English Essay on Airport Security
English Essay on Airport Security

English Essay on Airport Security

Available Only on StudyHippo
  • Pages: 4 (966 words)
  • Published: October 15, 2017
  • Type: Essay
View Entire Sample
Text preview

In his article titled "Spread Your Legs, and Smile," English diplomat Shashi Tharoor shares his encounters with airport security both pre- and post-9/11 terrorist attacks. Tharoor discusses the alterations in airport security measures and provides a brief summary of the article within 150 words.

Tharoor was a frequent traveler from the age of six when he was enrolled in a boarding school. He recalls simpler times when airport security checks were less rigid, and one could board a plane after a luggage check with reading material. Nowadays, security checks are slower and possibly humiliating, and have become more thorough since 9/11.

The security guards publicly inspect people's personal belongings, often subjecting them to humiliating and invasive procedures such as strip searches and opening every item. Shashi Tharoor argues that these security measures are not only unnecessary but also counterproductive in

...

the fight against terrorism. In the article, "Spread Your Legs, and Smile," published in Newsweek on October 11th, 2004, Tharoor expresses his critical stance towards America's airport security.

Regarding attitudes to airport security in the texts, Tharoor's article presents a negative perspective on the current system.

Although he agrees that airport security is important, the writer believes that the current approach, which has been in place since the 9/11 attacks, is excessively strict and does little to prevent terrorism while making air travel inconvenient for passengers. He cites his own experience, noting that he used to bring a newspaper and thick paperback on board after checking his luggage. However, now even his reading material was inspected with high-tech compressors for potential explosive devices, as they implemented reinforced airport security. (p. 2 l.)

From lines 13 to 20,

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

Theroor expresses his concern that terrorist attacks involving seemingly harmless objects like paperback books can actually do more harm to passengers than the terrorists themselves. In a related article entitled "Attendants question ground security" by Blake Morrison, published in USA TODAY on April 4th, 2002, flight attendants are interviewed regarding their skepticism of the security measures taken by ground-crew at airports. The article highlights how employees who work on planes but are not flying can easily access flight areas with just a swipe card and do not go through the same security checks as flight attendants. President of the Association of Flight Attendants, Pat Friend, suggests that this lack of proper security measures for ground-crew creates insecurity for flight attendants instead of actual safety for passengers.

The article suggests that emphasis should be placed on ensuring the security of flight preparations and ground crew, rather than solely checking passengers for weapons. This perspective is presented in a section titled "Fear of Flying: An Israeli Look at U.S. Air Safety," written by Elisa Ben-Rafael for the November 2002 edition of World Press Review. The text is enclosed in a paragraph tag.

In her writing, the author discusses her encounters with U.S. airport security measures and draws comparisons to those in Israel. She highlights the changes made to security protocols in Israel after a terrorist attack in 1972 and believes that the United States has not learned from the 9/11 attacks, as she was unimpressed with the security measures in place. Upon arriving, she observed that only one police officer was assigned to inspect vehicles, which is unlike Israeli airports where all vehicles are checked upon arrival by

the staff.

After traveling by air, the author expressed concern about the limited passport checks conducted by airlines. This was because terrorists who were involved in the 9/11 attacks had provided identification before boarding. The author also shared an experience where she did not pass a metal detector test and was not permitted to verify if she had metallic items on her person. As a result of recent terrorist attacks, the author departed from the United States with apprehensions regarding insufficient airport security measures.

The act of frisking flight crews in front of passengers can create a sense of insecurity among the passengers and cause them to question the necessity of such a measure, ultimately resulting in feelings of unsafety. This feeling of uncertainty on an airplane can lead to panic amongst the passengers, which is concerning as individuals tend to act selfishly and with little concern for others during such situations.

The issue of airport security has come under increased scrutiny since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. While improvements are necessary to enhance passenger safety and prevent unnecessary panic, privacy must also be respected. To avoid causing fear among passengers, movies depicting plane hijackings and crashes should not be shown during flights with in-flight entertainment options. Although there may be concerns about frisking crew members in front of passengers breeding insecurity, it is unclear whether this would actually happen. Regardless, such actions have no positive outcomes and are therefore pointless. As an editor, I believe that current airport security measures require improvement following the events of September 11th. When introducing new measures, safety should always be prioritized while minimizing

intrusions into personal privacy and avoiding anxiety-inducing incidents.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

The security checks at airports are excessive and illogical. Some individuals advocate for passengers to be searched even if they are completely nude and all bodily orifices would still be examined. It is ridiculous that people can face consequences for having a small tool, like a nail clipper, in their purse. Furthermore, there has been discussion of prohibiting passengers from bringing water bottles on a flight because liquids can be utilized to manufacture chemical explosives. These regulations are too basic and do not provide sufficient protection.

The solution to preventing plane bombings is not simply overcoming basic obstacles, as determined terrorists will inevitably find ways around them. Instead, implementing advanced security measures that do not inconvenience innocent passengers should be considered to better ensure safety. Best regards, [name] Words: 190 Words in all: 994

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New