By now, most Americans have endured the heightened, post-9/11 security measures at America’s commercial airports. Every major American airline has tightened their security checks in hopes of deterring future terrorist attacks.

This security includes universal screening of all passengers before entering the airport and also further security checks given randomly to the public. These random checks often consist of further examination of carry-on luggage as well as pat downs.

It is obviously incredibly important for our country to defend itself the best way it can, but are these invasive security measures really the best way to keep fear at bay and protect America’s citizens?

Since coming to college, many of us have become experienced in dealing with airport security. At one point or another, we have endured a “random security check.”

However, the security checks hardly count as a security measure. Personnel to grumble and complain throughout the search, saying, “of course you aren’t a security threat,” and many chosen for random checks are not even suspect to begin with.

So how is it that these security actions make a plane ride more secure? A two-second pat down, far from being extensive, doesn’t do the trick. These heightened security measures only frustrate the people they are trying to protect.

The new rules of liquids only allowed containers 3 oz. or smaller and in a small plastic bag as well as shoe removal only add to the stresses of flying.

Individuals undergoing the checks would be less hesitant to receive them if they proved truly effective.

These rules are enforced unfairly. Security personnel allow some customers through the security checks who are clearly not abiding by these rules. Added to these security frustrations are general flight delays and cancellations.

In February, according to “Newsweek,” JetBlue, a previously popular airline, had so many confusions with planes because of weather issues that some customers sat in the terminal for days waiting for their flights, while others sat on their actual plane waiting for up to 11 hours for takeoff.

Have Americans grown to expect too much from their airlines; fast, inexpensive, safe and predictable flights?

Or have America’s airlines begun to fail their people? Whatever the case, Americans are increasingly dissatisfied with our country’s airlines.

We must question whether our security apparatus is sufficient in attaining its primary objective.

Columnist: Angela Sparrow - 04/19/07