Canada issues rare caution on U.S. travel When you make the neighbors that nervous, it's time to take a look at yourself. To my Canadian neighbors: I'm sorry it's gotten this far. thanx, Tiassa Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
It's inevitable that eventually you'll be a suspect of some kind in the U.S. if you aren't white. Looks like the neo-nazi skinheads win. And now they're really going to hate us when they find out that Canada is relaxing it's marijuana laws and even growing high grade pot in underground mines. They did a story about it on the CBC National news this evening and they asked the finance minister if he ever smoked pot, and he said "Of course."
Good grief, that certainly is interesting. I quite like Canada and its people in general. It's a sorry state of affairs when things have become so bad.
This seems more like a clever way to officially express disapproval for U.S. security policies than an actual serious travel warning. They issued the warning because they thought it unfair that the U.S. government is profiling people from certain countries. Unfair as profiling may be, travel warnings are usually only issued when the situation in a country presents a significant threat to safety.
Striptease, a peanut farmer, and a call to keep it coming Ever see Monty Python's "Minister of Finance" sketch? Good times, good times, good times .... On the one hand, that's exactly it. To the other, I think a government has a responsibility to warn its citizens when they can expect harassment abroad. But to think of it in the light of an official expression of disapproval .... Well, I'm glad nobody's given Carter any crap for his Nobel, but I thought the occasion slightly sullied by the politics of it. I think everyone would have known even if they hadn't come right out and said it. But it does make me wonder: if bodies are looking for subtle ways--or, at least, seeking existing channels instead of inventing new ones--for demonstrating their displeasure with the U.S., I can only raise a glass. Personally, I'm waiting to see what happens when the boycotts start. The Nobel, the Canadians ... okay, who's next? I welcome all official disapproval of U.S. policies. I don't believe we're acting in anyone's best interests right now, including our own. So of course I'm going to welcome criticism to freshen the debate. thanx, Tiassa Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
It's worth noting that crossing into the U.S. via the Canadian border has long been a favorite method for terrorists to gain entry into the United States.
Land of the ... uh ... okay, the home of the ... uh ... damn True, but to act on that as we have presumes the guilt of many, many people, with the primary significator being ethnicity. In the United States a person is presumed innocent of wrongdoing until proven guilty. The regulation of tourists according to ethnicity presumes their guilt to a certain degree, and this is technically "un-American". The problem as I see it is that people enjoy the prestige of being American, enjoy the opportunities of being American, but generally don't wish to contribute anything to that American principle they so enjoy. It seems unfortunate, but we cannot sacrifice those principles merely for safety. Has it not occurred to anyone that when the US Constitution is trashed and the people live in such paranoia that skin color is a reason for fear, the terrorists win? We Americans flex our muscles and beat our chests. We are the mightiest nation in the world. The superiority of the American marque seems more important than the principles thereof--it's tantamount to Mercedes making Yugos just to increase their market-share. Everyone might still buy one because they want the Mercedes label. If Americans kill the "American dream", we make Al-Qaeda's job that much easier. And that's problematic to the current situation. It would seem that the Candians know better than the US what that means to the world. That's not surprising. Most Americans seem very unaware of the value of a nation like the US. They like to think great things about it, but those great things usually have to do with money and dominion, and not with community, social harmony, or understanding. We are the mightiest nation in the world. We are not the healthiest, the most free, nor the best-educated. What does that tell us about American priorities? The home of the brave? We cower in the presence of dark-skinned people over breakfast. The land of the free? It was a nice promise. Too bad about the rest. One nation under God? Well, at least we know what's important to the politicos. And that's America, love it or leave it (as the saying goes). Pretty scary, huh? thanx, Tiassa Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
