95 Year Old Woman Viewed as Potential Terrorist by NSA

Author: Thomas C. Weiss
Published: 2011/06/28 - Updated: 2022/01/11
Topic: Editorials and Op-eds - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: 95 year old woman is viewed as a potential terrorist by U.S. government funded and supported TSA Agents. 95 year old woman viewed as a potential terrorist by U.S. government-funded and supported TSA Agents.

Introduction

The term, criminal, has taken on an entirely new meaning when a ninety-five year old woman is viewed as a potential terrorist by U.S. government-funded and supported TSA Agents.

Main Item

A ninety-five year old woman from the State of Florida in the United States, who also has leukemia, was pulled aside by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). She was ordered to remove her adult undergarment as a part of the forty-five minute security pat-down screening she endured. The woman was on her way to a facility to spend the remainder of her life in all likelihood.

The woman's daughter stated they were traveling from Florida to the State of Michigan so her mother could live with relatives prior to moving into an assisted living facility. She said, "My mother is very ill, she has a form of leukemia. She had a blood transfusion the week before, just to bolster up her strength for this travel." Not exactly the most terrifying potential terrorist suspect in America this ninety-five year old woman; nor her daughter.

As they went through the TSA's security procedures, Ms. Weber's mother was taken by a TSA Agent into an area that was glassed-in and subjected to a pat-down. The agent told Ms. Weber they felt something suspicious on her mother's leg and were unable to determine what it was. The TSA then took her mother into a private and closed room.

Ms. Weber states that shortly afterwards, a TSA Agent came out of that closed, private room to inform her that her mother's Depend undergarment was wet and firm and due to this fact they were unable to check it properly. Ms. Weber took her mother to a bathroom to take off her mother's undergarment. The TSA Agent wanted to inspect this woman's Depend undergarment. Upon their return the, 'safety inspection,' continued. It seems the TSA Agent had no awareness of the fact that gel collects fluids, or was unwilling to accept the facts related to a simple undergarment.

The TSA, of course, is upholding the actions of its Agents despite the complaints of Ms. Weber.

She complained that her ninety-five year old mother with leukemia was not only patted-down, she did indeed have to take off her undergarment. One has to wonder if the definition of,"molestation," has changed only for TSA Agents in America. Aren't, 'Peeping Tom's,' arrested in this nation, such as the recent, 'Porta-Potty Peeper'?

Quick to defend their actions, the TSA stated,

"While every person and item must be screened before entering the secure boarding area, TSA works with passengers to resolve security alarms in a respectful and sensitive manner. We have reviewed the circumstances involving this screening and determined that our officers acted professionally and according to proper procedure."

Ms. Weber said she was crying throughout the ordeal, which then required the TSA to pat-down her as well due to the TSA's protocols.

Apparently crying because your loved one is being forcibly molested is cause for the TSA to treat you in the same manner. Ms. Weber states her mother was a nurse for sixty-five years, taking care of others in America. There just doesn't seem to be any respect or common sense among TSA Agents.

John Pistole, TSA Administrator states,

"Every traveler is a critical partner in TSA's efforts to keep our skies safe." Mr. Pistole is of the belief that the majority of Americans actually support actions such as those taken towards Ms. Weber and her ninety-five year old mother with leukemia. Mr. Pistole believes Americans respect such actions.

A simple image comes to mind - a graph with one line measuring the number of terrorists the TSA has actually stopped, and another measuring the numbers of people killed by drivers who were drunk. Which line is longer? The same comparison might be made between the numbers of terrorists the TSA has actually stopped and the numbers of people who have become disabled due to car accidents over the last year alone.

Failing TSA

Where transportation security in America is concerned, the TSA is failing and rather badly.

You won't find TSA Agents at every single intersection in this nation with a doctor next to them, checking people's hearts to ensure they do not have a heart attack while driving. You will not find those same TSA Agents running around the streets of America stopping everyone to ensure drivers are not high on cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, or other illegal drugs in an effort to make sure the roads used for transportation are secure.

Instead, you will find TSA Agents in airports, demanding that ninety-five year old women with leukemia take off their undergarments, step into a private room, and submit to a, 'pat-down.'

You will find those TSA Agents using body scanners to take nearly xxx images of almost every single American who goes through security.

You will find TSA Agents asking children to submit to pat-downs as well as People with Disabilities and disabled Veterans who have served this nation.

The term, 'criminal,' has taken on an entirely new meaning when a ninety-five year old woman is viewed as a potential terrorist by government-funded and supported TSA Agents, many of whom were hired through advertisements on pizza boxes.

The TSA states that approximately three-percent of travelers have to endure a pat-down security check by an unknown, unfamiliar government goon with a filthy nitrile gloved hand.

The TSA is making efforts to seem, 'Disability Friendly,' and, 'Children Friendly,' and, 'Senior Friendly,' and so forth. What it does not understand is that fondling people is a felony anywhere else in America. The TSA does not want to understand that efforts to seem, 'friendly,' only come across as a smiling child molester with a lollipop.

The approach the TSA is taking with pat-down procedures is completely unacceptable. It is a violation of the humanity of every single person who must endure it.

Many people with PTSD, for example, are indeed harmed by these pat-downs. What is needed is a security procedure that does not find people like Ms. Weber and her mother feeling violated and molested. The TSA has every reason to feel completely ashamed of itself and should be.

TSA defends security officers after pat-down of 95-year-old wheelchair-using Michigan woman: media-dis-n-dat.blogspot.com/2011/06/tsa-defends-security-officers-after.html

Author Credentials: Thomas C. Weiss is a researcher and editor for Disabled World. Thomas attended college and university courses earning a Masters, Bachelors and two Associate degrees, as well as pursing Disability Studies. As a Nursing Assistant Thomas has assisted people from a variety of racial, religious, gender, class, and age groups by providing care for people with all forms of disabilities from Multiple Sclerosis to Parkinson's; para and quadriplegia to Spina Bifida. Explore Thomas' complete biography for comprehensive insights into his background, expertise, and accomplishments.