Aftermath of 9/11: Airport Searches

I was incensed by your two front-page articles: “U.S. Gets Back to Normal” and “Public’s Anger Simmers Over Airport Searches” (March 11).

It has been six months since the attacks and the U.S. is not back to normal. Let’s remember that we are thousands of miles away from ground zero and the Pentagon. We are thousands of miles away from the suburbs of New York, where American flags are displayed proudly on almost every door and car in towns where at least one person died on Sept. 11. We are thousands of miles away from a gaping hole in the New York City skyline. We are thousands of miles away from watching New Yorkers jump at the sound of an ambulance siren. Out of sight, out of mind. But we are not back to normal.

Airport security checks are without a doubt time-consuming and somewhat invasive, but they are a necessary component of security, no matter what your age or status. I saw a well-known celebrity pulled aside in Minneapolis last week. He watched the security staff search his bags with patience and understanding. Nothing exempts any of us from a security check. If you don’t agree, do us all a favor and stay home.

Tori Abiad

Marina del Rey

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I acknowledge that there may be airport security employees stupid enough to believe that a Medal of Honor (shaped like a star) carried by the retired general who earned it could be used as a weapon. But what is the rationale for calling me aside (time after time) to examine my briefcase and wallet because I carry coins?

Yes, I have quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies in the change compartment of my wallet, inside my briefcase. Each time the security employee, after sticking a gloved finger through my change compartment, observes, “You have coins here.” I respond brightly, “Yes, that’s my wallet.” This occurs even when I take out most of the coins before heading for the airport. What makes U.S. coins suspect?

Judith Ilene Bloom

Los Angeles

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The Horrigans and others like them need to chill out. So what if their 3-year-old was searched? It is not out of the realm of possibility to put something on a child to get through security.

Last week at Burbank Airport I had removed all my metal objects--jewelry, watch, etc.--or so I thought. I set off the first sensor. Then I was body-scanned with the wand.

The underwire on my bra was the culprit. My first thought was that a partial strip search was imminent but, most important, did I have on presentable underwear? There was no strip search. Note to self: Wear bras without underwires (you can look perky later) and never, never wear scruffy underwear through security.

Quit complaining--we need the security, and if you get searched, it makes a good story.

Pamela Edy Schlotter

Oxnard