Love the line about using Robert's Rules of Order to take over the plane :) I suspect you were likely the victim of "guy with mohawk and heavy boots" profiling than racism per se - I travel a great deal and cross a lot of borders and go through a lot of airports, and the number one thing that gets me searched or stopped is...traveling with a guy with facial hair.
But you're definitely right about the TSA doing more security theatre than actual security. I occasionally get my big scissors on a plane intentionally when I know I'll need them on the other end and can only take carry-on, and we get the dumbest things confiscated. However, in an American airport, they do not in fact serve metal knives on the other side of security - in fact, you also cannot get a metal knife in first class on the flight - you get a metal fork and spoon, and a plastic knife. I'm as curious as you to know if there's knives in the kitchens, though!
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Date: 2011-12-18 02:48 am (UTC)But you're definitely right about the TSA doing more security theatre than actual security. I occasionally get my big scissors on a plane intentionally when I know I'll need them on the other end and can only take carry-on, and we get the dumbest things confiscated. However, in an American airport, they do not in fact serve metal knives on the other side of security - in fact, you also cannot get a metal knife in first class on the flight - you get a metal fork and spoon, and a plastic knife. I'm as curious as you to know if there's knives in the kitchens, though!