I appreciate the man's insistence on exercising his rights. However, he would be more effective IMHO if he did it without the vulgarity on his shirt. Surely he could come up with a phrase which would be as objectionable to the TSA thugs without resorting to displaying language which is truly offensive to lots of normal people who had no reasonable option to avoid viewing his shirt.

It's not fatal but there should be a better phrase.

HubFlyer,

You're comment reminds me of a Baby Blues (comic) collection. I believe it's something along the lines of "The day phonics kicks in" with a picture of the dad walking his kid by graffiti that says "FUCK."

I prefer not to have such words displayed around my young children (primarily because I'll have to explain what they mean), so I appreciate what you are saying. It is his right, and I get why he's doing it, but at the same time, I wish that particular word to be used less in general.

Hub and Shannon, you do get the fact that his shirt was a play on the "fuck the draft" protests, which were recognized as protected speech. So while you may not like the word, in this scenario it is protected speech and should be used frequently when dealing with the thuggery of the TSA.

I use fuck quite frequently, because some days no other word will do, plus I find its use to be cathartic.

So you'd rather have to explain why your child has to be groped to fly and that thier rights mean nothing then explain what the word "fuck" means, Shannon?

The word fuck, while offensive to some, is sometimes the only word that appropriately sums up the feeling you're trying to evoke and in this case, I think it is perfectly appropriate. I would think people would be more offended at the notion that you have to surrender your 4th amendment right just to fly, than by the word "fuck" on tee shirt.

Listen, people. We didn't gain our freedoms by talkin' purdy and we certainly won't keep them by using the word "please". I would much rather explain to my kids what "fuck" means now than to have to explain why they are getting fucked later.

The type of people who believe that our lost freedoms can be regained through polite discourse are also the type that believe the police will actually show up on time to stop a criminal that's attacking you. It's naive thinking, at best, and dangerously ignorant at it's worse. If this tee shirt bothers people more than the TSA's mere existence, congratulations, you're part of the problem.

What was the outcome of this? I can't get to Lisa's blog at work. Was he eventually permitted to go through and board his flight?

Sabrina, I wholeheartedly agree with everything you wrote. Thank you.

Dave, eventually he got on his flight. But not before the TSA ratted him out to the airline, The gate agents were a little testy with him and one agent basically told him she wasn't sure he would allow him to board his flight. Also a Federal Air Marshal took a picture of him and the information page on his passport. He's submitted a FOIA request to find out what the Air Marshal logged.

Kurtz: We train young men to drop fire on people, but their commanders won't allow them to write "fuck" on their airplanes because it's obscene!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078788/quotes

Sorry Sabrina but your argument that people care more about language than TSA intrusion is a strawman. They are not mutually exclusive. As a road warrior I spend a lot of time travelling and I do my best to confront the TSA EVERY time I go through the airport.

I understand the relevance of the phrase, also. In this case it was clearly a strategy used by the guy to mimic the draft protest and it's legal protection. However, there are many other public situations where folks are too cavalier with their vulgarity. If they can't find a more socially acceptable way to describe their disgust or anger with something then I feel it reflects on their intelligence.

It's not fatal but there should be a better phrase.

Oh, but fuck is such a rich word that can be used in many different ways.

And one rarely misses the intended message.

Sorry Sabrina but your argument that people care more about language than TSA intrusion is a strawman. They are not mutually exclusive.

I disagree.
I have to believe they are mutually exclusive in THIS situation when folks are objecting to this man’s shirt on the grounds of profanity, which is his 1st amendment right, but not objecting to the illegal harassment this man was subjected to for it. You have a right to object to the language on the shirt, but nowhere in your posting did you seem to object to the fact that his rights were being illegally trampled on over it. Whether or not you like the language his on the shirt, you cannot disagree that the TSA was wrong in this situation.

Wishing someone else curb their rights in public because it makes someone else uncomfortable is actually on point with my argument. You (general) cannot cherry pick at the constitution. You may not like how this man chose to express himself, but you must acknowledge, and defend, his right to do so, just as you must defend our 4th amendment right against illegal search and seizure.

However, he would be more effective IMHO if he did it without the vulgarity on his shirt.

Because so many of the other peaceful and non-vulgar methods of communicating TSA objections have been so effective?

