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.