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Originally posted by SameErtia:

I found it interesting that it was easier, and far more polite, getting into and out of Great Britain and Netherlands than it was getting BACK into the US on this vacation! Dear heaven. I'm a US passport holder- a freakin' citizen. What the heck is the problem???

No "Welcome home, citizen!" for an American. Just freakin' long lines to see if we might be smuggling in unpasturized sausage.

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Originally posted by Sassalicious:


I hear you on that. I spent 3 weeks in Ireland and London over winter break and when I got to Chicago, immigration chewed my ass. The woman looking at my passport didn't believe I was student, didn't believe I had a job, didn't believe that I had a cheap ticket, didn't understand the concept of travelling without much of a reason aside from it's fun (i was just backpacking--not really visiting anyone). She spent 10-15 minutes asking me where i stayed and who I stayed with repeatedly, what my job was, how much I made, whether I was student, where I went to school, didn't classes already start?, your ticket was that cheap?, etc etc etc.

Then I get sent to the more secure level of customs. And my luggage also didn't arrive due to bad weather in Frankfurt delaying all flights going via that airport.

So now I've just gotten interrogated by the government, my luggage is missing, and no one can point me in the direction of the United luggage counter. So I'm standing in the airport, nearly in tears, on the phone with my mom YELLING into my phone about how much I hate homeland security, it's a waste of time, Dubya sucks, this war sucks, it's useless, i HATE everyone, and how they think 21 year old female backpackers are terrorists. I think it's a good thing the "proper officials" didn't overhear that one . . . .

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Originally posted by SameErtia:
Fear is what the government wants.
Make us afraid, then use the fear to control us. Bleh.
We just keep doing what we're doing, saying what we're saying, and eventually it will get better.

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Originally posted by BlackoutNights:

Buddy: And we'll get them to.

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Originally posted by KuangZheDe:
I love my country,(AGREE)

I think the world is better off without Saddam,(AGREE)

I think our modivations were driven by oil and money,(I THINK IT'S SPELLED 'MOTIVATIONS')

I think the war in general has been speedy,(DISAGREE)

I think the occupation is necessary but unfortunate,(DISAGREE)

I do not believe a time table for pullout is realistic.(AGREE)

I think the "left" is painting a picture of failure and fear in the media that modivates terrorist and in turn endangers the lives of Americans and her allies.(DISAGREE)

I think bitchin about the reasons for going in and the modivations of the US goverment is not going to change the fact that we are there now.(AGREE)

I think talking about the fall of the Federal goverment could put you into the following scenario (AGREE)

I think there alot of people on both sides who are uninformed.(MOST DEFINITLY, AGREE)

I think news is made not reported.(AGREE)

...when did it become a bigoted hate crime to want more for the Glory of Ones Country?(ROMAN EMPIRE)


In closing I love my country, I just don't like where some people want to take it.(AGREE)

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Some people want to take it to world domination, which is clearly impossible (and very risky).

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Originally posted by Sassalicious:

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Originally posted by SameErtia:

I found it interesting that it was easier, and far more polite, getting into and out of Great Britain and Netherlands than it was getting BACK into the US on this vacation! Dear heaven. I'm a US passport holder- a freakin' citizen. What the heck is the problem???

No "Welcome home, citizen!" for an American. Just freakin' long lines to see if we might be smuggling in unpasturized sausage.

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I hear you on that. I spent 3 weeks in Ireland and London over winter break and when I got to Chicago, immigration chewed my ass. The woman looking at my passport didn't believe I was student, didn't believe I had a job, didn't believe that I had a cheap ticket, didn't understand the concept of travelling without much of a reason aside from it's fun (i was just backpacking--not really visiting anyone). She spent 10-15 minutes asking me where i stayed and who I stayed with repeatedly, what my job was, how much I made, whether I was student, where I went to school, didn't classes already start?, your ticket was that cheap?, etc etc etc.

Then I get sent to the more secure level of customs. And my luggage also didn't arrive due to bad weather in Frankfurt delaying all flights going via that airport.

So now I've just gotten interrogated by the government, my luggage is missing, and no one can point me in the direction of the United luggage counter. So I'm standing in the airport, nearly in tears, on the phone with my mom YELLING into my phone about how much I hate homeland security, it's a waste of time, Dubya sucks, this war sucks, it's useless, i HATE everyone, and how they think 21 year old female backpackers are terrorists. I think it's a good thing the "proper officials" didn't overhear that one . . . .

Anyway, getting back to the point. My parents called the Congressman and ripped him a new one about how they are treating people. He apparently called back with some lame reasoning behind it. If you think they were out of line, you should call too. Maybe if enough people call they'll realize that the treatment people are given is totally uncalled for. Other countries accomplish the same thing in a much more civilized manner. AND they understand the concept of backpacking.

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Originally posted by Zeek:

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Originally posted by Sassalicious:

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Originally posted by SameErtia:

I found it interesting that it was easier, and far more polite, getting into and out of Great Britain and Netherlands than it was getting BACK into the US on this vacation! Dear heaven. I'm a US passport holder- a freakin' citizen. What the heck is the problem???

