A terrorist approaches the airport security gate ahead of you. He knows where the security guards are standing, but he doesn’t look at them. He averts his gaze, keeping his head down, looking away as he gets closer.
According to Thomas Frank, writing in Tuesday, December 27’s issue of “The USA TODAY,” that is the way three September 11 hijackers acted as they passed through security at Dulles International Airport. Not one of the men looked at security guards.
Mr. Frank quotes Carl Maccario, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) program analyst at Boston’s Logan International Airport as saying, “The fear of discovery changes people’s behavior and body language.”
Based on that belief, the TSA will train security guards in behavior detection. They will teach them to detect people who are revealing their inner struggle with conscience. They will teach them to see the subconscious gestures, facial expressions, and speech patterns. They will show the guards how people who have something to hide will reveal that in as simple a matter as answering the question: What is your flight number?
Does it really work? Police are already using it in some places. A university officer recently got in a residence-hall elevator and noticed a man move to the back. As the officer watched, the man stuffed his hands in his pockets. The officer said hello to him, but the man did not answer. When he finally spoke, their brief conversation resulted in the police officer charging the man with drug possession. The man’s physical indications of stress and nervousness had alerted the officer.
Some reject the plan of using behavior detection, suggesting that it infringes on our rights. I will leave that to the government to decide, but I suspect that those who have nothing to hide have little reason to fear. Those who exercise character on a consistent, daily basis will not have to worry that a subconscious gesture or facial expression will give them away.
Character gives a clear conscience.
In the teen novel, Passport to Courage, a sixteen-year-old boy named Andrew travels abroad. Now Andrew does have something to hide. He is not a terrorist, but he is guilty of a felony. Imagine, for a moment, Andrew passing through airport security where the guards have been trained in behavior detection. “What is your flight number?” they ask Andrew. Andrew ducks his head, looking at the floor. He mutters his flight number, missing one figure. He goes back and corrects the number. In that brief moment, he becomes a candidate for further questioning or search.
By the end of the book, Andrew has built into his life a big block of character. He has developed the courage of his convictions, and would easily be able to pass through security, head high, answering questions easily and accurately.
Character gives a clear conscience. That clear conscience is evident in our behavior, whether we are at an airport checkpoint or in an elevator with a police officer. Wherever men and women of character go, as they interact with family, friends, and others, they can be at peace because they have nothing to hide. They have character, and the good conscience that is its reward.
That’s the view from my chair. What’s your view?