Thank you Boston for Paving the Way...

I was watching the news this morning, where they were at one point showcasing an increase in security on the Boston T (public transportation for you non-Boston folk). It seems the Boston Transit Police have stepped up patrols in response to the increasing terrorist threat.

Boston, I have one thing to say to you: *clap* *clap* *clap*

Thank you for being one of the few public transportation systems to have taken the terrorist threat seriously. In the video they showed, Transit Police were in every station and train, alert and steadfast. I can’t say it enough. Thank you. I wrote to my congressman 3 months ago about the need for increased security on the Washington, D.C. Metro. During my daily commute, I see 1 Metro policeman. One officer during my entire hour-long commute for the nation’s 2nd busiest public transportation system and, not to mention the fact that, the transportation system for the nation’s capital. I have yet to receive a response from my good friend “The Honorable” Chris Van Hollen.

We need only look into the history of terrorist threats to see where the true danger lies. India’s rail system was just hit a few months ago, killing hundreds. London’s Underground was hit just last year, killing innocent people and shutting down a vital artery into London. Japan had a chemical bombing in its transit system a few years ago, that resulted in a great number of sick and dead. History has shown us that our rail systems are the most vulnerable targets for terrorists. Collateral damage is exactly what terrorists are looking for.

There is no doubt that commercial jets pose the greatest threat, in that a plane gives a terrorist the ability to harm a large number of people. It has a shock effect that will never be forgotten. Because of this, I am grateful that Homeland Security is doing a good job protecting our airports. We need to adopt a strong focus on our public transportation though. A plot to attack the New York subway was discovered a few months ago, and for that I am greatly thankful. But what if they had not been caught prior? Were there enough subway police patrolling to pick out a possible terrorist threat in action? Would it have been stopped during the action phase, if it had not been discovered in the planning phase? I don’t think so.

Taking a step back to the beginning, the news report I was watching began asking Bostonians how they felt about the increase in security and the random bag-checks. A woman they interviewed answered, “A total invasion of privacy! I don’t want them looking through my bag! There is no reason for this…” Wrong, there is every reason for it. If a policeman has to look through my bag and find my condoms, tampons, nipple clamps, or whatever private, embarrassing thing I have in my bag to decrease the chance of the following occurring during my morning commute, so be it: