An airport without security measures is clearly flawed; if no one boarding airplanes had his bags checked or if the passengers themselves had not been inspected for carrying dangerous substances, passengers would face monumental risks. Such would be an airport lacking Transportation Security Administration workers.

“TSA workers put a lot of time into ensuring that passengers are safe and it is unfortunate that they receive little thanks,” junior Annie Wang said.

Not only do these essential workers receive “little thanks” but the November murder of Los Angeles International Airport’s TSA worker Gerardo Hernandez by Paul Ciancia illustrates that these officers are targeted by severe and undeserved hatred. A note was later found on Ciancia depicting his detestation of TSA workers and anti-US government sentiment.

This tragedy should encourage Americans to appreciate TSA officers, who do the thankless work of running airline security systems.

“People are disrespectful to TSA workers because [they] are viewed as police men who lay down the law and no one likes getting in trouble or being told what to do,” junior and frequent flier Caroline Rand said.

In March of 2012, 1,294 TSA workers received complaints that TSA agents invade peoples’ privacy. Patting people down and screening them is their job. Instead of ridiculing TSA workers, people should appreciate them for working to promote the security of passengers.

“I try not to dwell on the negatives of the job because there are negatives to every job,” TSA employee and mother of senior Benjamin Oda said. “Look at the president. There are plenty of people who don’t like him. You don’t let those negatives stop you from doing your job.”

The couple of hours that passengers spend at the airport passing through security is minimal.

Meanwhile, TSA officers toil faithfully for days even when confronted with unpleasant passengers.

While demands that passengers remove their shoes may seem unreasonable at first, shoes and other articles of clothing have been used to conceal weapons in the past.

“When I travel, most of the people I see at airports are tired and this causes them to be disrespectful toward TSA workers when [they] ask for passengers to take off their shoes or open their bags for inspection,” Wang said. “Most travelers don’t realize that the TSA workers are more tired than the passengers are and don’t deserve to be treated disrespectfully.”

The negative feelings that many people have towards TSA workers must be eradicated. These officers endure long work days dedicated to protecting people, a job which deserves nothing but respect.