This may not work in the sense that anything changes anytime soon, but it's certainly sends a message.
Sure, he COULD have had something like “Down with the TSA,” on his shirt instead but that doesn’t quite have the same punch nor the historical reference to make it as powerful. Then, what's the point? And, it’s likely that would have been viewed as a veiled threat by these idiots and he likely could have been thrown in jail. “Fuck the TSA” is perfect. There’s no confusing that with a threat and expresses his objections quite concisely. This shirt was the perfect mix of rebellion, protest and shock value. With one tee shirt this man was able to exercise his 1st amendment right, protest his 4th amendment being violated and display the stupidity that is the TSA. I say, job well done.

Like I said before, you don’t fight for freedom with please and thank you’s; you take it back, with force if necessary. And, you don’t bring attention to your cause by being subtle.

However, there are many other public situations where folks are too cavalier with their vulgarity. If they can't find a more socially acceptable way to describe their disgust or anger with something then I feel it reflects on their intelligence

If this story was about a man going on a loud, swear-laced tangent (thus polluting our ears as Amy puts it) at the airport I might agree with you. But that's not what this is. Profane? Yes. Lacking intelligence? On the contrary, this message was very well thought out, intelligent and clearly communicated.

"I feel it reflects on their intelligence."

So limiting your vocabulary is a sign of intelligence? Sure there are some people who throw the word "fuck" around like it's a comma, but there are plenty of people who use foul language like a scalpel. "I disagree with the policies of the TSA" is not going to get the same reaction as "Fuck the TSA." When you want the reaction the latter will produce, as this man did, there is no word but "fuck" that will get it. It won't get the same reaction from the TSA, just like it doesn't get the same reaction from you.

"...but there are plenty of people who use foul language like a scalpel."

George Carlin was a fucking surgeon.
Whether you agreed with him or not, he understood the power of words, especially the word "fuck", and wielded that power every opportunity he was given.

"Honey, I'm your dad, and it's my job to protect you, so I want to say how sorry I am that I couldn't stop that terrible man from wearing a t-shirt with a bad word as we went through the security line with him. I wish I could shelter you from horrible things like that bad man and his bad word. Anyway, what's done is done -- spread your legs so the TSA officer can pat down your vulva. It's to keep the airplane safe from al Qaeda."

Well, this is interesting. I really didn't expect my words of empathy with the level of public discourse to be so... twisted.

So you'd rather have to explain why your child has to be groped to fly and that thier rights mean nothing then explain what the word "fuck" means, Shannon?

To answer: No - and how do you get that from what I wrote?? (Before you respond, LOOK at what I wrote and note that I didn't mention TSA, groping, or flying, but simply that I would prefer, "not to have such words displayed around my young children," and, "I wish that particular word to be used less in general.")

To answer my own question - you can't get that from what I said. Please do not put words in my mouth.

As to the actual TSA part, my comment was that it was the man's right to wear the shirt.

Please folks, just because something is a legal right, doesn't mean I have to LIKE it. Sort of like eating fish is legal, but I don't have to enjoy it when a coworker heats it in the microwave at work!

Do you LIKE that you feel we have to do things like that to protect our freedoms?

In this case, I like that he stood up to TSA, but dislike that it is necessary. I was bemoaning how our country has fallen, that we have to shout crude words to have our voices heard (and I *do* agree it is necessary in the case of TSA).

In short... I have no problem with what the guy did or the rest of the comments here in general, but I do NOT appreciate words being put in my mouth nor my position on something being construed from a comment about something else.

As for Amy's comment about young kids, it is a fair point. However, I prefer to get to choose my time and place to explain things when I think the message will be best heard... which is never in a crowded bustling place. However, that is unrelated to my original comment.

For what it's worth, having to explain death to a five year old is about as much fun as having bone carved out of your skull - two things I did back to back last summer.

Dont worry Shannon, it much easier to dispose of body parts anfter the second of third corpse, and while I dont advocate killing children, witnesses tend to talk, especially the young ones

Your original text on a post about the disrespect to the TSA:

I prefer not to have such words displayed around my young children (primarily because I'll have to explain what they mean), so I appreciate what you are saying. It is his right, and I get why he's doing it, but at the same time, I wish that particular word to be used less in general. -- Shannon M. Howell at January 16, 2013 5:55 AM

The automatic assumption is that you are objecting the reference to TSA and using the work "fuck" in public.

The problem with that is the fact that "if wishes were horses, beggars would ride." You are wishing for a polite society that keeps everyone in a bubble to adulthood, and beyond.

That is the same fantasy that liberals used in the creation of the TSA.

I'll do my best not to say fuck around your children if you promise not to charge me for child molestation when I grope your child like a TSA agent. Sound like a good deal?

