Are we always such assholes?

[tolyk]

Hey tolyk. Glad to see you make it home OK. Really sorry thing didn't work out.

Do your think border guards get 'points' for being discourteous?

I dunno.. but another guy going down to visit his wife and mother-in-law also got turned away (he was on a different bus). I was the only one turned away from my bus, even though the guy being questioned beside me had been arrested 4 times, and seemed kinda high. He got across no problem.. I find it all quite ironic really. No criminal record, hell, I haven't even commited a crime, yet they treated me like a common criminal, even made me walk 5 feet ahead of them when they escorted me back to the shuttle bus (Two armed escorts for one scrawny white guy.. fun fun, now I know what a crook feels like)

 

[SlickTony]

Logo and Tolyk, your story saddened me. I'm beginning to think that Dr. M is right about the direction my country is headed in. I hope things ultimately work out for you two.

Something else occurred to me...my daughter, who looks obviously Middle Eastern or Central Asian and has an Iranian name, has flown around the States, gone up to Canada, come back to the States, and has gone back and forth to Italy several times, and has never reported having any kind of trouble from anybody. She's very fortunate. I don't know how she's done it, but I pray things will continue that way for her.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Fuck, Tolyk, that sucks man. Glad the visit when it finally did occur went well and hey, she likes you enough to worry and fuss in public. At least you can let that thought comfort you the next time you're being strip searched by our brainless Boarder Gestapo. And next time don't look so swarthy, freedom hater. Dye your hair blonde and wear a viking cap. It'll send their caucasianometer through the roof.

Or just be high like the guy next to you was. Drug Abuse is practically a sign of American citizenship.

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

I had some friends going to a conference in Quebec, and they got detained for 24 hours (missed the first part of the conference) and were ultimately told "You can't come to Canada, we don't understand why you're here".

Border guard. Ugh.

 

[logophile]

Border guard. Ugh.

Exactly.

 

[Black Tulip]

Jeez, and I was still thinking America was the land of the free.

Have a hug Tol. Glad you're home and safe.

 

[SlickTony]

Jeez, and I was still thinking America was the land of the free.

Have a hug Tol. Glad you're home and safe.

It's what Dr. M was saying. Increasingly, it's getting to where "the free" are those with enuf money. Everyone else is getting about on sufferance, and sometimes, as Tolyk found, you can think you've got enough money and you don't.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Hey Toylk,

For my part as a US citizen, and probably for a lot of people like me, I can only offer a very embarrassed and very sincere apology for the actions of my government.

It seems like I feel the need to apologize for my government a lot these days, and this sense of embarrassment has become pretty much chronic.

Seriously, the whole thing is rather fucking infuriating. It's exactly the kind of thing America used to stand in opposition to.

---dr.M.

 

[rgraham666]

What you resist, you become, dr_m.

 

[Kassiana]

I'm sorry for the actions of my government as well, Tol & Logo. I'm sure no one here hoped Tol'd be turned away at the border. Good luck to both of you.

 

[gotwood49]

so sorry to hear about this

Logophile (and Tolyk)...
I just read this...man, I can't believe our government sometimes!! What an embarrassment for all of us US citizens! I've had a little trouble at the Canadian/US border myself, but only because I tried to joke around with the guards...they have NO sense of humor! (Never even HINT that you're carrying guns in your van!!!)

Seriously, I hate to hear that something like this took away the pleasure you were anticipating...I know you've been lonely, and to have gone through all the arrangements you must have had to go through...what an anitclimax!

My advice, honey, is to go to Canada yourself, when you can. It's so much easier for us to go up there, than it is, apparently, for a Canadian to come into our country. Definitely get a passport, if you don't have one, and go...

I'll be thinking about you, and hoping everything works out for the both of you.

Bruce

 

[Kara.]

Fuck yeah. Welcome to the fucking Land of the Free. Where we don't let completely normal-appearing people across the borders and do nothing to send back those that are here illegally, draining the resources of the taxpayers.

Sorry you had such a difficult time at the border. Being a citizen of this "great" nation is so fucking embarrassing sometimes.

 

[Boota]

The important thing is not to take this stuff personally. Sure, it's fucked up. But I imagine there is a lot of pressure, especially post 9-11, on border guards. I know common sense shouldn't be too much to ask, but this a bureaucracy, and these people are just small cogs in the big machine. There have been several terrorist attacks stymied by border guards at the Canadian/American border, so they're just a necessary evil sometimes.

We've seen that it works both ways, Canadian or American. My sister-in-law has been refused entry into Canada before and she's a native Canadian. Maybe we should all just plan and go expecting bullshit and be surprised if there isn't any.

Tolyk, at least they didn't find any nail clippers on you. They'd still be interrogating you under a bare bulb in a concrete room somewhere.

 

[matriarch]

You guys are seriously putting me off coming over for my holiday later this year!!

 

[Kara.]

You guys are seriously putting me off coming over for my holiday later this year!!

Enter at your own risk, if they'll let you.

 

[tolyk]

Actually, they didn't even look at my luggage.. Or else they'd of noticed that I only brought enough stuff for at most 4 days.. and the only things I brought were clothing, beyond the basic bathroom kit (electric razor, toothbrush, and a bottle of cologne)

I really expected them to search through all of my belongings, they were only interested in the contents of my wallet however, because as it turns out, I had a Blockbuster membership card in there still from 2000, when I lived in America. At which point, he started asking me how long I was living in America illegally, etc etc. I had to explain to him numerous times that I had a work visa whilst I was there, and that I legally married an american, and was in the process of attaining a permanent green card. But no.. he would still ask me the next time how long I was in illegally.. and then call me a liar when I would tell him anything. I was polite, respectful and subservient the entire time.. Called him Sir, was concise in my answers, didn't stutter or faulter as I explained things. But, I was a liar. Yep, that's me.

