Perspective

There are 49,315 commercial flights daily, throughout the world. Since September 11, 2001, there have been 162 million commercial flights. Of that, there have been (2) known attempts by terrorists to bomb a plane - both thwarted without scanners or pat-downs.

This equates to one attempt for every 81,000,000 flights. Which in turn indicates a probability of finding yourself in a plane with a bomber to be 1 in 81,000,000. That is four times less likely than becoming a saint , which is a 20,000,000-1 shot. And you are 40 times more likely to be struck by lightning, 80 times more likely to get elected president and 80 times more likely of getting killed by a part falling off an airplane.

Now tell me - why are we willing to give up our rights, our dignity and our self-respect by subjecting ourselves to very invasive procedures just to get on a plane? You are more likely to die in a car crash with a Cadillac Escalade at 2:00 in the morning, but no one molests you before getting into your car.

The government has gone too far - and is in violation of several laws and the constitution. We all know the risks involved. If a person has been so frightened by the terrorists that they fear being blown up on a plane, then they should not be flying.

As Franklin so aptly put it, "Those who would give up their liberty for security deserve neither." If we are going to live in fear, the terrorists have already won.

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