Whole Body Imaging Exposes Loss of Freedom

Last week, the Chicago Tribune's Letters to the Editor section was abuzz with responses to the news that O'Hare International Airport is in the process of adding whole body imaging to their vast TSA arsenal. The indignities of air travel have grown ever worse since the "War on Terror" first began but apparently, in Chicago at least, the inmates are growing restless.

Several more airports are set to install the machines, which have "low dose" x-ray capabilities that see right through clothes, including underwear. The TSA says that the employees viewing the personal footage will be prevented from seeing any identifiable traits such as faces, but that is cold comfort to private citizens reluctant to be violated over and over, for the crime of wanting to visit Grandma this summer.

It is heartening to see an end to the apathy which began after 9-11, when it was mostly agreed that more airport security was necessary. But as the years go by, it seems that Americans are beginning to realize that there is apparently no end to the violations of privacy and decency that the administration is willing to inflict on law-abiding citizens in the name of security. Further, what are the health ramifications of being subjected to even low doses of radiation, particularly for young people? It will take decades before studies can be conducted on say, frequent fliers who allow themselves to be scanned on every trip.

Of course, the TSA says that it will offer traditional pat downs as an alternative to the whole body imaging but the selection process for both is so arbitrary that once again, ordinary citizens, not terrorists, will likely be the most inconvenienced.

Metal detection and other reasonable precautions to protect our safety is one thing. But this has gone too far. Americans need to take a stand, for their freedoms and for their own health and well-being. TSA personnel are often uneducated and unprepared to answer questions and most travelers are detained for asking questions anyway. With a bad economy and fewer people flying, the airlines can't afford to lose any more money. Body imaging is a bad idea and it will result in loss of income for the airlines, longer lines, more hassles, possible health risks and worst of all, the further leaking away of precious American freedom.