Posted on 08/31/2004 1:53:12 PM PDT by AnalogReigns
I travelled internationally this summer, and in the airport in Europe encountered an unusual situation.
Characteristically laid back, airport security, AFTER all the security checks & searches, had a woman with a very friendly young Labrador retriever dog in the boarding area of the terminal for our flight to the USA. While its not unusual to see well behaved dogs in public places in Europe (even unleashed) clearly this dog had a purpose (undisclosed to passengers) as the handler let it run free, where it curiously sniffed everyone's carryon baggage, intent on a reward, evidently.
The dog was very friendly (and was apparently interested in the smell of fine cigars in my bag) accepting pats from passengers...but unrelentingly obedient and intent on its job...snuffling everyones' bags at least twice.
The experience was non-threatening (who, amidst airport bordom, minds a little friendly lab running around?) and actually reassuring, as we knew (or suspected) this little dog (it was a small female) wasn't just playing--rather protecting all of us--even if it thought it was. Its handler, a woman, had it VERY well trained, it didn't jump on or bother anyone, just ran around sniffing the bags. A great (and very reliable, so I've heard) way of handling a part of the terror threat, I thought.
Dogs in other areas of odor searching(termite detection for example) are 98%+ reliable.
An interesting solution, I think.
I think you are mistaken. Those were actually French women. All that body hair can be confusing though.
Give me a break.
It's little known that a substantial minority (yes, sadly, a minority) of French are VERY pro-American.
They even re-enact the WWII US liberation-invasion every year in the South of France...with jeeps, half-tracks, folks dressed up in old US uniforms, etc. even proudly flying the American flag. (that's right, FRENCH, proudly flying (not burning) the American flag).
No, I'm not kidding....it happens.
We in America need to get over one-dimensional thinking about Europe. What if the Europeans judged all Americans as adoring Bill Clinton???
Casting all French, or Germans or other Europeans as America-haters does a great disservice to many there who really are our dear friends. They suffer distain from many there for their pro-Americanism...they shouldn't suffer our distain too.
We have a duty to distinguish between those who hate us in Europe, and those who don't. To refuse to do so is just plain ignorant and biggoted.
It's called a sense of humor...get one.
You pegged it right, you are a bigot.
How's it feel?
Super!
Howzit feel to have no sense of humor????
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