The idiots at the airport

Air travel has become one of the biggest inconveniences in daily American life. In addition to the madness administered by the Transportation Security Administration and the crazy directives it issues, travelers now have to worry about their fellow passengers (who might be obnoxious idiots) adding to the chaos.

Haisong Jiang has been charged with “defiant trespass.” Jiang was arrested six days after he caused authorities to close Newark Liberty International Airport for six hours. The airport was on terror watch because a man was reported for walking through security the wrong way. He did not end up being a terrorist – but he caused so much pandemonium that he might as well have been wearing a name tag that read “Hello my name is: Suicide Bomber.”

One of the scariest aspects of this story, among many, is that the video footage was not made public until the following Saturday. Six days after the “intrusion.” If this man was dangerous – which, luckily, he was not – he was on the loose.

He also managed to slip under the rope in front of a temporarily vacant checkpoint. A guard only turned his back for a few moments. It’s all viewable online. Stories like this one make me wonder how often these “guards” turn their backs – and who else manages to slip under the ropes and under the radar.

Jiang is the reason flights out of an entire terminal of a major international airport were canceled. His selfish and obnoxious action cost airlines, not to mention taxpayers, millions of dollars. But he was only charged with misdemeanor trespassing. He got off easier than I do when I forget that there’s a bottle of shampoo with a volume greater than 3.4 ounces in my carry-on. (Ok, maybe not easier. But the punishment certainly does not fit the crime).

The point is, people like Jiang and idiot shoe-bombers are partially to blame for all of the hassle at airport security checkpoints. Don’t get me wrong, The members of Al-Qaeda initiated all of this madness. But as if we don’t go through enough trouble standing barefoot in the lines to get through security, now we have to worry about our fellow travelers acting like idiots?

I don’t question the whole “liquids-in-containers-that-hold-more-than-3.4-ounces” ban. I don’t really understand it because I guess I didn’t pay close enough attention in chemistry (though I don’t think constructing bombs was part of the curriculum).

However, I do know that traveling with liquid hygiene products is essential. So now we have to check bags if we want to keep our liquids with us on our trip. Most airlines charge a fee to check bags. Fantastic. That means I’m at the financial mercy of the airlines and scared out of my mind that the guy sitting behind me knows how to make a bomb out of lipstick and hair gel.

In a perfect world, airports wouldn’t have to be under terror watch at all. But unfortunately, this is the world we live in. We hear stories every day about the people among us who make everyday life a little bit more complicated and traveling through airports more of a hassle.