Two million Americans make their way through airport security each day, which is about 1 in 30 people.  Popular American airports such as Los Angeles International Airport and Chicago O'Hare see more than 80 million travelers a year.  The security area of an airport is most often considered the worst and most dreaded part of the facility; and, it seems like no matter what time you arrive or how early you are for your flight, there are always an abundant amount of people trying to get to their final destinations.  Ever since the tragedy of September 11, 2001 occurred, airport security has become the forefront of media and citizen's worries about what measures to take to protect our country.  The "Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created only two months after the Twin Towers were demolished", and has gotten much of the criticisms for new governmental policies, such as full-body scanners and pat-downs (Valkenburg).  People are claiming that they feel personally violated and that they are being stripped of their privacy because of these policies that have been enforced in order to make sure an incident like September 11th never happens again.  By looking at the recent complaints of bodily and privacy violations from travelers, one can see that through changes or improvements in homeland security policies, new airport security technologies, such as full-body scanners, and comparing the strategies of different countries around the world, we can put an end to the unnecessary "bodily violation" complaints that detract and negatively affect the way the TSA and other airport officials ensure the safety of its travelers.  

When everyone woke up on Tuesday morning of September 11, 2001, there was no way anyone could have predicted what would happen just hours later.  It instantly became the center of attention of every American and countless others across the world.  I remember as a child, sitting just feet from the television watching the news casts covering this horrendous event and wondering why this was happening to such innocent people.  Unfortunately, I did not understand the details, complexity nor the severity of this event at the time.  Although the Twin Towers were brought down, I grew up alongside the construction of the memorial of September 11, the Freedom Towers.  

Shortly following the incident, airport security was forced to adopt stricter rules and regulations that required quick action in order to keep everyone safe.  Some of the more drastic changes include not being able to see your loved one or friend as they get off the plane at their gate, only being allowed to bring one carry-on item, and only having permission to bring no more than three ounces of each liquid on the plane.  Also, it all needs to fit in a quart-size plastic bag or it must go in your checked baggage.  In order to make these changes, "President Bush provided twenty billion dollars for the upgrading of intelligence and security", that involved stricter security requirements and background checks on baggage and employees of the airport (McCamey, p. 1).  

Another change that was implemented just two months after the terrorist attacks, was the creation of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA).  This act of legislation quickly led to the creation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).  This governmental organization, "was designed to improve the quality of airline security following the September 11, 2001 events ...  [And] roughly 65,000 new federal positions were employed" which created more jobs focused on the safety and security of our country (Alychia B. Taylor).  

If we fast forward to October of 2011, the TSA program is fully underway and has made substantial policies meant to keep us and our homeland secure.  In order to aid with complaints concerning the long lines and the time consuming process, the TSA created a new program called, TSA PreCheck, "at more than 150 U.S. airports" (Jones).  This platform was meant to benefit frequent flyers avoid the long security lines and get through the process quicker, with some minor exceptions.  When going through ordinary airport security, one must take of shoes, jackets, belts and remove anything and everything metal from their bodies.  For TSA PreCheck members, you can access a shorter line reserved for just participants of this program, and avoid taking off shoes, jackets, and removing liquids and laptops from personal carry-on items.  Even though there are several advantages, these travelers still have to walk through metal detectors or full-body scanners to confirm that they are following the rules and not bringing any contraband substances into the airport or onto the airplane.  In order to become a member, one must pay an $85 fee, apply online and go through an intensive background check to confirm that your record is clear of crimes and that you obtain citizenship of the United States'.  This ensures that the people who reap the benefits of the program are deserving and are qualified enough to handle the responsibility and privileges this platform provides.  As our society evolves, the programs do as well, "the agency is now moving toward offering TSA PreCheck expedited screening only to trusted and pre-vetted travelers ...  and is working with a number of partners to expand the enrollment in (the) program", as TSA spokesman Bruce Anderson states (qtd. By Jones).  The TSA PreCheck program is a happy medium between traveler conveniences while still following the policies put in place.  Furthermore, this new process does expedite the security checkpoint, and the number one priority still is, and will always be, safety.  

Personally, I have had experience with the TSA PreCheck program because my father is a frequent flyer for his company on business trips and he is a member of this program.  This proves that it is not only a frequent flyer who can reap the benefits of this institution, but their children and close family members can, as well.  The advantages of this program are not only the convenience of accelerated security lines, but also eliminates any tension or annoyed attitudes travelers may have towards the whole security situation or the TSA officers.  I believe this program applies very well to lives today in society, where checking as many things off of your to-do list in the quickest manner makes everyone happy.  This platform should be used in every American airport, if not already, and eventually be adopted in airports worldwide.  The TSA has proven they understand the importance of travelers' time and making this process as efficient as possible, and the TSA PreCheck program is living proof that they are trying to create a happy medium between safety and efficiency.

Privacy has always been a concern to citizens and being able to keep their lives as private as possible is crucial.  Recently in the media, a substantial amount of complaints have been expressed through the media about how full-body scanners and TSA pat-downs are a violation of ones' privacy and calling these devices a "virtual strip search" (Ravitz).  To put this matter into perspective, "over 900 complaints have been filed to the American Civil Liberties Union in just November 2011", and have caused protests where people are chanting, "We Won't Fly" (Bajoria).  I believe that with all the new technology that is being implemented in the airport, people are using their complaints in order to grasp understanding, "because most of the technology currently used in airports is brand new, and because what rights citizens have may or may not have is usually a very blurry area" (Taylor 505).  For example, if you were stuck in a burning building and a fire fighter came to rescue you and picked you up to bring you out of the building and accidentally touched your breast or swiped your inner thigh, you would not consider it a bodily violation because his intent is to keep you safe and out of harm's way.  A TSA agent's job is very similar in their objectives.  Lillie Cooney, associate director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, states, "People need to know what's happening, with no sugar-coating and no spinning," which is important point because the people who are against some airport security aspects aren't as informed as they should be in order to have a credible argument (Coney qtd. In Ravitz).  

