I thought for sure the idiotic slugs that pass for security in our airports had mishandled this woman resulting in her death when they said she strangled herself while trying to escape from handcuffs. However, Slate reports indeed you can manage to screw up this maneuver and contort yourself into such a position. They also linked this video
showing how the double-jointed might attempt this maneuver, while warning people not to try it at home with handcuffs and asphyxiate themselves like this woman did.
Not that I'm saying this lets the cops entirely off the hook, but I have to admit surprise that it's possible for some people to bring their hands over their head that way.
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I wonder how "disorderly" her conduct really was, and if she would have been arrested for her behavior in a convenience store. That's the part of this story that I find upsetting. Every time I travel by airplane I end up in a situation where I feel like yelling at someone. Every time. But because of the authoritarian airport system that exists, we all have to behave. I wonder how much longer folks will be willing to tolerate the existing system.
My prediction? We will either demand that airlines start treating people like humans instead of like cargo, or we will demand that the security system becomes less authoritarian. And I hope that happens sooner, rather than later.
Well, I'd hope we'd behave because it's the right neighborly thing to do -- not because an authoritarian jackboot is on our throat.
They'll tolerate it as long as it's acceptable to make the trade-off between our foreign policy decisions and our civil liberties. Our foreign policy decisions tend to be made with a crystal moral clarity that has escaped my postmodernist upbringing so there's dissonance to address. And that makes me and many other morally ambiguous (and intellectually lazy) people, the primary candidates for the long train ride. Meh -- What would you expect from us equivocating weasels anyway? To fight back?
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With regards to this woman, I can tell you from personal experience that some people react differently to being restrained, and for some -- dare I say it -- social classes, confronting compulsory physical restraint for the first time and the ensuing frustration (of sudden loss of physical freedom), can be very traumatic.
Maybe we should introduce kindergarten kiddies to plastic cuffs so that later in life they don't go over the edge when placed in a coercive situation. Or we could teach them good stretching techniques so that escape artistry becomes one of the necessary skills of the post-9/11 world.
I mean, you've got to roll with the changes and move forward.
Well, I'd hope we'd behave because it's the right neighborly thing to do -- not because an authoritarian jackboot is on our throat.
You're right, of course. But airports bring out the worst in people. If I received such bad service (and discourteous service) in a restaurant, I would be inclined to raise my voice. Stranding someone in a strange city without a hotel (while travelling with a small child) does warrant raising one's voice (I'm speaking from personal experience here). And yet, we're all afraid to because of the authoritarians in the airport. It's a pretty twisted system.
Of course, I have extra stress while travelling, as I'm a foreigner, and don't want to lose my jeopardize my work visa. Anyway, clearly I'm very sympathetic for this dead woman.
From all reports she was causing a public nuisance and resisted any attempts to get her to calm down. The police seemed to have responded efficiently to a situation fraught with difficulties and unknown elements.
Yes in hindsight she had serious issues and a more careful watch should have been placed on her while she was in custody. BUT we only know this from members of her family after the fact.
What really amazes me is that she was travelling alone while in a truely vulnerable state.
Other questions that need addressing are:
Does New York not have any suitable rehab facilities?
Why was she travelling with no escort?
Why was the airline not made aware of her condition before she travelled?
It's all too easy to blame the authorities who are in the dark and need to respond on slim evidence while leaving all possibilities open. Sometimes we need to look closer to home.
What I'm wondering here is why she didn't just try to get her arms around the other way (around her feet)? That's a lot easier and safer, and you don't even need to dislocate a shoulder to do it. Maybe it's not as obvious an option, though you'd think she'd have second thoughts about going over her head at some point.