Travel

Last week two dozen bad fellows of the Muslim faith were arrested and jailed for plotting to put explosive devices on British airplanes that were headed to the United States. We all watched with mouths agape at the devastation caused on September 11 of 2001. Prior to that airliners had exploded over many, many places including Lockerby Scotland because some group of hate-filled radicals hate us and seek to destroy us.

We are now imposed on when we travel. We have to remove our shoes because some fool planted a bomb in his shoe. We have to open our carry-ons and have them inspected for liquid medicine, fingernail clippers, cell phones, contact lens solution and perfume so we do not become food for carrions. We are patted down by strangers at airports because of evil fools. Welcome to the Twenty-First Century. Flying is dangerous.

With the advent of drive-bys, freeway killers and car-jacking it is no longer safe to drive over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house.

Taking a historical look-back, several passenger ships, most notably the Lusitania were bombed due to similar circumstances. Although the fools had different reasons, they dropped out of the same bag of mixed nuts. So the early Twentieth Century was just as scary.


What about the Nineteenth Century? Train robberies brought about the Pinkerton Detective Agency. They were more than old guys with a flashlight and a badge back then. Stage Coaches were uncomfortable and some should have had targets painted on them. The USA hated the CSA (this is still the case in some states) so we cannot blame foreign adversaries.

The Eighteenth Century saw more aquatic terror by piracy and countries that could not stand the sight of their neighboring countries. Land travel was prone to highwaymen.

All this leads me to the conclusion that it is better to stay home, sit on my front porch and enjoy the company of a peaceful cigar a good book and the company of some chirppies.