Jim P,

Wanting something is not the same as fantastically believing it it be true or acting as if it were. If that were true, you wanting to not have TSA would imply that you believe they aren't there! Neither of us is living in a fantasy world by wanting a better one than we have.

I would also argue that there's something wrong with people who don't want a better world than the one we have. It's a fantasy to believe there's nothing to improve.

Isn't crudeness one part of the problem with TSA - that they often treat people inhumanely and are brutish thugs? Aren't you arguing against TSA because you believe things would be better without them?

Like Amy, you tend to be one of those folks who calls people out, and that's great. The world needs people like that. I'm more like Amy's friend (mentioned in "I See Rude People"). I try to go out of my way to improve society by example and being polite and considerate to others, especially when I see rude people. I can respect your way of working, what is your beef with mine?

All that said, please note that I never wished for a polite society - but for a "fuck" to be used less, which aren't exactly the same. Since my preference was taken as tacit approval of TSA, and my clarification on my feelings for TSA didn't seem to change folks feelings on the matter, let me point out my other objection to the overuse of "fuck" ...

Fuck is said everywhere by everyone (even small kids). To me, that's overuse. Since it is so common, I have all the negatives of it, and when it could be used to positive effect, it is less effective because it is less unusual.

That's my opinion - you don't have to agree, any more than you'd agree with my taste in music, but I am still entitled to it.

Given that multiple people took my comment as an objection to the man's actions, I won't argue that it didn't come across as such. What I don't get at this point is that, after I clarified in my last comment, why are folks still fighting with me like I'm disagreeing with them on TSA?

For instance, Jim, as to your last paragraph - is that warranted? Especially since I clarified that I'm not pro-TSA and that the word is justified w/TSA? Wouldn't your time be better served trying to argue against people who are pro-TSA?

Seriously folks, fighting with me over a preference for less vulgarity, in light of my clarification on TSA, is sort of like fighting some one for preferring not to have onions on their food. It's a stated preference, not a grand edict. It kinda also makes you look like an ass because you are, in effect, arguing that I shouldn't want a more polite and kind world.

For the record, you can all say fuck as much as you like out in public. You can even say it in front of my kids. I'll just exercise my right move my kids away from you while you exercise your right to use words I don't like.

Just because something is legal, doesn't mean I have to like it any more than I like lima beans, which coincidentally are also legal and I like far less than the word "fuck."

And now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go explain atomic theory to my 6-year-old who's been asking insanely detailed questions about chemical reactions (see why I don't want to have extra difficult-to-explain things thrown at me?).

lujlp,

Sorry, I lost you there. I must be missing something.

You said you were not having fun explaining death to as child or carving bone fragments out of skulls, but you grammatical use did not define whether you were the one have the bone removed or doing the bone removal.

My comment was suggesting you killed someone and had to explain death to the child witness of you purported crime

You said you were not having fun explaining death to a child or carving bone fragments out of skulls, but you grammatical use did not define whether you were the one have the bone removed or doing the bone removal.

My comment was suggesting you killed someone and had to explain death to the child witness of you purported crime

lujlp,

This is what happens from hanging out with writers all the time. When I wrote...

"...is about as much fun as having bone carved out of your skull."

I was not talking about carving bone out, but having bone carved out (think passive voice), as in having somebody cut bone)

So, I was trying to communicate that explaining death to a 5-year-old and having somebody else take bone out of MY head were approximately the same level of fun. For the record, it really hurts to have facial bone removed.

Thanks for letting me know what was going on there!

This guy is awesome. Frankly, I drive a lot to avoid wasting time with these screeners. I listen to music and sing with abandon (and with no harm to others who have to listen to it. I wouldn't have the guts to do it.

I kinda get the prob with the FUCK on the t-shirt, but I am also sick and tired of the "what about the children" stuff. Too fucking bad. : )

By the way, every time someone links to youtube I end up watching a few dog/kitty videos. Is it just me? Tonight it was Boxer meets kitty boy....

XO to Amy. Love your blog

All that said, please note that I never wished for a polite society - but for a "fuck" to be used less, which aren't exactly the same. -- Shannon M. Howell at January 17, 2013 6:33 AM

I do apologize for not assessing the difference between your position and the general assumptions that go with it.

I stopped going to a Bluegrass festival in Colorado, because I saw more than one "Fuck George Bush" T shirt. It said more about the individuals than the event, but that the people wearing them found a music festival an appropriate place to wear them, said a lot about the political sympathies of the organizers. Their storm trooper attitude toward recycling said a lot too.

Funny, how I have never seen a "Fuck Obama" one. I guess something like that would be in poor taste.