Latest TSA Nightmare: Man Soaked by Urine

on November 21, 2010 at 10:05 AM

Thomas Sawyer They keep coming -- horrific examples of bad behavior by the TSA during pat-downs and body scans. The lastest: A bladder cancer survivor was soaked by his own urine after a TSA agent broke the man's urostomy bag.

"I tried to warn him that he would hit the bag and break the seal on my bag, but he ignored me," said the passenger, Thomas Sawyer. "Sure enough, the seal was broken and urine started dribbling down my shirt and my leg and into my pants. They never apologized. They acted like they hadn’t seen what happened. But I know they saw it because I had a wet mark. I am totally appalled by the fact that agents that are performing these pat-downs have so little concern for people with medical conditions."

From 3-year-old girls to nursing moms and now cancer patients, the TSA is racking up some major PR disasters, and they're heartbreaking, and they're infuriating, and there needs to be some additional sensitivity training, clearly.

But until a better way is found, I'd also rather have pat-downs and body scans done than not. At least now, terrorists are getting the message that we're serious.

President Obama addressed the issue yesterday at a press conference in Portugal and stood by the security measures.

"At this point, the Transportation Security Administration, in consultation with our counterterrorism experts, have indicated to me that the procedures that they've been putting in place are the only ones right now that they consider to be effective against the kind of threat that we saw in the Christmas Day bombing."

No one wants to be treated disrespectfully or be groped and ogled by a TSA agent on a power trip, and my heart breaks for this man who was subjected to such humiliation. But for the hundreds of thousands of passengers boarding planes each day, these awful incidents are more the exception than the rule.

And if it's a choice between an aggressive system -- that admittedly has some flaws -- and boarding a plane with a bomb on board, then pat me down all you want. If I can't take it, I'll take a train or a car.

Wayward and abusive agents can and should be dealt with severely, but so should the threat of terrorism. And while all these headline-making horror stories are alarming, the real alarm is the possibility of human lives being lost to terrorists.

Do you think TSA deserves the bad rap they're getting or is it just a few bad agents making a bad name for an agency trying their best to protect us?

Image via msnbc

About the author Julie Ryan Evans

can be found writing from coffee houses wherever she may be. The quality of her days is largely influenced by the seat she nabs and whether a protein plate is available.

Filed Under: barack obama, in the news, terrorism

Comments (34)

jagamama0710

on Nov 21, 2010 at 10:29 AM

TSA Agents are generally douche holes, regardless of whether they're patting you down or not.

As for this new security measure, I don't think it's effective at all. It's my understanding they don't body scan/pat down everyone, right? Just the pre-selected ones? Unless they're doing this to every single person, it's not effective. The scanners also can't see through skin. So they wouldn't be able to pick up anything hiding in a body cavity.

I would skip the scanner and go with the pat down. I couldn't care less about the pat down for myself (barring them actually sticking their hands down my panties or full on tweaking my nipple, I don't care) However, I would have a SERIOUS problem with them patting down my small children in such a way. I should never have to explain to my toddler that it's ok for this stranger at the airport to touch you in such places but nobody else.

Report this comment

MadelynMc

on Nov 21, 2010 at 10:33 AM

In my experience, I have found TSA agents to be sort of power-trippy and rude. Obviously, you can't generalize and lump the whole group into this category based on a few experiences, but I feel like a lot of people share the same perception. This perception, coupled with the fact that the TSA has taken a reactive and defensive approach to concerns about the body scanners instead of educating and informing the public up front about the whole thing. I think these two things have majorly contributed to the negative feelings. People go through security already on the defensive (and rightly so)... It's just a bad equation.

lovinangels

on Nov 21, 2010 at 10:44 AM

The security measures are a show to make you feel safe. They are ineffective... even the "enhanced" procedures would not have stopped the underwear bomber.

You know what works? Dogs and behavior profilers. And no one sees anyone naked. Take a lesson from Israel, people, and stop advocating for the violation of other people. I've seen rape victims that are tramautized, some cancer survivor had to remove her breast prosthetic, a little girl screaming for relief from a stranger touching, touching, touching her.

Please stop saying all this is okay, and making us safe. It's not. It's ineffective, and volatile.

SashaBW

on Nov 21, 2010 at 10:57 AM

I just got back from Israel and I second what lovinangels says here. Our "security" does not stop terrorists. They will just resort to sticking it in their body cavitiies or whatever they need to stay one step ahead.These measure only penalize the innocent.

on Nov 21, 2010 at 10:58 AM

SashaBW - I was going to mention Israel! They have such tight, effective security for a reason. Just sayin'...

Nonmember comment from JoJo

on Nov 21, 2010 at 11:17 AM

"But until a better way is found, I'd also rather have pat-downs and body scans done than not. At least now, terrorists are getting the message that we're serious." Are you serious? THAT is your rationale? Sure, bombing a few of their countries is child's play, but patting down three-year-olds, nuns, and grannies, that'll teach 'em to think twice! All this shows is that they're winnings: we're giving up our civil liberties, even violating our own Constitution, because we are living in irrational fear of being blown up on every air plane by them. It shows them we're LOSING.

Nonmember comment from Danielle

on Nov 21, 2010 at 11:41 AM

I read in blog about one mans encounter with the TSA agents who flat out told him that they are making the pat downs so uncomfortable to entice people to go through the full-body scanners-- its not an added safety measure by any means, its just used to make you feel uncomfortable with the process, so you choose to have naked photos taken instead.

jalaz77

on Nov 21, 2010 at 11:52 AM

That poor guy!! That could have been avoided had they asked him to show them the bag. I understand why we are going through this but the disrespect needs to end, especially when it comes to medical needs!

Nonmember comment from Andrea

on Nov 21, 2010 at 12:26 PM

"But until a better way is found, I'd also rather have pat-downs and body scans done than not. At least now, terrorists are getting the message that we're serious." Terrorists are getting the message that our country is a joke. This is not making you any safer; any terrorist of intelligence will insert anything they want to conceal in an area unsearchable by the scanners or (as yet) by TSA gropers. These scanners would not even have caught the "underwear bomber." Terrorists are laughing their (unsearched) rear ends off at the indignities and radiation that some Americans are willing to suffer so that they can bury their heads a little farther in the sand.

Facebook comment from Gina Crosley-Corcoran

on Nov 21, 2010 at 12:56 PM

I wonder how many times in one month that Obama can make me sorry I voted for him?