Full-body scanners are notorious for their poor reputation because revealing pictures of passengers' bodies are being shown to the TSA agent patrolling the area.  To provide insight on the Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT), also known as the full-body scanner, it "uses electromagnetic wavelengths to  ...  [detect] metal, drugs, or explosives you may have on your person," expresses Courteney Taylor (513).  Depending on the type of body scanner determines how complex the picture will be; however, no commercial airport device has the ability to see your naked body, just the silhouette (Tirosh).  Some believe they can find a way around this issue; if they prefer to not walk through the full-body scanner, which is completely fine and citizens have the right to do so, and then still complain about their privacy being encroached when they have to get patted-down.  If you refuse to use one method of security measures, then you are subject to a different one and if you still feel as if your privacy has been violated then do not choose airplanes as your mode of transportation (ABC News).  I understand peoples' concern with this new technology and believe that those who wish to "get around" the system are only hurting themselves and many others by doing that.  If an innocent person can avoid walking through a body scanner and getting patted-down just by claiming 'bodily violation', then it would be effortless for a trained terrorist to get by right under all of our noses.

These devices have gone through immense testing to ensure they are efficient while still being discrete.  John Allen, a TSA Spokesperson defends security policies and ceases the "bodily violation" complaints given from travelers by stating, "A body scan takes between 15 and 30 seconds, while a full pat-down can take from two to four minutes. And for those who cringe at the idea of being touched by a security official, the machine is a quick and easy way to avoid that contact and hassle" (qtd. In Ravitz).  These machines with the help of the TSA officials that man them, are very successful in finding illegal substances that people try to bring through security.  According to a quote from the TSA PreCheck website, cited in the Houston Journal of International Law, from 2004 to 2008, "166 arrests for fraudulent documents and 125 for drug possession" and "802 dangerous persons ... who were going through airports with increased security that Boston's Logan International Airport implements, were arrested for serious crimes" (Jansen and Taylor 528).

Because the opinions and criticisms of Americans are very important in order to be able to find a happy medium between safety and privacy, Courteney Taylor has dedicated the majority of her academic journal to comparing and analyzing the airport security strategies of several countries around the world.  Some countries, such as Australia have security methods that are very similar to the United States'.  Australia is also adopting a program similar to TSA PreCheck, but for the Customs area of the airport, "it will allow Customs to assess passengers' information earlier and faster ...  [and] give security officers all passengers' travel history in advance so those working can make more informed judgments at the border" (Taylor 518).

There are many complaints about how strict and unfair our airport methods are, but little do some know, there are countries with even harsher and longer security processes than we have here in the States.  Israel, is one of these countries, "with its sometimes controversial methods of airport security, has perhaps the most rigid security system in the world" (Taylor 520).  At Israel's largest international airport, Ben Gurion, airport officials partake in a brief conversation with the passenger about their final destinations, travel excursions, etc.  The officers are trained in not necessarily focusing on the actual answers given, but with recognizing physical cues such as tone of voice and if the passenger appears to be nervous in any way.  This is one of Israel's primary strategies in airport security: personal interaction.  As Courteney Taylor compares strategies she explains, "Personal interaction ... should not completely replace the United States advanced security equipment, but instead should be used in addition" (524).  These methods are being used in airports in the United States, such as in Atlanta, Miami and Logan International Airport in Boston and are called "chat-downs".  In addition to the traditional security process of going through metal detectors, these conversations would happen during the 'step' of security where the TSA checks your boarding pass and drivers' license to confirm your identity.  Similar to the strategy in Israel, these officers are paying more attention at the physical characteristics of the traveler instead of the answers they provide.  Some of the most common traits these officials are trained to identify are dishonesty, unsympathetic intentions, or fear of discovery.

On the flip side, no country is perfect nor has all the magic answers to prevent a terrorist attack.  Multiple articles have suggested the "phasing-out" of full body scanners and substituting them for other technology that has a better track record, not only with the travelers walking through them but with their rates of productivity and effectiveness.  Congressman Jason Chavettz states, "there are more effective technologies available that are also less intrusive" (Bream). 

Unfortunately, these claims of privacy or bodily violation may be true for one particular occurrence with a TSA agent, but for TSA organization as a whole, this is not their ultimate goal.  The new safety technologies should remain at the forefront instead of passengers trying to get around the system.  Like any other business or corporation, there are some people who abuse their power and take advantage of the rules.  This is of course illegal, and the proper consequences should be sought for that particular person but this should only happen once and shouldn't continue to be an issue.  If it is, then that's a different subject matter and the department that hires these officials should be called into question on their ability to hire those who will best represent not only the TSA organization but the country as a whole.  

The TSA is not perfect, nor is any person or organization.  But striving for perfection, in this case, citizen's and the homeland's security, are the number one priority.  If you have an issue with someone moving a wand over your body, then you shouldn't have brought something you knew was contraband.  If you were unaware, then you know for next time, but you do not have the right to complain about someone doing their job correctly and following the rules and regulations that have been instilled.  Privacy is important to everyone, but safety is essential.

