Gaze of the Full Body Scan

When we went to Florida recently, we went to Fort Wayne and flew to Punta Gorda, FL. These are small airports. Flying on Allegiant Airlines, we received a pass that allowed us to go through a different line. We had pre-approval. We did not have to go through the standard security procedures. Of course, being small airports, it was not much trouble anyway, but it was nice not to have the inconvenience. In particular, it was nice not to have the indignity of the gaze of the full body scan. I try not to think about the stranger who can see beneath your clothing. Yet, if I do, I realize that we have good reason to respect the privacy of each other.

All of us, even the most gregarious and outgoing among us, have some limits on how much of our unique and very personal selves we want to divulge. Some people seem to have no filter between what they think and what they say. Most of us, though regularly withhold thoughts, emotions and details about ourselves until we establish a certain level of trust. Most of all, we want it to be our choice. “I’ll share with you when I’m good and ready, but not before.” The gaze of a full-body scanner thrusts a forced, one-way intimacy on us that is uncomfortable at best and useless at worst.

The airport scanners represent the valiant attempts of officials to keep the flying public safe. The terrorist can still hide thoughts and intentions. If they could develop a scanner that could probe passengers’ thoughts and intentions, they might have a better chance. We might be able to insist that someone’s body is clean and cleared for takeoff, but we cannot discern the motives and plans of those boarding. Airport officials would like to have what belongs only to God: complete understanding of another human being’s psyche. The scanner will not provide that.

Someone will find a way to fool the machine. A terrorist will develop a technique to foil the intent of this device. One human can deceive another; it happens all the time.

We cannot avoid the gaze of God.