Security Theater

I don't know if you heard, but there was an art heist — aheist! — at the Louvre. Haven't heard that word in a while. The whole thing was shockingly simple.

They put on yellow and orange construction vests, got a furniture lift to break into a balcony, snagged the jewels, andfended off "security" with power tools. Probably gave them the ol' 3-pumps of the cordless drill, that works for squirrels in my backyard. Then went back down the way they came, popped on some scooters, and left.

It made me think about security theater. The impression of protection, you know, the TSA. The real hero of the post-9/11 world is a reinforced cockpit door that locks securely. The problem is that the door doesn't project safety. That's what half an hour in line taking off your clothes does.

Security theater is in more places than you think. Find a door you're not supposed to go into, a fence that is unlocked, a room that is for staff only. Do a little civic exploration of security theater in the real world for me. You'd be surprised how far you can go — especially as a white man.

The Louvre got robbed in broad daylight. The rest of us are just waiting in line, barefoot, pretending that means something.