A report in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald describes how Tina Garber, age 43, showed up at Hilo International Airport (ITO) on the Big Island with daughters Hasya, 12 and toddler Jolina, 4, all dressed in bikinis for a recent flight. While bikinis are commonly seen in Hawaii, they are still rare at airport security checkpoints. It wasn't by accident that they all dressed that way to visit family in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
Notes taped to their skin read, "People will to trade their freedom for temporary security, deserve neither, and will lose both - Ben Franklin"; "My mommy says Don't talk to strangers, and certainly, don't let anyone fondle me"; and "Didn't the Catholic church get into trouble for this?".
Ms. Garber had discussed with her two daughters the national backlash over the TSA's enhanced pat down for those opting out of the full body scanners. She may even have mentioned Corinne Theile, the 31-year-old woman from Hollywood, CA who showed up at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on November 24, 2010 wearing only a black bikini under her long black coat, as shown in the attached video and slide show.
It might have been like "Theater of the Absurd", but some would say the same about the "security theater" that TSA practices. After checking in for their flight at the Hawaiian Airlines (HA) ticket counter, they removed their outer clothes in a nearby restroom, just like Clark Kent used to do in telephone booths, before he emerged as Superman.
Tina's husband, Joel Garber, gave his blessing and support, saying "I'm all for them. The family has walked across the country in support of Native American rights, and they're not going to take this latest insult sitting down."
They all made it through TSA security without problems. One of the agents even chatted with Ms. Garber in a small town, friendly way. He later said, "We're just a small regional airport, and have never seen anybody walk through in a bikini before."
Onlookers were also supportive. Said one bystander, Peter Petersen, standing among the amused spectators who watched the Garbers step out of the airport bathroom in their swim wear, "Go for it. I'm all for it. I don't like what they're doing at TSA. I know it's for a good reason. But I think it's just a little too much."
Ms. Garber works as a stand up comedian and musician in the band called "The Touchables", whose name was inspired by Mohandas Gandhi's work for the lower-caste "untouchables" in India and other parts of the world. The family lives in Kurtistown, a small community of just over a thoustand people on the Big Island of Hawaii. She identifies with civil libertarians and says Americans should have the right to decide whether they want to fly with all the security restrictions in place after the 9/11 terror attacks.
While her act of personal conscience may not have changed the world, there is a saying that the longest journey begins with the smallest step.
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Comments
Joel... This is a great "bikini" article! Love it! I no longer wear bikinis, but kudos to these who did... And they were traveling to my home state of Indiana, no less!
Although it's great way to generate attention, it does cause a bit of an alarm for me. Do we now have a choice of x-rays, intrusive fondling, or skimpy bathing attire?
I want to be able to go through security dressed appropriately for the weather and my trip.
It's enough that I take off my shoes, and my belt. I don't want to remove my clothes.
It's real simple. Our Homeland Insecurity Dept. Head Janet Napolitano stated that if Americans didn't like the new security measures, then don't fly. Well... don't fly. Hurt them in the wallet, then they will back off. Boycott Flying. Plan ahead, take a train... anything but sacrifice your 4th amendment rights for "temporary security". As Ben Franklin said, "Those that would sacrifice liberty for temporary safety get neither liberty nor safety." Read the Bill of Rights and Constitution people. Actually be citizens for a change instead of taking it for granted.
The response of people telling you to not fly is a false choice. If you DO fly, you are forced to give up your 4th amendment rights. If you choose not to fly (because you won't give up your 4th amendment rights), you are being forced to give up your right to commerce.
Either way, the government is forcing you to give up one right or another.
Brant and Neala are both right. I would not want to have to resort to wearing nearly nothing in public. For me choosing not to fly will only be giving up my fright of flying. I am not missing anything. But so many are and the abuse and tactics that are getting away with are degrading at the very least.
I hope she was flying somewhere warm.
Oops, I see now they were flying to Indiana. Well, I hope the hotel they are staying at has an indoor pool.
Really courageous statement. Now, let's see her and her daughters walk through the checkpoint buck naked. THEN I'll agree with her statement.
Unfortunately, this doesn't avoid the fact that there are a lot of gangsters out there who totally despise other human beings, and have no problem with hiding explosives in their clothing.
People who quote Franklin to justify refusing to cooperate with the government's attempts to protect us don't deserve to be protected. Me? I'd rather give up some freedom and privacy to be safe, than give up no freedom and privacy and lose everything.
Addition to my previous remarks:
"(T)his doesn't avoid the fact that there are a lot of gangsters out there who totally despise other human beings, and have no problem with hiding explosives in their clothing."
One of whom just murdered some 35 innocent travelers at an airport in Moscow several hours ago. Probably with explosives hidden under his clothing.
I'm sure that every one of those victims would have agreed with Franklin, right?
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