The forms even kindly reminded that answering "yes" to any of the questions may prevent you from entering the US. Doh!Quote:
Originally Posted by Eki
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The forms even kindly reminded that answering "yes" to any of the questions may prevent you from entering the US. Doh!Quote:
Originally Posted by Eki
Ah yes, Eki discovers that getting into the US is tough. Actually Eki, it is like this, if they ask you a lot of questions to get into the country, once you are in there, you wont be watched, interrogated, hassled, spied on, or anything else by anyone in authority. The US is so free that people disappear there all the time into the air. Millions of illegal immigrants sneak in across the Mexican border and some across the Canadian border. Yet there is no police state. Most of the places in the world that you seem to give a free pass I can GUARNTEE you will treat you with similar discourtesy getting in, and then when you are in the country, you cant be sure you ARE NOT being watched.
Hell, in some nations, you just wont get in if they don't like the looks of you.
I don't think the US has an special lineup for Finns Eki. Heck, I crossed that border every day for 5 years, and likely will be in the future, and I know how US Customs are. They are bureaucratic no minds the same way every other democratic nation has bureaucratic no minds with no sense of humour at Customs. That just is the way it is.....
I went through the London Heathrow day after the bombings in July 2005. I had to pass two security checks before getting in to the plane. The customs officials there we thorough but at least they were polite and friendly. Little politeness and friendliness wouldn't hurt the US customs officials either.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa
BDunnell, Knockie, Gannex and Arrows: :up:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eki
US Customs officials are famous for their attitude :laugh: I've even had one fingering his gun when I was trying to reason with him. Big mistake :laugh:
Sure, the US has tightened up it's borders but it's just a minor inconvenience really and not the major trial you make it out to be.
Sure, questions such as "Are you a fanatical terrorist that wishes to destroy all infidels" seems a bit silly but by ticking "no", are you really suffering?
It's no big deal.
My personal experience: in the last four years I've gone through customs and immigration in USA (5 times), Canada (12 times), UK (2), Ireland, France (2), Germany (3), Denmark, Romania, China (2), Argentina (5), Uruguay, Brazil. While I agree that immigration officers are not particularly friendly anywhere, they are clearly less friendly at US and Canada, and they ask you a lot more questions than at other places. Canada, where I am a landed immigrant, is the place where I get questioned the most. I was even asked "what's the purpose of your visit?" "Well, going to my house to keep living with my wife, keep doing my job, and keep raising my daughters", I had to answer. At the Canadian and US borders I'm systematically asked about my job, my trip, my house, etc. At the other borders the most I've been asked is "what's the purpose of your visit?", and that only about 50% of the time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa
Everybody has points to make Agwiii and just because you believe a point is unreasoned, does not necessarily make it wrong. Just a different view.Quote:
Originally Posted by agwiii
I was pointing out that Ben found it insulting to be accused of supported Saddam and in the very next post, you did it again.
On this forum, we try (not always successfully, I grant you) to respect others views.
Where you lost me was in the last two sentences? Has anyone plagiarised something that I don’t know about and tried to justify it? :laugh:
That’s why I preceded my statement with the line “I would suggest” to signify it was my opinion. As an opinion, I think it is valid and I would suggest it is also correct.Quote:
Knock-on, that is an assumption.
Making unsubstantiated claims as facts is not just risky but wrong. You seem to believe that most people that do not hold your views are pro Saddam and have made those claims on this thread. I fail to see the logic in this. It’s a bit like me saying that I hate Fosters and you claiming I’m against Alcohol. How about a bit of tolerance and understanding, eh? We can debate and even criticise some aspects of the Iraq situation without being a Saddam Lover. Please point out anything to the contrary to substantiate your views.Quote:
Making assumptions can be risky. Assumptions are either warranted or not. Reading the pro-Saddam posts here suggests that your assumption is not warranted.
It is not all Black and White.
Is that another assumption or do you have proof?Quote:
I agree with you that I cannot see why anyone would defend him, but there are many that continue to support the Butcher of Bagdad.
