randomly or based on normal documented TSA 
procedures.

As for what the TSA agent missed or how I know that better trained 
officers wouldn’t have, the truly curious can ask off-list, but it’s 
not really as exciting as you might expect.

Joseph

On Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 10:53:04PM -0700, Gloria Whipple wrote:
>Sorry about my last reply. I don't know why it didn't go through.
>
>Amen on that one!
>
>I am not going to be a door mat for anyone!
>
>
>Gloria Whipple
>Corresponding Secretary
>Inland Empire chapter
>nfb of WA
>
>Cell: 509-475-4993
>
>
>-----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 22:26
>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando
>
>So then I guess the TSA agent was right, if you’re a fair
>representative.  No other blind person insisted upon his rights
>clearly stated in TSA regulations.
>
>An attack on the dignity of the blind is an attack on every single
>one of us.  If that’s not your fight, then I am sorry.  If it is not
>the National Federation of the Blind’s fight, then we have become as
>cowardly as the ACB and the HELP committee can safely ignore our
>little request that blind people be paid a fair wage for fair work,
>because we lack the backbone to defend what little we have won, let
>alone fight for more dignity.
>
>It isn’t about how far I could walk with or without a cane.  It is
>about it being respectable to be blind.  It is about defending a law
>that Federationists fought and went to jail trying to win for all of
>us, whether you personally give a damn or not.  This was an attack on
>the dignity of the blind, outright, and it was an attack on every
>single one of us.
>
>I’ve pointed out that you don’t feel any need or desire to defend the
>rights the Federation fought so hard to attain for you.  If you feel
>insulted by that, maybe you need to ask yourself what your life would
>be right now if the Federation hadn’t been there to fight for the
>rights you have today, including those you casually disregard as not
>personally significant.
>
>That would be equivalent to me saying that discrimination against
>guide dogs isn’t my fight because I use a cane.  It IS my fight,
>because I am a Federationist and an attack on the rights of any of us
>as blind citizens is an attack on every single one of us.  I don’t
>know about anybody else, especially after reading some of the
>cowardly responses on this list, but that is what I go to the matt
>for, every single time, whether it happens to me or not.
>
>Joseph
>
>On Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 12:09:16AM -0400, Brian Miller wrote:
>>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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