Consenting Silence

When I was recently in Tampa, I watched as TSA officers assisted an elderly man up out of his wheelchair and patted him down. I did not have a problem with that. They simultaneously checked out his wheelchair, which I had no issue with either. I did, however, find it incredibly disturbing that they proceeded to try and drag him through the metal detector, despite the fact that he obviously lacked the ability to walk. He was so weak, so feeble, and so clearly disabled that I was terribly disturbed by the lack of consideration and apparent ignorance of these officers. The poor old man trembled and teetered over even with two TSA officers holding onto his arms. His family members kept trying to speak to him, with encouragement and reassurances. They also kept telling the officers he could not walk. When he fell into the side of metal detector--negating the results--the officers were frustrated and another TSA employee came over to help them put him back into the wheelchair. They then took him away, stating they'll have to search him more thoroughly. I did not speak up, though I wanted to. I prudently decided that I did not wish to be subjected to further security myself, or perhaps be refused boarding altogether. This is not America. I am a patriot, I love my country, and I am willing to endure some additonal levels of security for safety, but what we have done is trade one type of terror for another. Intimdiation and subtle fear have become an insidious part of security at our airports and this treatment is unwarrented for the vast majority of us. America was attacked on 9/11and we, the people, are America. We deserve better.