Totally agree. However, what has this to do with this thread? Are you claiming you have 100% access to your Governments information or are you, the same as the rest of us, a Monday morning Quarterback.Quote:
During most, if not all wars in history, there have been Monday morning quarterbacks who -- despite not having enough information to make an assessment -- persisted in making public policy statements. War cannot be conducted by committee, or with 100% public disclosure. That would be handing the enemy a copy of your battle plan.
Can you not see this?
So, shall we shut up shop and blindly accept whatever our Governments decide or shall we discuss the current situation in this forum?
Can you not see this?
I am British, English and proud of my country. Yet I am also a realist and can recognise its strengths and weaknesses. I have free will, free speech and a desire to exercise these privileges. If you’re worried about my flag, then it’s because when the forum changed software, it didn’t carry over and I haven’t got round to doing it yet.Quote:
You list no flag on your profile, yet you criticize the conduct of President Bush and Prime Minister Blair.
Again, it is your assumptions that let you down. You have no idea what I apply myself to and what advancement I seek. Your priorities and desires are not necessarily the same as mine but I do operate at a level where I influence policy to a small degree ;) However, even if I didn’t, it would not preclude me from discussing and educating myself to the current situation. Surely, self knowledge is advancement in itself and helps dispel pre-conceptions and ignorance. Well, if you open your mind, remove the blinkers, debate, discuss and evaluate it is ;)Quote:
If you are American or British, then I suggest that you get involved in your government and work to advance your position. If you are somewhere else and live under some form of self-determination government, then I make the same suggestion. Get involved and make a difference. If this is a salient issue to you, do something. I do! This forum is read by very few people and ranting about foreign policy here has no effect upon policy.
I have only limited experience on Canadian customs officials, just met one and he seemed friendly enough. We were visiting the US side of Niagara Falls, when we decided to go and have lunch on the Canadian side. We were five Finns, one Malesian and one Chinese. The customs would have let us Finns and the Malesian through (Malesia is part of the British Commonwealth like Canada) but the Chinese would have needed a visa. She could have bought a visa for about $200, but we thought it was too much for a lunch and decided to go back to the US side. The customs official stamped our passports anyway and gave us pins depicting the Canadian flag, which was nice.Quote:
Originally Posted by tinchote
But you know my views. Again, do you seriously think I support him, or are you just using it as a piece of lazy right-wing rhetoric?Quote:
Originally Posted by agwiii
Or Qantas, the Australian airline which has banned someone from boarding one of its flights because he was wearing a T-shirt bearing an anti-Bush slogan — http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/6285971.stmQuote:
Originally Posted by Eki
The slogan is pretty juvenile, but I wouldn't have thought it so offensive as to be a problem for anyone in their right mind.
I have been involved in politics, and was delighted during that time to have been part of the only mainstream British party to have adopted a stance against the Iraq war, a stance which has been shown to have been extremely wise.Quote:
Originally Posted by agwiii
Your statement above is pointless for two reasons. Firstly, why does it matter whether someone doesn't display a flag alongside their name while making comments? Everyone is entitled to criticise (and praise) when they feel it is necessary, and whether or not they display one relatively meaningless symbol of nationality has not the slightest effect on this. Secondly, you say that people should get involved in 'government', which is not something that can be done by everyone. Politics yes, government no. The difference is significant.
Meaningless symbol of one's country? All under one flag? Oh boy....that will be like pouring gas on Agwiii's fire....*Mark ducks*
I think Customs at the US/Canadian border are a bit ridiculous at times, and since I have crossed that border every day for about 4 years, I have seen more of customs than most of you. YES they can be rude, stupid and ignorant. You know what though? The freedom that anyone is allowed once passing through that border though is a freedom that is seen as worth protecting, hence the awkward and stupid questions at times.Quote:
Originally Posted by tinchote
The job of customs is to protect a nation from people arriving who would either do it harm, or smuggle something in, or to keep out people who would either stay illegally or work illegally. It isn't to make nice with people. It should be as a human courtesy, but in the end, it isn't their job. You give that sort of purpose to a bureaucrat, and he will make a mess of it on occasion. That said, you guys want rude, go to Mexico and have a customs agent at Cancun airport not like your documents and tell you quietly a 100 pesos will make the problem go away.....and then be hit up for bribes by two separate incidents with cops.
