How They See Security Theater In The Netherlands
We flew from Paris to Amsterdam to catch our flight home on KLM. While on the plane, I asked one of the flight attendants about how crew members feel -- and how Dutch citizens feel -- about the security measures there.
Going by that experience, their ridiculousness is very similar to ours -- X-raying your bags, groping you or scanning you or maybe both.
I was disgusted by my groping, which I got twice, thanks to how they yanked everyone off the plane for a second "security" check after a door got left open at the airport. (The first groper got my labia going up my leg on either side. The second one didn't end up going to Third Base.)
And no, I didn't feel anywhere the rage and upset I feel when I'm groped in this country, since the Dutch don't have our Constitution and thus can't expect to have its protections.
For me, standing up to the TSA and fighting these "security" measures is about standing up for the Constitution and keeping our rights from being further eroded (and maybe yanking some of them back). It's even more tragic that we have given them up for the pretense of safety, and really have let the terrorists "win" by rolling back our rights, diminishing business, and causing many deaths on the roads (when people drive in stead of flying.)
As for how the Dutch see the "security" measures, the flight attendant said people there know it's just "for show"; that it's "not real security."
She said people in Holland were mad at first but now they just put up with it. Which, as I keep saying, is the danger here. Give away some rights and at first, it may be a little uncomfortable (if you even understand what your rights are), but over time, you get used to it. Like a beaten dog, you just submit, and in turn, others, who would stand up for our rights, are expected to submit as you have -- or risk various harms, including maybe losing their freedom.
In the long run, these sheeplike cooperation is extremely dangerous to all of us.
But you could be smuggling more than three ounces of toothpaste out of the country! Won't somebody think of the children?
transiit at December 1, 2012 12:27 PM
I was hoping for more graphic commentary on your groping, and whether you were vaginally and anally raped.
I like to jack off while reading about your TSA episodes
Lonely in Indiana at December 1, 2012 8:36 PM
I hope your rape fantasies all come true. I hope your future cellmates fantasies come true as well.
Jim P. at December 1, 2012 9:13 PM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/12/flite-attendant.html#comment-3497755">comment from Lonely in IndianaYour IP is interesting for somebody who professes to be in Indiana. You've never posted here before from that IP. Are you yet another cowardly DHS worker pretending to be a citizen:
115.67.132.28 IP address location & more:
IP address [?]: 115.67.132.28 [Whois] [Reverse IP]
IP country code: TH
IP address country: Thailand
IP address state: Krung Thep
IP address city: Bangkok
IP address latitude: 13.7540
IP address longitude: 100.5014
ISP of this IP [?]: Total Access Communication PLC.
Organization: Total Access Communication PLC.
Local time in Thailand: 2012-12-02 13:24
Yeah, and the government taking away our civil liberties is so sexy. Like a blow job given with sharp teeth.
Amy Alkon
at December 1, 2012 10:26 PM
Amy's warning is prescient: " ... over time, you get used to it. Like a beaten dog, you just submit ... In the long run, these sheeplike cooperation is extremely dangerous to all of us."
Judge Learned Hand wrote in 1944 "Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it."
That is exactly what we are witnessing in America now. Liberty has died in the hearts and minds of Americans who neither recognize nor value it. The culture has changed. Sad to say, I don't see this cultural trend reversing itself.
Jim Simon at December 2, 2012 9:51 AM
First -
As rude as I personally have been to her over the years, I'm nonetheless amazed at the crazy shit Amy puts up with from commenters, essentially just for putting up a blog... I hope it's a success for her in some way, as a marketing tool or as a focal point for other ventures. Because commenters (especially men) are insane. See also.
Second -
I want to disagree with this...
> Liberty has died in the hearts and
> minds of Americans
...but it's difficult. I hope the problem is just that I'm turning into a fogey. Because it like the voters and taxpayers have no capacity for stoicism whatsoever. If anything is in any way unpleasant or challenging, the problem is assumed be policy... It's assumed that someone out there is causing the sorrow.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 2, 2012 4:41 PM
Crid - I don't see you as rude, just a little irritating sometimes!
And I'm all for debate and I love the debate here. You learn a lot less if you're a priss about language and tone -- which doesn't mean you just roll over for people trying to administer some kicks to you.
Also, you used this great remark about floppy-eared something or other the other day. I have to look that up.
Amy Alkon at December 2, 2012 5:30 PM
I hope that you, Amy, and and I (and the other commenters on the blog) are wrong.
But I just visited with family over Thanksgiving. My uncle has a clue, but he isn't an active prepper. But his lifestyle is. My mother isn't a prepper, but she has had her life and knows how to cook from anything. My sister actively rejected the idea that a collapse may be coming, and thinks she can ride it out.
I just hope we're wrong.
Jim P. at December 2, 2012 6:14 PM
Are there some decent people in Lonely in Indiana's neighborhood who could drag him out into the street and beat the living shit out of him?
mpetrie98 at December 3, 2012 3:42 AM
I recall one layover in Amsterdam where I had to run for my connection. When I went through security, I was interviewed and the questioner asked me several times if I was sweating because I was nervous. Each time, I patiently told him that I was sweating because I just ran half a kilometer with all my bags. I figured he was asking again and again to see if my answer changed. I changed my mind at the end of the conversation, though. I think he was just asking to annoy me. The last thing he said was, "Don't be mad with us. These security rules are set by your country for any flights that go to the U.S."
I feel more bad for people affected by rediculous U.S. policy when they don't have the protection of the Constitution or the chance to vote out or responsible politicians.
Zach at December 3, 2012 5:39 AM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/12/flite-attendant.html#comment-3499631">comment from ZachYears ago, I experienced security there, and found them smarter than the TSA workers. They asked me what I did, and I told them I'm a newspaper columnist and they asked me my deadline day. Fast. Chop-chop. And I told them. Chop-chop.
Amy Alkon
at December 3, 2012 5:46 AM
Crid, great column, thanks for the link.
"Oh, wow, I guess my operating assumption that you spent eight weeks reporting a feature without learning anything at all about the topic was the kind of tacit sexism that we progressives are trying to fight!"
Michelle at December 3, 2012 7:35 PM
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