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White House experience...whew
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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 352510" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>It sounds to me like the problem is security. It's a sad indictment on society, that we have to endure this sort of thing. Frankly, I think the terrorists have won when events like this are so hampered by the need to be extra certain.</p><p></p><p>Having to throw away the water and snacks - it doesn't make sense if it was water that they gave you. You see, that CAN be done - last year we went to the Open Day for our only Aussie nuclear reactor. The security here isn't just because it's a nuclear reactor, but because it's a research facility doing some at times very sensitive work. They had a higher level of security than we have at any of our airports; I've never been through such tight security, not even when we went to Parliament House in Canberra. </p><p></p><p>The reactor is on Federal land so Federal Police are in charge of it. We were under Federal jurisdiction from the moment we entered the car park, which is miles away from the reactor base. To get to the reactor we had to catch buses, because only the buses would get through security. Then once we were in there, we had to individually go through another security check. There were different levels of security as well as lockers you could use. I had water bottles and food with me, plus the Swiss army knife I always carry (although I left the knife in the car). When we were about to go on the tour of the reactor itself, that was the highest security. At that point, we had to put EVERYTHING into a locker. These lockers were under constant surveillance (Federal police as well as security cameras). I worried about water because it was a hot day, but in the queue they handed out small bottles of water, freely. These bottles were clearly only for the reactor, they weren't bottles you could have purchased anywhere else. So when other water bottles and stuff had to be discarded, these ones were allowed through. And instead of having to throw stuff out, if you were OK to take the time, you could duck back and grab a locker to put your water and snacks in.</p><p></p><p>The lockers worked with a key. Once you locked your stuff in there, you took the key with you. On your return, you took your stuff out of the locker and left the key in the lock for the next person to use. A good system.</p><p></p><p>I'm thinking though, with 30,000 people, they would have been shoving you along an assembly line system with no possible returns. The other thing they should allow (which is what we do when we're catching a flight and I insist on having access to a water bottle) - I take my water bottle through EMPTY, then fill it from a tap once I'm through to the other side.</p><p></p><p>If they want to improve on security for the White House egg roll, they could have paper cups and water coolers available, or they could issue water bottles with, say, the Presidential Seal on them (or some other design, made just for that occasion). The water bottles could become souvenirs, but with a different design each year or even each day (a colour system?). And frankly, the concern is that the clear liquid in the bottle could be something like hydrogen peroxide, brought in by a terrorist who wants to use it as some sort of accelerant or catalyst. So if security want to be sure, they just have to ask you to drink some of the bottle.</p><p></p><p>I do think we've gone too far on this, I know we need to be safe but terrorism has won when security controls our lives to this extent. When we were coming back from NZ, I had a jar of Vegemite confiscated, because I had forgotten to put it in my hold luggage and there was a chance if could have been something other than Vegemite! For heaven's sake, just taste it already! Vegemite can't be faked, and it can't be mistaken, either.</p><p></p><p>However, Witz is right when it comes to being careful about what you say and where you say it. Even in laid-back Australia, you do not comment about bombs or terrorism or joke about it, anywhere sensitive. Our security here may look laid-back but they are there ready to pounce. Quickly, discreetly.</p><p></p><p>It's a shame, the freedom of speech we believe we still have, is evaporating. But it is a fact, unfortunately, and one we need to be very wary of.</p><p></p><p>Mind you, I do sympathise with you, Janet. There are a few laws I routinely break and I announce, "I am just waiting to be arrested on this one. We need a test case!"</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 352510, member: 1991"] It sounds to me like the problem is security. It's a sad indictment on society, that we have to endure this sort of thing. Frankly, I think the terrorists have won when events like this are so hampered by the need to be extra certain. Having to throw away the water and snacks - it doesn't make sense if it was water that they gave you. You see, that CAN be done - last year we went to the Open Day for our only Aussie nuclear reactor. The security here isn't just because it's a nuclear reactor, but because it's a research facility doing some at times very sensitive work. They had a higher level of security than we have at any of our airports; I've never been through such tight security, not even when we went to Parliament House in Canberra. The reactor is on Federal land so Federal Police are in charge of it. We were under Federal jurisdiction from the moment we entered the car park, which is miles away from the reactor base. To get to the reactor we had to catch buses, because only the buses would get through security. Then once we were in there, we had to individually go through another security check. There were different levels of security as well as lockers you could use. I had water bottles and food with me, plus the Swiss army knife I always carry (although I left the knife in the car). When we were about to go on the tour of the reactor itself, that was the highest security. At that point, we had to put EVERYTHING into a locker. These lockers were under constant surveillance (Federal police as well as security cameras). I worried about water because it was a hot day, but in the queue they handed out small bottles of water, freely. These bottles were clearly only for the reactor, they weren't bottles you could have purchased anywhere else. So when other water bottles and stuff had to be discarded, these ones were allowed through. And instead of having to throw stuff out, if you were OK to take the time, you could duck back and grab a locker to put your water and snacks in. The lockers worked with a key. Once you locked your stuff in there, you took the key with you. On your return, you took your stuff out of the locker and left the key in the lock for the next person to use. A good system. I'm thinking though, with 30,000 people, they would have been shoving you along an assembly line system with no possible returns. The other thing they should allow (which is what we do when we're catching a flight and I insist on having access to a water bottle) - I take my water bottle through EMPTY, then fill it from a tap once I'm through to the other side. If they want to improve on security for the White House egg roll, they could have paper cups and water coolers available, or they could issue water bottles with, say, the Presidential Seal on them (or some other design, made just for that occasion). The water bottles could become souvenirs, but with a different design each year or even each day (a colour system?). And frankly, the concern is that the clear liquid in the bottle could be something like hydrogen peroxide, brought in by a terrorist who wants to use it as some sort of accelerant or catalyst. So if security want to be sure, they just have to ask you to drink some of the bottle. I do think we've gone too far on this, I know we need to be safe but terrorism has won when security controls our lives to this extent. When we were coming back from NZ, I had a jar of Vegemite confiscated, because I had forgotten to put it in my hold luggage and there was a chance if could have been something other than Vegemite! For heaven's sake, just taste it already! Vegemite can't be faked, and it can't be mistaken, either. However, Witz is right when it comes to being careful about what you say and where you say it. Even in laid-back Australia, you do not comment about bombs or terrorism or joke about it, anywhere sensitive. Our security here may look laid-back but they are there ready to pounce. Quickly, discreetly. It's a shame, the freedom of speech we believe we still have, is evaporating. But it is a fact, unfortunately, and one we need to be very wary of. Mind you, I do sympathise with you, Janet. There are a few laws I routinely break and I announce, "I am just waiting to be arrested on this one. We need a test case!" Marg [/QUOTE]
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