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Budget committee nixes solar farm, AHS-to-SOU scholarships ... Memorial Day rites set for Monday ... GOP's war on the poor ... Budget committee nixes solar farm, AHS-to-SOU scholarships ... Memorial Day rites set for Monday ... Antionette Kerr: Some items shouldn't fly with TSA Comment By Antionette Kerr More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Antionette Kerr More Content Now Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at 8:37 AM Updated Mar 19, 2015 at 9:10 AM By Antionette Kerr More Content Now Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at 8:37 AM Updated Mar 19, 2015 at 9:10 AM » Social News For those of us who travel via the “Friendly Skies,” Transportation Security Administration agents have the reputation of being not-so-friendly when it comes to carry-on items. So when TSA officials announced they would be “relaxing” some of the strict bans that followed the 9/11 tragedy, I found myself clouded with mixed emotions. Steps have been taken in stages to relax security since 2013. The TSA recently announced even more relaxed rules stating passengers will be able to carry on items including knitting needles, small knives, service monkeys and personal parachutes. The changes attracted sharp criticism from those who are perceived to be the friendliest in the business, like the flight attendants’ unions, which represents five labor groups and 90,000 people. Representatives said the decision was “poor and shortsighted.” In a piece in The New York Times, Stacy K. Martin, president of the Southwest Airlines flight attendants’ union, explained, “This policy was designed to make the lives of TSA staff easier, but not make flights safer.” Should the TSA continue relaxing these measures in the midst of global travel alerts, ISIS and heightened terror activity? This concern is coming from someone with a history of treacherous TSA experiences. Due to an emergency medical evacuation from a flight, I now have to call to report my intentions to fly and present a doctor’s note with a prescription. I arrive extra early in order to have additional screening of me and my carry-on oxygen concentrator. I’m uncomfortable with the process of having a special female security agent pull me aside. In the interest of time, I have surrendered my shyness. At this point, I decline the privacy of a screening room and patiently raise my hands and stare at the ceiling while the officer waives the wand around strategic areas of my body (let’s just say they involve parts that are typically off-limits on first introductions). Truly, I try to be lighthearted because I understand why my person and the chemical I am carrying on the plane would require extra screening. I tried joking with the last agent who had the unfortunate duty of “wanding” me up and down while I insisted that the airport could have at least first bought me dinner. The agent did not laugh. Instead, she reminded me there are worse procedures in other countries like being strip searched. Suddenly long lines, removing your shoes (especially when you forgot and had a hole in your sock) and having your favorite perfume confiscated because it’s over the limit for the amount of liquid you can carry on don’t seem all that inconvenient. I get it. I’ve been guilty of standing in those long lines complaining about airport security until a friend reminded me of the time when I didn’t mind. It was after 9/11 and National Guard members lined the hallways of JFK International Airport in full fatigues and carrying automatic assault rifles. A group of TSA agents screamed at me once when I left my strawberry cheesecakes from Junior’s Restaurant to step three feet away toward the trash can. Leaving items unattended was strictly enforced. The TSA almost confiscated the products (I was saved by the company’s famous trademarked orange and white striped bag). My cheesecake was thoroughly investigated and survived my momentary lapse in judgment. Things were very different then, and I flew with an elevated concern because terrorist threats had rocked our sense of flying in peace. For so long, international terrorism was something Americans saw in the movies. Many thought it would never happen to us. We tried to ignore what goes on in the rest of the world and thought would not happen here, in America. Did 9/11 change our thinking? So when the announcement came along the TSA would go through other rounds of “relaxed” restrictions, for several reasons, I didn’t feel at ease. It truly concerned me. Would I trade the time and hassle it takes for me to walk through airport security with an unknown gas strapped across my chest? Of course! I can’t help but think back to the tragedy of the Sept. 11 attacks when we were all praying terrorists would never prevail again. We were appreciative of measures taken to make us feel more secure. I think back to those we lost on 9/11 when I withstand my special screening process. The way I see it, we have at least 2,996 tragic reasons to never relax our airport security measures. Antionette Kerr is a freelance journalist and author of “Just Sayin’: Conversations My Mother Would Never Let Me Have at a Southern Dinner Table.” You can email her at [email protected]. By Antionette Kerr More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Antionette Kerr More Content Now Posted Mar. 19, 2015 at 8:37 AM Updated Mar 19, 2015 at 9:10 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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