The TSA is racist
When I reached the front of the security line, I requested not to go through the machine. Here is how the conversation progressed):
Me: I would rather not go through the x-ray machine. Is there an alternative process?
TSA: The x-rays are mandatory.
Me: No, they aren’t.
TSA: All passengers are required to go through the screening.
Me: I can opt out of the x-rays if I want. There has to be an alternative process.
TSA: Stand over there, sir. (She indicated an area about ten feet away.)
The TSA lady called over another agent and had a rather long (probably about a minute-long) conversation with him, after which they came over to me:
TSA (man): Sir, the screening process is mandatory.
Me: Okay, but I don’t want to go through the x-rays.
TSA (woman): Stay here, please, sir.
They both left again and moved back over to the woman’s podium, where they called over a man who looked like a supervisor. This supervisor came over:
Supervisor: Please come this way, sir. (He leads me to a side area of the checkpoint.)
TSA (woman): It’ll be a minute before an agent can pat you down.
Me: Okay.
After about seven-ish minutes, I walked over to the woman TSA agent:
Me: Excuse, me? How long will this take?
TSA: Please stand back, sir.
Me: I’ve been waiting for an agent for more than five minutes. How much longer?
TSA: Go back over there, sir. He’ll be here soon.
I went back to the “designated area” to continue waiting. After ten more minutes, I went back up to the podium, where the original woman had been replaced by a man:
(remember that the time Is accelerated, not rely ten minutes)
Me: Excuse me, sir. I’ve been waiting for fifteen minutes for a pat down over there.
TSA: What?
Me: I’ve been waiting for a patdown for fifteen minutes.
TSA: Why?
Me: I opted out of the x-rays. Another agent took me over there and told me to wait. That was fifteen minutes ago.
TSA: Just a minute. (He got up and walked over to another agent and I went back to the side area.)
TSA: (a minute later): Why don’t you want to go through the screening?
Me: I just would rather not.
TSA: You don’t have a reason?
Me: Excuse me (my gentile)? I don’t think that’s any of your business.
TSA: You need to give a reason.
Me: No, I actually don’t. You need to provide an alternate option if I don’t want to go through the x-ray.
TSA: Stay here. We’ll get to you eventually.
The agent walked away after saying that last bit in the most condescending, rude tone I’d ever heard from a TSA agent. I was taken aback by how he said it and didn’t reply. After ten more minutes, I went up to the same male agent and asked for a supervisor, to which he replied “He’s busy.”
Me: What did you just say?
TSA: He’s busy.
Me: I’ve been waiting for half an hour. That is unacceptable. I want to speak with a supervisor.
TSA: Just go back over there. I’ll call an agent over.
Me: And what exactly have you been doing for the past fifteen minutes?
TSA: Sir, you need to go back over there now.
Me: I want to talk to your supervisor now.
TSA: Whatever.
After this, I went back to the side area of the checkpoint. I was considering just going through the x-ray machine, but I felt like that would be like giving up, so I just stood there and waited. After a few minutes, two agents came over to me:
TSA: You were yelling at the agent over there?
Me: No.
TSA: Disrupting the screening process is a federal offense. When is your flight?
Me): Hardly. Why? So you can make me miss it?
TSA: Kid, lay off the attitude.
Me: “Kid”? Did you actually just say that? Where is your supervisor?
TSA: Busy.
Me (this kind of just slipped out): Doing what? Groping a few ninety year-olds? I’ve been waiting almost forty-five minutes! I want to speak with him now.
TSA: Do you want to miss your flight?
Me: (I knew I looked infuriated but I tried to gain my composer as the Supervisor approached) Hello. (I said it very awkwardly; I was hesitant and scared)
Supervisor: Excuse me; you’ll have to follow me. {He is carrying his bag}
By: John Smith
