Traveler Detained for Anti-TSA Message

scifience writes "A traveler frustrated with recent changes to airport security procedures found himself detained in Milwaukee after writing a message critical of the TSA's leader on a plastic bag presented for screening. The message, which read "Kip Hawley is an Idiot," resulted in a confrontation with law enforcement, the traveler being told that his right to freedom of speech applied only "out there (pointing past the id checkers) not while in here [the checkpoint]." The story, which is detailed in a rapidly-growing thread on a discussion forum catering to frequent flyers, has attracted the interest of the ACLU, an AP reporter, and many others. The incident raises a number of interesting questions and concerns regarding just where our rights end."

Hang on...

[randommemoryaccess]

Don't our rights end where our lefts begin?

Re:The Right to Bear Arms

[Skywings]

Didn't know you could get bear arms. Thought bears were and endangered animal.

Re:Constitution?

[BadAnalogyGuy]

Lots of Americans have the constitution of a beached whale.

slashmotto

[Anonymous Coward]

In Civilization IV's Civilopedia there is a Benjamin Franklin quotation on article about Liberalism.

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both"

You must be new here.

Like, seriously new.

Re:Hang on...

[i_should_be_working]

Makes sense. I left the states in '98 and my rights are still (mostly) intact.

The Real Problem

[Steve B]

A traveler frustrated with recent changes to airport security procedures found himself detained in Milwaukee after writing a message critical of the TSA's leader on a plastic bag presented for screening. The message, which read "Kip Hawley is an Idiot," resulted in a confrontation with law enforcement

He's lucky he didn't get arrested for revealing a state secret.

You're nothing but a slave

[gd23ka]

We have no definition of victory. You can't compare this current erosion of rights, done in the name of perpetual war, with any erosion of rights that might've occurred during the well-defined WWII, because no one has any idea when we'll even know that it's time to expect our rights back.

We will tell you when you can have your "rights' back, slave!

Re:It used to be your rights end where mine begin

[Rogerborg]

And these hypothetical jocks who have cowed you so effectively; are they Federal employees?

Congratulations: you're a coward and an idiot!

Re:It used to be your rights end where mine begin

[flappinbooger]

fed ex - you put yourself in a box?

We the People

[thorkyl]

Lets have some fun,

Lets get 100,000 people to all go to the airport on the 5th of November at 10am with a lighter that has Kip Hawley is an Idiot writen on it.

Let them detain 100,000 people.

--
It's time to put the people back in "We the People"

Re:Constitution?

[Bvardi]

"Here's a short excerpt from the constitution of the People's Republic of China.

"Article 35. Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration.

Article 36. Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief..."

Constitutions only work when the people in charge feel constrained by their content"

-- Actually I think their constitution is completely accurate - I'm sure most of their citizens WOULD enjoy freedom of religion, association, procession, and of demonstration. Of course the government would have to give it to them to find out for sure....

Re:You think it's bad now?! JUST WAIT.

[0xABADC0DA]

I so hope the next president declares Bush an enemy combatant and sends him to gitmo. If for no other reason, the irony would be so delicious!

Blame Canada!

[MS-06FZ]

That's because our US citizens on our Northern border have sent reports that the Canadians on the other side were (apologies to Denis Leary) "sharpening up their hockey skates and getting ready to come down here and take our cheese." If there's anything we've learned in these last 139 years of bitter strife with our neighbor to the North, it is that they are much more dangerous than they would lead us to believe, "Eh?" You know what I'm talking "aboot". I think once upon a time the threat was mainly military - concern that the Prime Minister would lead a charge of a million Mounties over the border, that their Dudley Dooright would at last triumph over our Uncle Sam and our doughboys in their vigilance along the border of the barbarous lands to the North. These days, I think the concern is more cultural and economic: that an influx of French-speaking tourists will erode our culture, and the great language of English in this, the land in which it was born. Or that imports of superior Canadian Beer would weaken our economy. Fortunately, however, the latter issue has proven to be of no great concern: We Americans love our cheap, watery beer, so you can keep your "Molson Golden" - I for one, am content to tap the Rockies... The Rockies on our side of the border.

(I hope the Northern Barbarians appreciate some good-natured ribbing...)

Re:The Real Problem

[Russ Nelson]

Make up some letters out of lead saying "Kip Hawley is an Idiot," Cover them with black epoxy. Put it in the bottom of your luggage so they'll be perpendicular to the X-ray. Enjoy.