The free world is full of crappy cops, customs agents and faceless bureaucrats that give their nations at times bad names, but I will take it in a heart beat over living in a society where the only way out is to either be up a Dictators butt so far that you are as bad as he is, or floating out on a raft hoping to land in Florida!
The tourists and business people visiting a country probably make more good to any country than smugglers and terrorists do harm, so it wouldn't hurt to treat them like human beings. Besides, I'm quite sure being smart would be way more efficient in catching the terrorists and the smugglers than being rude. You can even kill someone while smiling and saying "sorry" if you really try, you know.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa
The courtesy of immigration officials is probably little different to the courtesy of people the world over. You get good 'uns and bad 'uns.
Eki, you and I agree on this, kindness would go a long way, but again, the world isn't as we would like it, it is what it is......
yes, and it is up to us to make it better.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa
peace,
:s mokin:
Quote:
Originally Posted by BDunnell
Mainstream and yet not in power. That is a creative oxymoron.
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Originally Posted by BDunnell
Indeed, patriotism and pride in one's home is be dead for some.
I suppose the 2,000 year old story of Jesus Christ is another story you want to reconsider.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eki
I disagree. Being anti-war means that someone has nothing original to say. I am Pro-Peace, for I doubt many are pro-war. OTOH, there are many who are pro-Saddam.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gannex
agwiii, I have no idea what you are talking about. Your post is a mystery.
Gannex: I have to say the same thing. Since you did not quote something I wrote, I have no idea what you are talking about. Were you talking about Jesus Christ, or about my being Pro-Peace?Quote:
Originally Posted by Gannex
The cowards are at it again. This particular coward has displayed both cowardice and ignorance, for it wrote in the negative REP comment, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain!"Quote:
Originally Posted by agwiii
Of course, as all can see, nobody on this forum has taken the name of the Lord in vain.
REP is a failure. Kill it or change it so that it is not the tool of vengeful cowards.
*scratching my head*....I am ...speechless...ok stick a fork in this thread, it is DEAD...lol....
Gore and Kerry was extremely mainstream yet none of them was ever in power. How do you define oxymoron?Quote:
Originally Posted by agwiii
Please, present some original pro-peace argument about the war in Iraq, though keep in mind it has to be more original than a anti-war argument. Can you really do that, thethird?Quote:
Originally Posted by agwiii
I can make a statement, the world cannot be analyzed in 5 day sound bites or intervals. IT may take 10 years for Iraq to get through this process of making the change into a nation that is more in line with a more peaceful world. Judge history based on THAT, and one can say whether this was a failure or not. Right now, it sucks, but understand the idiots doing the killing Iraq would be doing this if Saddam had died naturally and the idiot sons didn't have the power to run things. It is not going to be an easy solution, and the press seems to villify anyone who doesn't provide that easy solution.
You want peace, get rid of people that would enslave and starve their own to retain power, and THAT will not change in this world, or our kids world. The Americans tried to clean up on mess, and made another. Well, last time I looked, screwing up was human...so live with it...whinging here sounds good but most people were quiet when it was quiet in the first 5 months or so after the war...
To be mainstream is not to be a loser. Can you define Swedish mainstream?Quote:
Originally Posted by VresiBerba
Yes, can you? :laugh:Quote:
Originally Posted by VresiBerba
You've been to Texas. Get the chainsaw and kill this puppy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa
Don't play stupid with me. Can you present this argument or not, if so, please do.Quote:
Originally Posted by agwiii
Sorry buster, but you won't get away that easy. Explain what oxymoron is, and I might explain what mainstream is.Quote:
To be mainstream is not to be a loser. Can you define Swedish mainstream?