12 January 2010

A Tale of Two Airports

The following true story depicts an airport experience that isn't quite what you'd expect.

When I had entered the airport, I was instructed to stand in a long line, and my friends were told they would not be permitted to go into nor beyond the ticket and baggage control area. In order to be granted access to the controlled area, one needed to have an plane ticket and a government sanctioned ID. The reason for the line was due to the fact that a government employee had to check whether those who wanted get on a flight had their proper papers (ticket and ID). If the control officer decided your papers were improper, then you would be restricted from flying, and then other government employees would appear and take you away for questioning.

As I stood in line with my ticket and ID in hand, I noticed the unemotional and lifeless expression exhibited by the control officers. "It" (he or she) would expect you to hand them the papers in order and have your passport already openned to the identifying page. If this was not the case, then you would instantly invoke an expression of disgust on It's hallowed face. It would take your "papers" and examine them. After examining them, It wrote on the ticket a code, and then stamped it with some sort of government insignia. Once I finished with this line, I was "assisted" through some metal detectors and a maze by the same jovial types of government employees as I first encountered. Lastly, I had to wait in yet another long line for the honor of having more "safety concious" and "congenial" government agents carelessly and roughly rummage through my personal belongings.

After a bit of a wait, it was finally my turn. I put my baggage on the conveyor belt in order for it to be scanned by an x-ray machine. Unfortunately, my bags appeared to be harboring what It thought were some sort of prohibited objects, whereupon I was unceremoneously led over to a table for a baggage search. With the same dull facial expression as per the other government drones, It went through my things and found the supposedly dangerous objects. They were a book and a belt, which the x-ray had made obviously clear. But the drone had to be sure. It then jammed all of my belongings back into my suitcase and gave me the okay to go by a wave of the hand while turning and walking back to its station. I was left to repack my things. I'm glad I didn't have to go back for something I may have forgetten, because that might have been cause to shut the airport down! As I waited to board my plane, I asked one of the government agents why they had to go through all my papers and baggage. It's reply? "We have to keep out all those who want to do harm to our way of life".

As you read this story, I'll wager that you thought it took place at an airport in the United States, post 9/11. It did not. It took place 24 years ago in the communist Soviet Union, which today is Russia. Indeed, this tale of two airports makes one wonder where America is headed, doesn't it?

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin, in the Pennsylvania Assembly's 11 November 1755 reply to the Governor

(other articles are archived on my Writings page.)

Rebecca Iocca

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