Alas, I’m not off to, or returning from, an exotic destination like some of you are this time of year though I dearly wish I was. No, I’m at the airport to get fingerprinted among other things (I was promised no body cavity searches).
Airports fascinate me. I remember as a child my dad would take me to the Corpus Christi International Airport (so called “International” because Aero Mexico used to fly there) just to watch the planes take off and land. The airport in CC was a pretty small operation in the 60’s. I think Braniff was the biggest airline there at the time. Eastern and several others that are also long gone offered service as well. While the terminal was enclosed, the gates, all 4 of them if I recall correctly, were open air affairs with long breezeways that afforded this 6 year old air traffic controller an excellent view of the aircraft coming and going (admittedly there weren’t that many flights back then).
Needless to say, ABIA is pretty far removed from that. When I walked into the terminal building this afternoon the very first thing I saw was an office with the words “US Customs and Border Protection.” Maybe someone can enlighten me, but have the words “border protection” always been part of that title? Given recent events I halfway expected to hear the muffled screams of people getting beaten with rubber hoses as I walked by. And walk by I did, past the baggage carousels until I came upon the imposing figure that is Barbara Jordan. A lot of folks are too young to remember her which is a shame. Her booming oratory was something to behold.
Seeing her likeness in the middle of what has become yet another battleground in a country with far too many of them and remembering that she fought the good fight for as long as her body allowed, was a much needed reminder that there were good people who worked tirelessly for those without a voice, that there are good people who are doing so today and that there will be a future generation of good people who will be called upon to work for those who are most in need of being heard.
I'm Just Being Frank 