Well, once again waiting in the lounge at YVR heading back to JFK. The last time I was here was in January just after Captain Underwear was foiled while attempting his dastardly deeds. Security was tight back then, very tight. The only thing missing in January, aside from no carry-on, was a strip search to accompany the very physical pat-down. But here we are, again, at YVR. I asked at check-in if I had to surrender my small carry-on back. They said no, "no problem" was the response. I approached security not knowing really what to expect. Nothing, nothing was what I got. Disappointed, well yes, I had built up expectations, expectations that I believed were valid, rational and based on prior experience combined with mass media news hysteria - mostly American. Was I wrong to have these feelings and expectations of intensified security and scrutiny? Well, apparently the neurosis is all mine! I was whisked through security quite quickly, there was no line. My bag, which really wasn't that small, seemed to fly through the screening machine and arrived on the other side before me - no double pass, no prolonged examination of the contents on the screen which even the addled traveler can catch a glimpse of. What happened, what did happen? Whatever happened, I don't know! I don't know what it meant when they had the news coverage day and night of the Underwear Bomber. I don't know what the different security agencies were talking about and announcing as official statement after the event. And, I realize now that I don't care and don't want to hear about it anymore. I grew up with the Three Stooges and the Marx Brothers. Back then we new it was make believe but I think now a days people can't make those distinctions as easily as they could in the past.
What I would like is that the burden of security be placed on the backs of the security agencies and not on the travelers. If those security agencies can't figure out what they are doing, what tone they are setting, and what instructions they are giving to us, then how are we supposed to know?