They were all saying that though, "I don't believe that at all." or "That's not the truth." and other things along those lines. Which is really quite annoying.. everyone apparently wants to stay in america illegally, but everyone that comes to the border is instantly a liar. Thus, why do they let anyone across at all? The ones who do stay illegally generally know exactly what paperwork they need to get themselves across in the first place, well, the ones who are smart that is.. if you don't want to get caught sneaking across the border, just bring enough proof that you are coming back.

The thing that annoys me is that you need to bring a recent paystub (or for some people, a letter from your employer) yet you could quit the day you set out for travel. What would a paystub prove then? Yep, I got paid yesterday, let me across.

The paperwork they demand proves nothing, absolutely nothing. It can all be circumvented.

 

[English Lady]

*hugs* tolyk...glad to see you're ok..but fuming for you...I'm so sorry your plans were so spoilt.

 

[oggbashan]

Our local paper in Kent has reported several instances of UK citizens being turned back on entry when the family was flying to Florida to go to Disneyland. They were not Muslims or of Arabic appearance just ordinary folks going for a holiday.

Despite the value of the pound against the dollar locals are going anywhere but the US. Why book an expensive holiday if you could be turned back on arrival?

I have had trouble with borders twice. Entering Yugoslavia, as it then was, with a UK passport issued in Gibraltar I was hauled off the Orient Express and they held the train while the guards interrogated me. Their main beef was that the Governor of Gibraltar did not use the same wording as the UK's Secretary of State.

Quote: "Who is the Governor of Gibraltar that he can order me to admit you?" I explained where Gibraltar was on a pocket diary's atlas and said that perhaps the Governor was less diplomatic because he was a soldier, not a politician.
"What could the Governor of Gibraltar do to Yugoslavia? It is a small place a long way from here."
I explained that he might be able to stop Yugoslav ships from passing the Strait of Gibraltar. That was unwise. I was haranged about the strength of the Yugoslav Army. I did say that the Governor had some big guns.
"How big?"
I didn't want to reveal military secrets so I said "Big enough."
The officer and I had difficulty because he thought in metric measurements and I thought in Imperial. Eventually I pointed to a soldier's rifle. "That is 9 mm." "Yes?" "Gibraltar's guns are forty times larger at least." That got through. I was told to inform the Governor of Gibraltar, next time I saw him, not to threaten the free and independent country of Yugoslavia. I promised to do that, next time I saw the Governor. I was passed fit to enter and the train could proceed.

On arrival back in England the UK immigration officers had changed their entry rules. There were lanes for UK passports, for EEC passports, for 'Others'. I was directed to 'Others' and found that I was the only person faced by twelve immigration officers just for me. They waved me through without checking anything. The group I was travelling with had UK passports and took half an hour to clear.

Og

 

[LadyJeanne]

Our local paper in Kent has reported several instances of UK citizens being turned back on entry when the family was flying to Florida to go to Disneyland. They were not Muslims or of Arabic appearance just ordinary folks going for a holiday.

Despite the value of the pound against the dollar locals are going anywhere but the US. Why book an expensive holiday if you could be turned back on arrival?

I have had trouble with borders twice. Entering Yugoslavia, as it then was, with a UK passport issued in Gibraltar I was hauled off the Orient Express and they held the train while the guards interrogated me. Their main beef was that the Governor of Gibraltar did not use the same wording as the UK's Secretary of State.

Quote: "Who is the Governor of Gibraltar that he can order me to admit you?" I explained where Gibraltar was on a pocket diary's atlas and said that perhaps the Governor was less diplomatic because he was a soldier, not a politician.
"What could the Governor of Gibraltar do to Yugoslavia? It is a small place a long way from here."
I explained that he might be able to stop Yugoslav ships from passing the Strait of Gibraltar. That was unwise. I was haranged about the strength of the Yugoslav Army. I did say that the Governor had some big guns.
"How big?"
I didn't want to reveal military secrets so I said "Big enough."
The officer and I had difficulty because he thought in metric measurements and I thought in Imperial. Eventually I pointed to a soldier's rifle. "That is 9 mm." "Yes?" "Gibraltar's guns are forty times larger at least." That got through. I was told to inform the Governor of Gibraltar, next time I saw him, not to threaten the free and independent country of Yugoslavia. I promised to do that, next time I saw the Governor. I was passed fit to enter and the train could proceed.

On arrival back in England the UK immigration officers had changed their entry rules. There were lanes for UK passports, for EEC passports, for 'Others'. I was directed to 'Others' and found that I was the only person faced by twelve immigration officers just for me. They waved me through without checking anything. The group I was travelling with had UK passports and took half an hour to clear.

Og

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (affectionately known as FYROM 'cause the Greeks don't like to admit that Macedonia doesn't belong to them) has very handsome customs guards, tall and dark, but they mumble.

They take your little blue American passport away from you and go into some back room somewhere while you and your fellow Austrian Air passengers mill around in a tight clump, afraid you'll never get your passport back.

In the meantime, your luggage has been tumbling around the baggage ramp and you've been biting your nails in fear that someone may have stolen it, cause that happens there.

Then the tall, handsome, armed official comes out of the back room and holds each passport up, one by one, mubling and mangling the names so you have to *guess* if it's yours. Envision a pack of dogs leaping for a treat held too high in the master's hand.

Then you collect your bags and make your way through the 'funnel' exit where insane taxi drivers want to take your bags from you so you have to chase them down and get into their cab. Fortunately, I was born there so could swear at them in their native tongue. My uncles did the rest.