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The captain with the green card had a point. The passenger with the Coke probably didn't. But, it's true, these screeners et al. can be annoying.

However:

"The security guy was out to get me. What had begun with confusion over a simple garment had become an issue of power."

Elliot, you had as much of a power issue as the security guy did. If you had just removed the shirt, you could have saved yourself some trouble, and the guy wouldn't have won, which he did:

"The pimply-faced kid with sloping shoulders flashed a victorious grin."

I probably would have removed the shirt, flexed a few times for the benefit of the bystanders, looked at the guy like he was an idiot, and been on my way. But that's just me. --The Beast

Elliot, you had as much of a power issue as the security guy did.

That's most of the problem right there: none of these ba$tards (including this "security" twerp) deserve power. They just think they're entitled to it.

I'm all for slapping 'em all down a few notches, if anyone has any ideas on how to do so.

re:What had begun with confusion over a simple garment had become an issue of power.
It seems to me that Elliot did everything he could have done to make the security check go smooth. No change in his pockets, wearing slip-on shoes etc. It was totally unreasonable for this kid to tell him to remove his shirt because he thought it was a jacket. It was his mistake and instead of admitting it, he chose to make it into an ordeal. I would have questioned the "security kid" for an explination as well and would not have been as calm and polite as Elliot seems to have been.
Also, I have a friend who lives in Canada who came to the Newark Airport a few months ago. She is blond and blue-eyed. She was "wanded" and her bags were thoroughly inspected at the beginning of her trip. So, she figured she was just a random inspection. When she was leaving to fly home, she was again singled out, had her bags inspected, had to take her shoes off (again) and was wanded again! If it happens once you gotta figure it's your unlucky day but twice? Her traveling companion was never even looked at. Makes you wonder just what criteria they have for singling out one passenger as opposed to another.