The Truth About Christmas Flight and Terrorists’ Threats in America

As expected, once Americans learned of the attempted terrorist attack on the Christmas day flight, cries are being heard across the nation for beefed up security, and questions being asked like, “How could this happen?”

But the truth of the matter is, Homeland Security foils many more attempted terrorist attacks than we would care to ever know. The incident with the Nigerian terrorist traveling from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan on Christmas Day, who attempted to create a bomb right there in his seat, but was tackled and subdued by brave fellow passengers, is only known about because it was so very public. If we knew how many possible terrorists attacks our national security people thwart on a daily basis, it would scare the bejesus out of us. I can understand much better now why we as the public are often kept in the dark on key issues involving our safety. Politicians and government officials over the years have learned the hard way that the only way to avoid mass hysteria is to keep important issues secret.

You may argue that we have the right to know about as much as possible that goes on in our country. But think about this; we did not become the biggest power in the world by being stupid.  Those in charge of our national security know what they are doing. Everyday there is a terrorist plot foiled, everyday heroes are born that we never hear about. It’s kind of like those child safety latches on cabinets. They do their job quietly and without fanfare, so we never have to experience the horror of what would happen if they weren’t there.

I think it is time for us to relax and trust the people we hire to do their jobs. Now all we have basically done with our ranting about more security since the incident on Christmas day is to make air travel even more restrictive and uncomfortable than it already was.

And speaking of…the flight I took to Denver on Thanksgiving was the first time I had flown in 20 years. I was truly under-impressed. The seats were smaller, the snacks cheaper, and the overall experience was more like what I experienced on a Greyhound bus twenty odd years ago. What’s that about? Has it become that if you want a comfortable, pleasurable flight you must choose first class?

Another great example of the great divide between the haves and the havenots.