We look forward to traveling away from our routine environment at one time or another. After all what so good about life if we cannot get away for one week, at least, to a favorite place we enjoy. Working in the American corporate rat race makes us that more certain that we want to escape to a warm, calm climate. A place when we can watch the butterflies and birds perform their natural functions without stress or worry.
Of course, we have seen that even birds and insects are vulnerable to the society we have grown. Bees have shown abnormal migratory patterns lately and conservationists find many birds washed ashore in many countries. It is global warming at its best, and news this week from Homeland Security leave us more befuddled as we make plans for a sunny caribbean vacation or even a holiday on our own land.
Homeland Security announced that border agents can now seize laptops and cell phones from travelers returning to the United States. In addition, they can keep them as long as they like to copy the contents on the drives of these gadgets. Of course, it is all in the name of combatting terrorism and copyright protection, but can you imagine the inconvenience this new rule will cause most travelers.
I, for one, do not like lugging heavy luggage through airports, and leave my laptop at home whenever I travel. But I often have to share other people’s computer when I get to my destination or use an Internet café to check my e-mail and other business.
The same goes for cell phones. Just recently, I had to use a phone to call the person who was picking me up at the Los Angeles airport. I did not have coins and preferred not to use my credit card to make a short call. I tried buying a phone card at a machine close to the phone booth but the machine was out of order. Fortunately, a young businessperson realized my plight and offered me his Blackberry to make my call.
It makes sense to carry your cell phone and laptop when you are traveling because you will use both devices when you are traveling. But with the new Homeland Security rules I think I will continue my practice of leaving my cell phone and laptop at home because I cannot afford the inconvenience of having my gadgets seized on suspicion of piracy or terrorism.
