I don't think anybody was over-reacting, David. I mean, what kind of idiot travels with a "device" up his ass?
On the other hand, Natali has a point, too. If we allow terrorists to turn us into perpetually fearful, suspicious, paranoid people, they've won. It's complicated, finding just the right balance, and of course it's only the extreme or ridiculous cases, like this doofus with the wire hanging out the wazoo--or genuine attempts at terrorism--that make the media. (And please note: It was the doofus who was ridiculous, not the security people.)
Tell you what, since 2001 we have periodic uproars here in Philadelphia over protecting the historic buildings in the city, in particular Independence Hall. The park service wants to close Chestnut Street, which runs in front of the building, permanently, and the city says that would be bad for the city.
My take? Important Things happened in Independence Hall. It's a lovely Georgian building constructed in the 1730s. But if we elevate the bricks and mortar to greater significance than the ideas that were expounded there, the terrorists have won.
People seem to have difficulty accepting that you cannot eliminate risk from life. It's just not possible. God forbid Independence Hall should be destroyed in a terrorist attack, but my thinking is, What would we do if the building were bady damaged or destroyed in a "natural catastrophe," like a lightning strike and fire, or a natural gas explosion? We'd repair or rebuild it--rather like many of the buildings in Colonial Williamsburg--that's what we'd do. Bricks and mortar are not as important as ideas.
And that's my slightly OT rant for this morning. ...