...but apparently someone neds to remind those people in charge of beefing up airport security! I mean, really, do we need screening machines that can look through your clothes? When I first heard this proposal on the news I thought I wouldn't like it. When I saw footage tonight of a man being screened in this fashion I knew so for sure. The computer screen that the security guard would look at displays a very clear image of your naked body. The justification is the fear of plastic explosives or ceramic knives that wouldn't set off a conventional metal detector. My theory behind this is that it's just another way current, international, fear-mongering public policies are striving to undermine ANY sense of personal power one might have. Strip searching without just cause is WRONG! I implore American voters to do the whole world a favor by reminding your elected officals the importance of preserving dignity and civil liberties - even in the face of terrorist threats. There is just too much at stake here and unfortunately so much of the burden here seems to rest on the shoulders of my American brothers and sisters. Your government is setting policies that will become blueprints for other governments everwhere in the world...but only you have the voice and the power to make sure these changes are one we can all live with!

Love,
Terri

pretty bad eh T? O well,they'll pass out when they see me,so the jokes on them.

In all seriousness,should we really be surprised? What concerns me is,what will some of those people be DOING with the "pictures".?

I've heard the pat-downs have been bad too. How on earth to solve this one in an era of plastic explosives and suicide bombers? Who's benefiting from this, now? Private, corporate-jet type services so the folks with money don't have to suffer the indignities of public transportation? Maybe we should pool our money and buy stock in small planes.

Maria

Hmm, this one doesn't really bother me as much as lots of other things. Given the high stakes, we DO need some kind of real assurance that ceramic weapons aren't being smuggled aboard, otherwise you can book it they will be! As invasive as such a scanner seems, at least it's better than physical strip searches. 'Course nudity has never bothered me anyway, so I suppose it wouldn't seem as bad to me as to someone who's really modest in that way.

What you said is more concern, Aries -- what happens to those "pictures." I would argue strongly for EXTREME penalties for anyone copying, selling or distributing images obtained in this way ... extreme enough that no one will do it. The day that airport scans of Pamela Anderson start being available on porn sites will be hugely demoralizing to every traveler, and I think the laws ought to be stiff enough to make SURE it doesn't happen. To say nothing of kiddie-porn ... the mind shudders.

Love,
Greg

Without attempting to answer many questions that I can think of, here are a few quick comments: 1) supposedly this "scanning" would not apply to everyone - I've heard reported on the news. 2) supposedly only same-gender person(s) would look at the individual images - male/male female/female. 3) at least this is being brought to the public's attention.

Hmmm...

Frances/MS AVC

BTW I don't like it!