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Title: So far, ‘opt out’ fizzles today
Source:
BostonHerald
URL Source: http://news.bostonherald.com/news/r ... _scans/srvc=home&position=also
Published: Nov 24, 2010
Author: staff
Post Date: 2010-11-24 13:33:30 by buckeroo
Keywords: None
Views: 390
Comments: 30
Logan International Airport is packed today and most travelers appear to be lining up for naked body scans over the touchy pat-downs, so far shunning a national call to "opt out" of the electronic sweep. "I don’t want anyone to touch me," said 20-year-old Onie Momoh, a Dartmouth College student flying home today. She was one of hundreds of people lined up for the scans as the Thanksgiving rush begins. But it may be too early to call the "opt out" a dud. “I was going to opt out because I was concerned about radiation, but then I heard it was less than what you’re exposed to with a dental X-ray,” said Holly LeCraw, 44, of Newton. “I’m more concerned about pat-downs for my kids.” Others said the scan just appears the lesser of two evils. “I’ve gone through the screening before, and it feels a little weird, having to hold your hands up and knowing someone can see an image of your body,” Michelle McGrath, 29, of Boston said on her way to Annapolis today. “I’m not crazy about it, but I’m not overly concerned.” A national movement to “opt out” of the head-to-toe sweeps did have a few travelers mulling pat-downs last night. “This is me taking my own stance,” said Boston University freshman Kira Cole, who said she was “creeped out” by the full-body scanners when she went through them in July. “I’d rather take my chances with a pat-down.” Dorchester activist Mark O’Connor said he’ll be at Logan today urging travelers to get the “lesser of two evils” pat-down and warning them of the “dangers” of full-body scans. “If it’s powerful enough to see through your clothes, it couldn’t be healthy,” said O’Connor, who hopes Hub travelers “stand up” for themselves. O’Connor, 33, said he plans to take his video camera to the Hub airport and ask people whether they prefer to be “radiated” or “groped.” The video blogger will post reactions to his YouTube channel, WeAreChangeBoston. Massport spokesman Phil Orlandella said Logan officials have been preparing for today’s national “opt out” day since rumblings of it began over a week ago. “We’re ready for it. There’s additional manpower on. We’re prepared for anything that can happen. We don’t think anything serious is going to happen,” Orlandella said. U.S. Sen. John Kerry said he wants to review the security changes. “I refuse to accept the notion that we can’t keep people safe without undermining our civil liberties,’’ Kerry said. Rebecca Colby, an MIT sophomore, has no issues with scanners being an invasion of privacy. “I’m more concerned with other civil liberties than this whole thing,” Colby said. “It’s not like we’re cutting back civil liberties on the war on terror — it’s just reaching a new level of inconvenience for people who are normal citizens of America,” Colby said. Carie Lemack, who lost her mom, Judy Larocque, of Framingham in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, said she’s traveling to Boston today and will gladly be scanned or patted down. “It’s not comfortable, but necessary,” said Lemack, whose mother died on Flight 11 that took off out of Logan. “Anybody who says this is pornographic is insulting. “Everybody in the airport needs to keep their eyes and ears open,” she added. “I think the opt-out people have forgotten 9-11."
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“Everybody in the airport needs to keep their eyes and ears open,” she added. “I think the opt-out people have forgotten 9-11."
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Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest“It’s not comfortable, but necessary,” said Lemack, whose mother died on Flight 11 that took off out of Logan. “Anybody who says this is pornographic is insulting.
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