Later this week, the U.S. will start implementing a new travel restriction on flights from Middle Eastern countries: passengers will no longer be able to board the plane with devices such as iPads, tablets, or laptops.
The Trump administration is implementing this restriction due to fears that terror groups may try to conceal bombs inside these devices. The cities included in this restriction include Cairo, Egypt; Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Istanbul, Turkey; Doha, Qatar; Amman, Jordan; Kuwait City; Casablanca, Morocco; and Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This is similar to a ban implemented by the U.K. targeted at a comparable list of countries.
Many have criticized this restriction for focusing on Muslim-majority countries. This is the same complaint used against racially profiling in airports and both can be answered with one word: priorities.
The purpose of this restriction is to prevent terrorists from blowing up planes. If the government thinks certain planes are safer without them, no one should be complaining. This restriction is not about the government being racist or targeting certain countries, it is about your own safety when you board a plane. The safety officers must ensure, to the best that they can, that every time you board a plane you will come off in one piece. If the Trump administration has serious concerns about terrorists attempting to blow up planes with laptops, then we should be thankful that they are taking action. If you are worrying about political correctness when it comes to airline safety, then you simply need to check your priorities. With terrorism a major threat to our society, the government must secure our airplanes and protect the people on them.
Another issue people have this ban is the “hassle.” Complaints range from expressed worries that this will interrupt travel plans, to moans that this will increase boredom on planes.
Again, it is important that we focus on the real issues. Is traveling a hassle? Of course? Are TSA agents annoying? We all know it’s true. However, do we all want to get off a plane in one piece? If the answer to this question is not more important than your answers to the first two, then your priorities are all wrong. Yes, it may be inconvenient, annoying and aggravating to check your laptop, but do you know what’s more aggravating? Terrorism.
So, while another travel restriction was not something we all wished for the new year, if it is for our own safety, lets lay off the complaints of racism, hassles, and inconvenience and maybe, just maybe even thank that TSA officer for doing his or her job so well.
