Mommy, the mean man took my toy bat!
In Louisville, Kentucky — home to Louisville Slugger, America’s most famous baseball bat manufacturer — the TSA has a special warning display near the security screening area at the airport.
Sadly, this is the closest thing to “local flavor” that I’ve seen at any of the otherwise uniformly-grim TSA outposts around the country.
photo found by Timothy Snyder
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There’s no room to swing a bat on an airplane anyway.
Why don’t they sell tube mailers at the gate?
IMNSHO – The fact that we have created these two monsters of bureaucracy (Homeland Security and TSA) based on our fear is DISGRACEFUL. Our ancestors would be disgusted (and rightly so) to observe what a society of frightened sheep we have become. I know it disgusts me. We should be ashamed for putting up with it.
—THE TERRORISTS HAVE ALREADY WON.—-
3000 people died in the 9/11 attacks; while tragic, that’s roughly equivalent to HALF the number of folks who die EVERY 5 DAYS from smoking, not to mention driving accidents.
“The only thing we have to fear. Is fear itself.”
Homeland Security money could go for better uses. Many medium sized cities that used to get federal funding for day to day police use have had that money diverted to Homeland Security. On top of that, many of the police officers have been called up to serve in the military, because of the occupation in Iraq. It’s a huge problem.
“There’s so much spent on homeland security, and there are lot of legitimate issues there, but I would love to see Congress pay some attention to hometown security,” Barrett, Miwaukee’s Mayor said.
I dont care about basball – its a waste of time
However, the site design is great!! I’m luvin the new color scheme
I suppose it never occured to the TSA to arm the passengers with Louisville Sluggers.
“Those who give up essential liberties for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
– Benjamin Franklin
The problem isn’t baseball loving Americans with bats, is it? Never was, never will be. What a bunch of idiots…they probably took most of those from kids.
#7, That’s a catchy sentiment. I like the “e” play with “liberty” and “safety”. And it was said by such a famous person, good ol’ Ben. Too bad it has little value in application to reality.
For instance, define “essential”. Some say carrying a gun is essential but definitely not everyone. Some say they have a right to complete privacy; all criminals agree as well. Etc., etc.
“…give up essential liberties for temporary safety…”>
What about temporarily giving up some liberties for temporary safety?
Or temporarily giving up some liberties for long lasting safety?
Ben’s statement refers to one individual and yet everyone who quotes it applies it to the masses. Sorry, it’s not as simple as that. Just like ONE gun can protect from another gun, it doesn’t mean WILL. One of those guns will ultimately take a life, innocent OR guilty, so the right to bear arms just invites death.
…which brings me to poster #2…
“…to observe a society of frightened sheep we have become.”
Frightened sheep? … or a natural reaction for self preservation in the face of impending danger.
When was the last time you saw a flock of sheep invade a foreign country? When was the last time you saw a flock of sheep seek out and attempt to destroy the wolf?
Since when is mass murder equal to a car accident?
Since when the assured threat of a repeat of that mass murder by the same perpetrators warrant casual indifference?
I was in Louisville onver the summer and went to the bat factory.
They told everyone there, many times, they could not carry on a bat on the plane. It had to be checked in your luggage.
Anyone getting it taken away is an idiot!
The TSA was created to replace very low paid idiots contracted from the provate sector with the same idiots who were given some additional training and a little more pay and made federal employees.
Most terrorists wouldn’t know what to do with a baseball bat. A cricket bat, on the other hand…
#9, Jim
A witty reply about the saying. However, your analysis doesn’t cut it. First, there is no evidence that Ben Franklin ever said it. Second, I believe most people would agree that the Bill of Rights lays out the essential rights we as a society deserve.
(FYI, that is the first 10 Amendments to the U.S, Constitution. I believe the Bill of Rights and Freedoms cover pretty well the same rights under the Canadian Constitution)
By enshrining these rights in the Constitution, the thought was that they could never be taken away from us. It is with regret that those charged with the enforcement of the law fail to see the need.
What kind of an idiot tries to take a fricken baseball bat onboard?!?!? Morons! Seriously though, 1 man with a bat can be dangerous, but imagine an organized team of people with bats onboard.
I’ve flown over a dozen times since 9/11 and haven’t had any problems whatsoever. Taking your shoes off is a nuisance, but c’mon, everyone knows that is coming when you’re in line and even getting pulled aside to be individually scanned with the wand only takes like an extra 2 mins max. I saw a documentary on things they are still pulling out of people’s luggage & pockets and the # of knives, blackjacks, brass knuckles, pepper spray, etc. people are still trying to carry onboard is insane. Just put it in your checked baggage and everything is fine…….
