A Thought Worthy of ginmar

[richardf8]

I was thinking about the searching of bags happening on the NYC Subway system, and the old canard that if you're doing nothing wrong then you've nothing to hide.

This is based on the false premise that only evidence of criminal activity demands to be hidden. Modesty, however, demands that we hide things that are not of a criminal nature.

It seems to me that sooner or later these bag searches will force some woman or other to disclose to some officious gubmint prick that she is either a) on the rag or b) on the pill. These searches do more to pull female sexuality into the public realm than they do for male sexuality. And in an environment in which the government seems entirely too concerned about what women do with their bodies, one is left wondering if this isn't a means of legitimizing state scrutiny of women's sexuality.

Comments

[athelind.livejournal.com]

The argument against the subway searches is the Fourth Amendment:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. (http://www.boingboing.net/2005/07/27/fourth_amendment_app.html)

Every single one of our Basic Rights can be undermined by the "if you're doing nothing wrong" argument. Why not tap phones? Why not let police walk into your house and open the cabinets? If you were worshiping the RIGHT God, you wouldn't need that pesky "fReedom of Religion" clause.

Next time I travel anywhere, I'm ordering stuff from here (http://www.cafepress.com/nosearch).

[richardf8]

Unfortunately, the word "unreasonable" introduces sufficient ambiguity to give those who would abuse the constitution inroads to do so. In the face of an unreasoning enemy, they seem to say, nothing we do is unreasonable.

As I've stated in this journal before, I'd rather take my chances with the terrorists than with our government.

[kevinjdog.livejournal.com]

And of course, there's the Bloom County cartoon where a security checkpoint official announces loudly to the world about Steve Dallas's various embarrassing male medications as well. In that cartoon, the official concluded "But no guns. You're clean."

I'm not sure they'd do that anymore. "Ma'am, if you really think you can pass off this chemical weapon as underarm deodorant, you've got another thing coming. Not to mention that the pin on the "Kerry 2005" button is only meant for the pilot's throat."

[locakitty.livejournal.com]

This kind of stuff puts me on edge. I already get pulled aside for wanding at the airport. ALL THE TIME. Then again, I seem to set off the metal detector, which baffles me to this day. The only metal in my jeans, and it's those little studs by the pockets, you know?

You know though, if I did get searched like that and I was menstruating or even if I wasn't, I would enjoy the look of fear that would come across the man's face as he touches a tampon outside of the box. And would probably say something snarky like, "Satisfied? Now if you don't mind, I'd like to use the facilities to take care of those issues."

I would be like the woman who purchased a 5" 'mini' vibrator from the Spencer Gifts when I worked there. Put it on the counter with no fear and no shame and PAY WITH MY CREDIT CARD. :) That woman was awesome. I strive to be like her. I'm rambling, sorry.

[unzammechat.livejournal.com]

Haha! Wonderful!
As cynical as it sounds, the security measures might just end up desensitizing everyone to other peoples' personal lives.
After all, that this sort of paraphenalia only becomes a worth hiding when female sexuality is a point of secret shame. Perhaps this will provide an opportunity for many people to get over some outdated ideas... unfortunately I wish this could happen without violation of the constitution and invasion of privacy and stuff...

Uh, I'm rambling now. I want to be that woman! I bet she's having more fun than me!

[parilous.livejournal.com]

I'm more worried that they would confiscate my Leatherman multi-tool, or disallow pepperspray. Slippery slope, you know? "It's not a bomb, but it could hurt someone."

[childings.livejournal.com]

I'm the type of person who is comfortable enough with their own sexuality to not care if the entire world knows I'm menstruating. Or on the pill. Actually, funny story, I was walking downtown with my boyfriend shortly after he moved here, shopping or whatever, and I dropped my bag on the ground (it was a tote bag, so it was just a bag full of stuff with no closure at the top). And my Ortho-cyclen compact came rolling out onto the sidewalk in front of everyone. Then this woman picked it up and brought it back over to me. It was only slightly awkward because my boyfriend was right there and he was so obviously my boyfriend because we were holding hands. It was like I had just announced to the entire world "HEY I'M FUCKING THIS GUY".

But that was the only embarrassing moment involving someone noticing my pills I can think of. Otherwise it's not like anyone would know for sure why I was taking them. There's many reasons to take the pill besides to prevent a pregnancy, you know.