[nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando

David Andrews dandrews at visi.com
Tue Jul 12 17:34:42 UTC 2011


Michael makes a good point.  There are thousands 
of TSA screeners, each of whom bring different 
things to the table, experience, emotions 
etc.  So, while they all presumably receive the 
same training, they all will interpret, use, 
ignore it in different ways.  That is why we need to be flexible.

Back in the 80's I worked at a place that used 
volunteers.  One was a United flight attendant 
supervisor, and I talked to her about our ongoing 
problems with the airlines, at the time.  She 
said, "United has over 10l,000 flight attendants, 
and one of the biggest problems for the airline 
is to get all of them to act in the proper and 
prescribed way."  I am sure this is true of any 
organization that employs large numbers of persons who do the same job.

Dave

At 10:09 AM 7/12/2011, you wrote:
>Very well said Ben.  I'm glad to see somebody 
>put this into some perspective.  And, you were 
>nice about it, not questioning the motives and 
>actions of others, not ranting, Etc.  Maybe I'll 
>continue to read this list after all. Mike 
>Bullis -----Original Message----- From: 
>nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org 
>[mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf 
>Of Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR) Sent: Tuesday, July 
>12, 2011 10:49 AM To: NFB Talk Mailing List 
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in 
>Orlando What we need here is calm.  This is a 
>frustrating issue, that isn't going to foster 
>consensus any time soon, unless we all organize 
>an acceptable response that works for the vast 
>majority of us, and then we all act 
>accordingly.  However, as many different points 
>of view, as there are, and emotions that run 
>through the security checks done by TSA folks, I 
>think we may be trying to herd cats here.  My 
>experience with tSA in Florida was that just at 
>the time I was going to go through the metal 
>detector *using my *cane*, one TSA guy said I 
>need to take your cane to x-ray it.  I explained 
>that I understood, and that I would stop on the 
>other side of the machine after walking through 
>with my cane which most likely wouldn't set the 
>machine off, and give it to him to do with 
>whatever he wanted.  He told me to go ahead, I 
>went through without incident, handed him my 
>cane, waited a few seconds, and he gave it back 
>after putting it through the scanner. In other 
>airports, I have had, ..., shall we say, firmer 
>discussions, but none has resulted in more than 
>a few minutes of checking, explaining, then 
>walking through the scanner with my cane in 
>tact. I may have been lucky so far.  but, I do 
>travel more than some, and less than 
>others.  Usually, and I emphasize *usually, I 
>get through security at a comfort level I can 
>tolerate.  Though, all that having been said, I 
>still hate airports, security, airline folks 
>that assume I am not capable of thinking, 
>walking, talking, understanding, etc, just 
>because I don't see.  One final story.  A 
>colleague and I were flying back to Seattle 
>after convention.  Everything had gone quite 
>well throughout the day.  In fact, Mike Freeman, 
>his wife, and we had a nice opportunity to kill 
>time in hotels, airports, etc, while waiting for 
>time to fly.  But we got into a short 
>conversation about the frustrations at airports, 
>etc somewhere along the way.  I got to Seattle, 
>and was headed for the baggage claim, and a 
>large gentleman asked me if I needed help 
>getting to baggage claim.  I said something 
>like, just a little direction.  And, of course, 
>he said "oh here, I'll help", and proceeded to 
>wrap a large arm around mine.  And, I guess in 
>frustration, or without thinking, I said, "Hey, 
>don't do that, ..., it just bugs the expletive* 
>out of me."  It surprised me, because I don't 
>even like the expletive I uttered, (which begins 
>with a letter other than S.)  He didn't really 
>run away, or apologize, just said something like 
>he was just trying to help.  I apologized for 
>the language, but tried to explain it was his 
>physical action that got to me.  I also said I 
>appreciated his intent to give me direction 
>though, but by then, he'd left.  I felt bad, 
>because he may not think to assist anyone in the 
>future.  But, don't I have the right to get 
>angry at some point too? Anyway, have a nice 
>day, and hope your travels are rewarding. /s/ 
>Bennett -----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 
>8:29 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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