Life In Our House / Flying With a 7 Year Old Boy & Opting Out

This mini-script was inspired about recent articles regarding the porno-scanners now moving into most American airports. We'll be flying over the holiday season. And we will also be "opting out." We urge you to do the same.

Some of the inspiration for the script:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/nov/11/ta-at-the-tsa/

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/11/11/tsas-new-book-for-ki.html

http://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.npr.org/assets/news/2010/05/17/concern.pdf

And of course, the unattended flight desk.....
http://i.imgur.com/9U5NK.jpg


Life In Our House / Flying With a 7 Year Old Boy & Opting Out

Mama:
Okay! So it’s the great big day! We’re going to find out where all those Monarch butterflies go in the winter!

SON:
Yeah! I think I have everything. Let’s go!

Mother:
Let’s check.

(Mama looks in her son’s back. )

Mama:
Ok! We just have to loosen the strap on your lap top.

Son
Why?

Mama
Becuase we have to get it out quickly for security.

(Son’s shoulder’s sag.)

Son
Oh, right.

Mama
And these cables, let me tidy them up nice. Can you get me a twist-tie and baggie from the kitchen.

Son:
Yes, mama

Mama
Thank you baby

Son
You’re welcome mama

Mama
Okay, we’re ready! Daddy are you ready?

Daddy
Yes.
Mama
Let me check your bags.


(Surly look from Daddy)

Daddy
I’m a platinum card member. I know how to pack my bags.

Mama
Okay!

(They get into the car and drive to the airport.)

Mama
Son, remember all of the security checkpoints?

Son
Yes Mama. Take off my shoes. Put them in the shoe bin. Get out my laptop and ds and put them in 2 bins. Then I have to smile, because I am cute. Then, I have to look at the officers faces and smile. Then I wait until I go through the gate.

Mama
No things are diferent now.

Son
I hate changes:

Mama
You have to wait for Mama to tell you if you can go through the gate.

Son
Okay...why

Mama
Because some of the new gates will give you cancer.

Son
Oh.

Mama
If they want us to go through the new gates, you have to wait for Mama to say, “Opt Out.”

Son
Okay
Mama
When Mama says “Opt Out.” Except everyone to become very rude.

Son
Why

Mama
Because they don’t believe in those songs we like “The Bill Of Rights” and “The Constitution” by www.songs of higherlearning.

Son
Oh. Why?

Mama
Because they didn’t leaqrn what they needeed to learn when they went to school.

Son
Oh, that’s sad. They should really learn that stuff.

Mama
Yeah, but people felt sorry for them and gave them jobs even because they didn’t learn anything important. Mostly because, they count on Daddy to pay taxes for all the other people who don’t want to learn everything to be unhealthy.

Son
That’s sad

Mama
Yes, it is. But, we have to get focused.

Son
Okay

Mama
When we get to the security place, you must continue to smile. All the time.
And when we “Opt out.” Can you repeat what Mama is saying? Opt Out

Son
Opt Out

Mama
Good! When Mama says opt out, you need to be be ready for some kind of agitated, nervous people to come around us.

Son
I don’t like that.
Mama
If it happens, you can have a long talk with Grad dad afterwards....and I can always hear you, love you and support you. Grand dad spent a long time opting out so you can play with Giselle and Gwen without worrying that some one would hang you from a tree until you are dead. Things are so much better today. But, you have an obligation to smile, be polite and let people touch you in your private places.

Son
I don’t want to go.

Mama
Your Great Grandmother was beaten in the streets so Daddy only has to work part of the day. You Grand dad took things to the courts and kept cities from burning. Your mama (until she met Daddy) spoke all over everywhere to say that human beings should love human beings. And Daddy became the best ever mathemagian in the world so people are thinking about everybody being given a chance to learn. So, what are we doing to keep the family legacy moving forward.

Son (dejected, sullen and worried.)
Opting out. And letting strangers touch me even if I feel very bad about it because I don’t want to die from some evil disease.

Mama
Good boy!

Comments

The mother's and son's conversation is righteous and beautiful. I am moved to tears. I will "opt out." Ashe.
Thanks Demetrice! I'm trying to spread the word....Getting myself worked up. Trying to keep it calm. Trying to stand tall for those awkward Siamese twins Freedom and Liberty... and protect my child....and uplift him...and give him history....but you know, or you wouldn't have commented.
DingBat said…
"Mama
Because they didn’t leaqrn what they needeed to learn when they went to school.

Son
Oh, that’s sad. They should really learn that stuff.

Mama
Yeah, but people felt sorry for them and gave them jobs even because they didn’t learn anything important. Mostly because, they count on Daddy to pay taxes for all the other people who don’t want to learn everything to be unhealthy."

I get the issue, but do you really feel this way about the employees? I can't help but be mildly offended. Generalizations are usually a good way to get things wrong.
Thanks for your comment. You are right, it is a bit offensive. My grandmother was an international labor leader. It definitely needs a re-write to be more sympathetic to poverty, failure of our society to educate and the economy. It also need a re-write to show the impact the university system flooding highly educated graduates into a word without jobs equal to their level of training. I value your critique.

I assume nobody reads my blog, so I forget that it is not my private journal which is shared only with friends. I wrote this in the five minutes I had to be uninterrupted. I wrote this to prepare my son to travel next month. It was a way of processing. You have just motivated me to turn this from a rant into something worthwhile. In addition, you have inspired me to not force re-think how I present the working class to my son. Our family story is one of overcoming adversity. Sometimes, I forget that not everyone has been able to do that.

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