Airport Security Profiling

Shaan shares a story about how being brown in America affects his travel experience, particularly after 9/11.

"I grow a beard pretty quick, and when I go to the airport, I have to think about how I look that day. I'm not trying to get hassled for no reason, so I'll shave before I get on a flight. I had friends who are Muslim who had their house keys taken away from them in TSA because TSA said it was potentially dangerous. They were like 'This is my apartment keys, what are you talking about?'

I'm not angry about it though. My personal philosophy is the only thing you have control over is your attitude towards the present moment. It's both empowering and disempowering. Disempowering because I can't control anything going on, how other people feel or act. But it's empowering because the one thing I control is my attitude towards the moment.

When something negative happens, like getting extra TSA clearance, the meaning I put on that is my choosing. If I put the meaning that I'm less than or being wronged, it doesn't help me - it makes me feel terrible. So I decide not to feel that way. But I know on the grand scheme of things, I get off pretty light. It's very different than never feeling safe going for a jog in your neighborhood. There are levels to it, and I haven't experienced those levels where it would be very challenging to put a positive meaning on what's going on."