The last couple times I traveled I noticed the body scanners that seem to be gaining more popularity. A hot topic in the news since the Christmas day bomb scare seems to be preparing people for the future use of these machines. Maybe, for some it serves as a way to re-assure their security.

But what do these machines really mean for us?

It seems to me the use of these machines will increase the amount of profiling in the airport setting. Should we accept this just because media has shifted our fear to terrorists with a particular image? Or, in the interest of security, should we realize any kind of person could potentially have ill intentions? To profile particular people is a direct opposition to American’s implied beliefs, however, many reporters seem to accept that people traveling from specific regions and with specified appearances will be pulled to the side for extra screening. A fox reporter suggest that all “black” and “middle eastern” people should be extensively checked before being allowed to fly.

I believe this thought process isn’t what will keep us truly safe if that is our concern. We should be more careful across the board and keep an eye out for unusual behavior. If these scanners are used on some people they should be used for most everyone. I have heard you can opt out of the scan and instead get a hand pat down .. either way all people should be equally affected by our changes in airport security. Profiling specific people will only lead to unjust hate and fear when anyone could be involved in terror like behavior. Let’s face it, the “terror groups” watch US news too and if they think that people of a specific look will be looked at more closely maybe they will find someone that doesn’t fit that profile knowing they might more easily slide through. My point is this, with this new wave of technology we must be careful to protect our human rights & we aware that it is not safe to culminate all ones fear into a particular image. This irrational fear that can come from media and other sources will only weaken sound decisions about war, human rights, and justice.

–KV

Watch here to find out more about the body scanners as reported on CNN: