I want to respond to one aspect of Will Saletan's blog about the nipple-piercing incident. One of Saletan's positions is that nipple piercings are elective, whereas pacemakers, prostheses, and other items made of metal that might set off airport metal detectors are not. The implication is that while it might be understandable if a pacemaker or an artificial leg sets off a metal detector, it's much less acceptable to become indignant if a nipple ring or tongue stud sets the detector beeping.

To an extent, I agree, there is a big difference between the reason for the metal in a pacemaker and the metal in a nipple ring or tongue stud. But I'd like to question how valuable the distinction Saletan implies between elective and necessary really is at protecting safety.

One of the cornerstones of our national ethos is the basic idea that we have the freedom to pursue life, liberty, and happiness, so long as our actions do not infringe upon the rights of others. I'd go so far as to say that self expression--visual art, literature, music, performance, and so on--is not just a right, but a defining characteristic of humanity.

There are limits to self-expression--what you believe is only defensible insofar as your expression of it doesn't infringe upon the rights of others. But I think it crosses a line to tell someone that if they expect to fly commercially, they should nix piercings. Might that be more convenient? Yes. Would it violate an individual's rights? Just as much as it would violate Will's rights to instruct him to leave pen, pencil, paper, and computer at home.

And I'd go farther than that. I'd say that all people have the right to express themselves--their individuality, their affiliations, their likes and dislikes--any aspect of their identity that makes them human beings. Right up to the point beyond which they would infringe upon the rights of others.

And I think that implying that someone should eschew piercings in order to fly gets too close to requiring particular haircuts or body styles. Diversity IS essential to society--be it elective diversity or not. And when it comes to American society, elective diversity is a First Amendment issue.