I was not looking forward to a flight to Denver because I was embarrassed to make the TSA work for me while they weren’t getting paid. I thanked each one of them in Durango.

On my return from Denver, I dreaded going through the seemingly endless sea of people awaiting security clearance. But all lines were manned and operating normally. When it was my turn to show my ID to the first checker, I wanted to say something positive to him. He appeared unfriendly and unhappy. I said, “Sir, thank you for your integrity.” He smiled and said, “Thanks, bud, I really appreciate that.” I then thanked every other security checker for their integrity.

After I cleared the line, an agent came up to me and introduced a TSA supervisor. I asked her to tell her whole shift that a grateful passenger thanked them for showing their integrity.

I am not writing about me or specifically about the TSA. It’s about all the little people, federal employees who are furloughed or working with great integrity but without pay. These are the people who keep our government functioning and were the first victims of an unnecessary, unwise and harmful political impasse. An impasse that made the rest of us victims as well.

Choose whomever you want to blame for this national nightmare, but if you have the opportunity, please express your thanks to federal employees for showing what our political leadership in Washington has not been shown to possess: integrity.

Roger Brooks

Mancos