Penn Gillette annoying? I don't think so There has been an interesting variety of responses to this story about Penn Gillette, airport patriot from bOing bOing. Some folks have said he is lucky he's famous and others have taken the opportunity that Penn is annoying and his protests shouldn't be considered noble. But everyone believes he was right to protest and everyone ought to protest, as well, famous or not, when they are assaulted by an airport security guard who says "you don't have rights once you're in the security check area." Look, these people have a hard job and don't make much money. I know that and try to be cooperative when I am at the airport. But they also don't earn the right to remove our rights arbitrarily because of their shitty jobs. It is the erosion of rights in small ways that adds up to a catastrophe. We are on a faster downhill slide into a police state than at any time in most living memories. What is really disgusting about the story is the way the airport security management tried to buy off Penn, offering him first-class treatment in the future. That's a sure sign that there is an oppressive trend under way. Good for Penn. [RatcliffeBlog -- Social and Political]

10:10:51 PM