Letter: Americans must have courage to keep flying

Friday, Sept. 21, 2001 | 5:18 a.m.

I flew home to Las Vegas last night and wondered whether anything had really changed in airport security. I realized that the passengers were being asked to show up 2 1/2 hours before their flight only to find that all they did was sit around waiting for their plane.

Nothing really changed except that I arrived way too early, my friend who brought me to the airport couldn't come in with me, I still took my two carry-on bags with me, and the plane was later than usual.

So where is the security? What good does it do to not have curb-side baggage handling? What good does it do to not let someone meet you at the gate or say goodbye to you at the gate? After all, anyone who wants to get to the gate can buy a cheap ticket and just go to the gate.

Other than not letting knives on planes, which was stupid to begin with, nothing makes any sense. This is typical overreaction and making believe that the passengers are safer. Experienced travelers know how foolish all of this is. People who need and want to fly know that it is the safest mode of transportation available.

Why does the news media want to scare Americans away from flying? The American public has to decide if it has any courage and if it wants to let the terrorists know that we will not back down to them and that we will not be cowards. If we are a strong-willed people, then we will fly and fly proudly in our skies.

Take courage, America. Don't lose your freedoms to a bunch of cowardly terrorists.

ROBERT DUBIN