Muslim Head "Pat Down" in Airports

Dear Mr. President, I am writing as a concerned citizen, who feels her fundamental freedoms are being violated. I know that sounds ominous, but you might actually be relieved by the content of this letter. Unlike a multimillion-dollar budget deficit, a dead locked congress overwhelmed by corporate interest, or military conflicts with very complicated exit strategies, I have a problem that you CAN fix with the wave of a pen. I am a Muslim woman who flies regularly, for work and pleasure, and I am routinely pulled aside after sailing through whatever security apparatus is present without setting off an alarm. Why, you ask? Why would a citizen with no criminal record or stray metallic items who has been radiated in a body scanner for "safety" be pulled aside for additional screening simply and purely because she observes the Islamic head covering. There is nothing about a particular cloth that makes it impervious to X-ray. Countless TSA agents have told me and other confused and concerned citizens that it is because of the scarf. Moreover, though today I wore a billowing colorful full-length dress with a cardigan, the woman who arrived to search me only patted down my scarf. She, as many before her have done, stated while donning her blue latex-free gloves "I have to pat down your scarf". Sir, you might wonder, if this is a regular occurrence for me, why I speak out now. Well, honestly the irony of the situation today has propelled me to action. I was at the airport after a long day of orientation for a Pediatric Fellowship, on my way to celebrate our country's independence with my extended family, which is descended from slaves, and yet I am being singled out based solely on my religion. I have asked what the purpose of this head scarf pat down is to low level employees of the TSA who respond with "It's procedure ma'am". Therefore, now I ask you Mr. President why in this "land of the free" are such unnecessary, counter intuitive, religiously discriminatory, and degrading practices a matter of procedure. It breeds ill will and makes our fellow passenger look at us with suspicion as they walk by and we are being patted down. I have come to loath the term "female assist" and even more dehumanizing "bulk item assist" spoken into a communication device. We, as a nation, have a lot of work to do. I talk a lot about change and I hope this letter will help to bring about a change that will affect Muslim women citizens all over this land. Please end this discriminatory practice immediately. Thank you for taking the time to read this message. Keisha Shaheed