Sippers Of The World: Unite!

Yeeeeeeeikes:

The incident started when Monica, who left the Secret Service to raise a family, was stopped while going through airport security because there was water in her son's sippy cup. The sippy cup was seized by TSA. Monica wanted the cup back because the sippy cup was the only way her son would drink -- and it was a long flight between Washington, DC and Reno, Nevada where she was going for a family reunion. If you've ever had a toddler you understand about sippy cups.

So she was willing to spill the water out. Drink the water. Anything -- all that she wanted was to be able to have a cup that her 19-month-old toddler could drink from.
...
Monica said that the incident ended this way: "I missed my flight, needless to say after being detained for over 40 minutes. After the officer was done humiliating me, I was advised that I could go through the security check point in an attempt to catch my flight. The officer insisted that my son and I be rescreened despite us both being detained and under her control the entire time."

I've noted my...skepticism about the efficacy of TSA before, but this really does take the cake.

I found out about the story via dirk gently in comments over at today's 198 Methods post.  The incivil bastard has also suggested a small act of civil resistance to highlight the insanity that is our so-called airport security:

Want to make a statement about the absurdity of Airport Security, but don't really want to be detained and arrested for looking crosswise at some power-mad TSA agent? Why not join the Great Sippy Cup Anti-Massacre Movement.

It's simple. Buy a sippy cup. Leave it in its packaging so it is totally harmless and beyond suspicion. Every time you take a commercial flight, carry the cup through security and on to the plane. That's it.

Image One person carrying a sippy cup. One person. No one will even notice.

Image two people. Two people walking through security with pre-packaged sippy cups. They won't think it's gay - they won't stop either one of them.

Imagine - just image - fifty people. Fifty people in a row carrying sippy cups, putting them through the x-ray machine and boarding their planes. They might just think it's a movement. And that's what it is.

The Great Sippy Cup Anti-Massacre Movement. It only costs about $1.79 (the price of a cup) to join. And, feel free to copy the Sippy Cup Movement logo onto your own blogs and websites. We can make our voices heard in safe, no uncertain terms. What have you got to lose?

If you have the time and balls/ovaries, I'd suggest going in with water in the cup and seeing if you can dump it out without being harassed, humiliated and detained as Monica was (I won't tomorrow when I fly to DC, but if I can find a sippy cup when I pick up my Rx in the AM, I'll go dry).  No matter, the symbolism of an empty cup is certainly a fine start.

ntodd

[Update: whig is on the case, too.  As is the TSA:

Myth:
TSA Officers Hassle Female Passenger with Toddler at Reagan National Airport over Sippy Cup?

Buster:
Decide for yourself.

I'm astounded by the TSA site.  How fucking defensive can our security apparatus be?]