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Sunday, November 21, 2010

Grope Me Please!

This is not what you think it is. Rather, it is a very important issue. Right about now, it is a nightmare for many Americans and even non-citizens in the United States….Oh yes! I am talking about none other than the TSA. For the less informed, since the 9/11 terrorist attack in the US, security has increasingly been an issue of great concern; for the government and people as a whole. Now, there is this new procedure whereby travelers need to use a full body scan (that works like an x-ray), subject themselves to a pat down (when I say pat down, I mean paaaaaat down, hands-everywhere-type) or in case of outrage at the first two options, refuse to fly. I know you might be wondering how this concerns me or Naija people.
A couple of months ago, when I was coming to school from NYC, I erroneously tendered my passport (Naija) for identification. Boy oh Boy!!! I went through layers and layers of security, just because I was carrying a Nigerian passport. I was close to tears at the singling out and treatment of prodding and poking.  Tomorrow, I am planning on flying back home for the Thanksgiving break and I am left to decide among my choices: shall I use the body scan (screaming….RADIATION), the full pat down (when in fact, I direct and censor where my boyfriend touches or does not) or take the trip home by road for some 8 hours or thereabout?
For me, unlike the Americans, I do not think this has anything to do with my rights; it has everything to do with cultural sense of moral right and wrong. For me to take the stance they want in the body scanning machine, I’d feel like a criminal. With my hands raised up like an accused, it is easy for me to immediately loathe that option. The groping is even worse. I have culturally been taught of how to be touched and not touched. This procedure falls into the “how not to be touched” category. It looks extremely dehumanizing! The third is not even an option for me. 8hours on the road to NYC is not that much of a big deal, but one month on sea for a trip to Nigeria is pure torture!
All of this makes me sad. Why? Because I feel somewhat guilty by virtue of nationality. Because I feel like I am a reason why this measure is taken. Because I realize that we, as Nigerians are a part of this intrusive decision arrived at, courtesy of Mutallab ( the young Islamic Nigerian who attempted to bomb a US plane last Xmas). I cannot even be upset about these measures because I, as a Nigerian, am one of the reasons why it is called for….so, off to the Airport I go tomorrow, and while all of America is bickering and nagging, my mind is silently begging, “grope me please, realize my innocence and leave me the HELL alone,” while cursing Mutallab under my breath! :)
For Nigerians home and abroad, how do you feel about this whole TSA procedure? How does it make you feel about travelling, especially to the States? Above all, tell of your experience about using your Nigerian passport as identification in a US airport.

14 comments:

  1. looking forward to peoples comment. me i never enter America yet

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  2. wow,I knew about the full body scan, but im not sure i knew about it actally being put into affect. I have never been outside of the US and I dont have a Nigerian passport, so i dont know what its like, but I have been coincidentally "picked" for a search, talk about annoying..

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  3. Hmmm...can i answer this question so, since na only UK i don manage reach sef.... *grinning*..., really, we went through the procedures you explained, but we were not singled out at all, as the lady was patting me, a nasty thought came to my mind; IF I MESS NKO?, HOW SHE GO TAKE AM?...lol....seriously sha, since it's for security reason, one just have to bear the it & be swearing for the 'idiots' that caused the whole palava. Thanks for stopping by at my blog.

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  4. Lol... I understand your pain dear, i travel to America atleast three times in a year. I do my shopping over there and the main reason i visit a lot is because of my man.

    I don't have Nigerian passport anymore because i grew up in Europe, but trust me having a Nigerian Passport is not the issue here. Travelling to the states sometimes can be annoying. You just got down from an 8 hours flight and you queue for over an hour because you want to see immigration, Your bags get checked and i mean, they search everywhere. Having an Eu Passport does not mean anything in Yankee. They searched and asked me questions as if am coming to live there. I think Americans have been strict since the whole 9/11 and got even stricter with the whole Muttalab and other Terriorist planning attacks.


    Check out my Blog.
    www.sesheajames.com

    we have matching templates.. Am following you now. xxx

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  5. @Onose, you donot have to be travelling outside of the US o. Provided you decide to use the airport for your travel,some select airports use the TSA regulations.
    @ the nitty-gritty tales of a housewife...LMAO, walai, you no dey dissapoint me..I don sabi say you go take a different humorous perspective to it.
    @Seshe James, it is just plain pathetic! You know, to me, totally, it just seems like some form of mental slavery...Thanks for stopping by and following, I am so excited! and yes, off to your blog I go.

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  6. I was here..
    Nothing more to add..
    Oh and I would be back.. LoL

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  7. hahahaha... I'm still cracking up at the name you coined for the anti-long-distance folks... MALDR... LOL!

    Yes o... on top some madmen wey want commit suicide for plane, dem want devalue our bride price with touch touch... lol... I guess these kinds of methods are there to reassure the public as well- you might be more confident about flying if you knew they were screening the shit out of everyone who got on a plane. The one wey dem want touch all my future husband's property get as e be sha...

    P.S. I kinda have an idea for a story... I like your sense of humour and the way you write so let me know if you are interested in a kind of collaborative series... ;)

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  8. @2cute4u---->Ok o, I see you and I am patiently awaiting your return
    @ F and M, yes o, just had to come up with that acronymn, otherwise I would lose my mojo for the story while spending the whole time typing that up fully.lol. Uhm, that devaluation no get part two, but the way I see it, na only me, God and the TSA official sabi that one so, "what Papa dont know shouldn't hurt Papa"....*catch my drift?*...
    By all means, I am soo interested in teh collaborative series!!! How do I get information concerning it? I hope I will be able to come up with something constructive. Thanks for asking.

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  9. I feel you my sister..BTW, very nice blog...came in via ur comment on NG's blog....and Nigerian Passport??????? even for bank sef nko? i really suffered before they paid me MY MONEY ooo in dubai..dem dey check if na fake one! If the immigration official na one of thoe fine fine Yankee sistas, make she touch me everywhere oooo! but if na guy, forget humiliation, omo na body scan!lol following ya

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  10. Thanks Wild Boy. I appreciate your coming here, leaving a comment and following...wow... my heart is swelling! Do not mind all them people o....Dubai ke?....I laugh!!! as if no be their people dey cause all the wahala!
    Lmao at yankee sisters.... from your mouth to God's ears o..thanks again

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  11. Personally I think it's a necessary precaution. I don't mind being groped as long as it will ensure my safety while travelling. I think Americans are making a big deal over nothing. It's a necessary evil. We should all just deal with it.


    --

    Sugabelly 2.0

    http://sugabelly.blogspot.com

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  12. @Sugabelly, that is the whole point. Like I said, Americans are extremely enslaved by their rights because before anybody brings up suggestions (even if it for their better living), they will begin to quote about how it will infringe upon their right to this and right that. It really limits them.
    Thanks for stopping by.

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  13. The groping and the proding seems a better choice than the full body scan. My reasons,
    1. the thing fit reach all d places wey hand no fit reach.
    2. the whole idea of ray penetration just seems "unappealing"
    3.mchewww, i just prefer make human dey touch me rather than make ray dey enter me jare....
    no real reason.i just no want...chikena

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  14. @Anon 12.23, I agree with you o. I took that option and my life has not been marred in any way with respect to that experience. The people here just love to make mountains out of mole holes.

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