#7 – “Those who give up essential liberties for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
– Benjamin Franklin
Comment by Gills — 12/5/2006 @ 2:33 am
Thanks for being the 5,354,986,127th person to use that quote…
Despite the comments of my distinguished colleage JimR in post #9, it is absolutely true and unassailable, but also so permanantly burned into our brains as to be silly to repeat. :-/
Speaking of JimR…
#9 When was the last time you saw a flock of sheep invade a foreign country? When was the last time you saw a flock of sheep seek out and attempt to destroy the wolf?
We are watching it on CNN every day. Choose your metaphor… Sheep… Lemmings… whatever… We attacked the wrong country, destabilized a region, and created more danger for Americans and allies around the world.
The job should have been to invade Afganistan, obliterate the Taliban, bring Bin Laden and his henchmen to justice, and leave a wake of doom in our path… Instead, we are just about done dismantling the Constitution, we are following the idiot son of the first failed Bush down a path a destruction and blah blah blah… My point is, we have acted like frightened sheep.
Four planes and 3000+ people is a real tragedy that demands action. But we are the world’s superpower. We have the greatest military resources in the world. He have some of the smartest political and military minds in the world right here. And our reation to the acts of petty thugs was to act like petty thugs abroad and Big Brother at home? Our response should have been surgical, swift, and over…
I understand that some in power, and Bush, really think they can turn around the region and eliminate terrorism in one fell swoop. It’s scared and stupid policy doomed to failure.
Yesterday, I dropped a Priority Mail package in the dropbox at the USPS office after hours.
Today, the package was returned for this reason: The package was over 16 ozs and due to security, must be handed, in person, to a USPS employee.
I took time off of work to go into the post office and complain.
I asked why I could dropbox a 13oz package and not a 17oz package? “It was the rules.”
I asked whats the difference in security? “It was the rules.”
I then asked, so I could hand this package to any postal employee, including the one on my route? “Yes”
So you are saying I could have taken the package returned to me from the postman’s grasp and hand it right back to him and we would be ok? “Yes”
The terrorists have won.
#16
Please refrain from posting that the terrorists have won.
Why, you ask?
It’s the rules.
Frankly, that answer pissed me off as a kid, and as an adult it infuriates me. I’m not a Nobel Laureate, but I not exactly the village idiot either. I know when smoke is being blown up my ass, and when it comes to security, smoke is very definately being blown up my ass.
If I had to choose between insecurity and the illusion of safety, I’ll take insecurity any day of the week.
Mr. Fusion, OFTLO, anybody who cares…
I actually did some work today and am relieved to see that I wasn’t hung and cremated while I was gone. 🙂
I definitely don’t mean to belittle your forefathers and if my my odd sense of humour offended anyone, I apologize. To be honest, freedoms issues are rather perplexing for me. Your 10 original amendments were pared down to six in 2002 and I can see why you’d be upset over the elimination of the Fourth Amendment (protected citizens’ homes against unreasonable search and seizure), but the right to keep and bear arms was unchanged? (No sense getting into that one again.)
Too bad it it was all done under Bush’s watch.
OFTLO, I agree that the invasion of Iraq was a big mistake, but I wouldn’t call your citizens sheep. One would expect the President (and his advisors) of a great nation like the USA to be more level headed and competent. He was elected to make the important decisions, so citizens support him while inwardly cringing, and your worst fears come to fruition. Thats not being sheep. That’s being let down.
I also don’t believe at all that you have already lost the war on terror. It’s an F’n mess, that’s for sure, but look on the bright side. Bush may finally lose it, drop a few nukes, and the world will again be glowing at your feet. (You desperately need a change in command.)
Mr Fusion, thanks for the tidbit about Benny. For your entertainment, the following is taken from the Canadian Charter of Rights (1982):
1. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.
2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
a) freedom of conscience and religion;
b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
d) freedom of association
So simple… so boring, eh?
When I visit the States, one thing always warms my heart. The average US citizen is as polite and friendly as anyone I know… except for that bitch in the tole booth (i190 Buffalo) who, when I said “keep the change”, refused to take my loonie ($1dollar) in lieu of an American quarter stating it wasn’t worth a quarter, and told me to get moving.
We have bitches in Canada too.
We’re all the same at heart… it’s the fricken yo-yo’s that run our countries that are the screw-ups.
Oh, almost forgot… yeah, it’s a shame all those bats were confiscated.
😉