No "Welcome home, citizen!" for an American. Just freakin' long lines to see if we might be smuggling in unpasturized sausage.

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I hear you on that. I spent 3 weeks in Ireland and London over winter break and when I got to Chicago, immigration chewed my ass. The woman looking at my passport didn't believe I was student, didn't believe I had a job, didn't believe that I had a cheap ticket, didn't understand the concept of travelling without much of a reason aside from it's fun (i was just backpacking--not really visiting anyone). She spent 10-15 minutes asking me where i stayed and who I stayed with repeatedly, what my job was, how much I made, whether I was student, where I went to school, didn't classes already start?, your ticket was that cheap?, etc etc etc.

Then I get sent to the more secure level of customs. And my luggage also didn't arrive due to bad weather in Frankfurt delaying all flights going via that airport.

So now I've just gotten interrogated by the government, my luggage is missing, and no one can point me in the direction of the United luggage counter. So I'm standing in the airport, nearly in tears, on the phone with my mom YELLING into my phone about how much I hate homeland security, it's a waste of time, Dubya sucks, this war sucks, it's useless, i HATE everyone, and how they think 21 year old female backpackers are terrorists. I think it's a good thing the "proper officials" didn't overhear that one . . . .

Anyway, getting back to the point. My parents called the Congressman and ripped him a new one about how they are treating people. He apparently called back with some lame reasoning behind it. If you think they were out of line, you should call too. Maybe if enough people call they'll realize that the treatment people are given is totally uncalled for. Other countries accomplish the same thing in a much more civilized manner. AND they understand the concept of backpacking.

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I doubt the lady didn't believe you or understand your situation. It's most likely an interrogation technique she was using on you. If the interrogator acts like your story is completely unbelievable and it is made up, you're probably going to try to amend it to make it more believable. If you stick with the same story because it's the truth, then it's believable.

The woman was just doing her job. I'm sure the 15 minute inconvenience couldn't have been that bad.

I don't know if there's any way I can word this to make it not sound insulting, but you did end up calling your mom, nearly in tears over a 15 minute interrogation. Which she proceeded to call a representative about. Maybe in the future you should call the representative on your own behalf. You're an adult now. You don't need your mom to fight your battles for you. I don't even think your description particularly made this a battle worth fighting.

Just get some confidence and conviction in your actions. Don't let other people or situations intimidate you. You know you weren't doing anything wrong. So you should have had nothing to worry about.

Just my opinion. Sorry if it comes off accusitory. Maybe I just got the wrong impression of the situation.

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Originally posted by KuangZheDe:
I love my country,

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sort of agree, sometimes i think that i should move to Canada

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I think the world is better off without Saddam,

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agree

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I think our modivations were driven by oil and money,

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agree, and add in machismo on the part of our fearless, never-seen-combat-himself, president

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I think the war in general has been speedy,

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in four years we won World War II, that war covered three quarters of the globe, we have spent three years mucking around in one country and still havent really won, i dont call that speedy

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I think the occupation is necessary but unfortunate,

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agree, but we should have invited the U.N. to give a hand years ago

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I do not believe a time table for pullout is realistic.

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disagree, if we have a definite timetable it will (hopefully) force the Iraqis to work harder on their government, just so long as the timetable isn't too short, additionally if we never set a timetable for leaving then we may never leave

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I think the "left" is painting a picture of failure and fear in the media that modivates terrorist and in turn endangers the lives of Americans and her allies.

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dont entirely disagree, i think that the media certainly is irresponsible, but at the same time we cant rely on the government to keep us informed and i doubt that what the media says about the war has that much impact on terrorism

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I think bitchin about the reasons for going in and the modivations of the US goverment is not going to change the fact that we are there now.

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agree, but at the same time what else can we do? if we dont speak up the government will feel that it has free reign to do whatever it feels like, do you want us to invade every country that looks at us wrong?

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I think talking about the fall of the Federal goverment could put you into the following scenario

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agree, and if things go the way the neo-cons want then that wink may not last to long

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I think there alot of people on both sides who are uninformed.

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ABSOLUTELY agree, i know of some people who STILL believe that Iraq was directly involved in 9\11

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I think news is made not reported.

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agree whole-heartedly with the caveat that the government is making up just as much as the media (anyone remember MISSION ACCOMPLISHED?)

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Why does the Christian Peace Group say their hostages were "released" by their captures instead of rescued or liberated by US and Brit forces.

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dunno, maybe they dont agree with the war? also, dont take this as arguementative but do you KNOW that they were "liberated"? maybe they were released, dont know or really care myself

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Why does the left have no solution or platform beside attacking W. They can complain but can not offer solutions except "we have to get out"

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agree, but at the same time, the rights platform is just that the war was completely justified (no WMD, no terrorists) and that anyone who doesnt agree with them is a terrorist, additionally during the Clinton scandal (which did almost no damage to the country as a whole) the right was spending a huge amount of time and money impeaching a guy for something that did not kill anyone or cost us our reputation around the world, or cost billions upon billions of dollars

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Why do Americans care what other countries think about them, it is not a popularity contest, do you think Middle Easterner's care what American's think about them?

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because if everyone hates you they fly planes into your buildings? just a thought

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Is the passion for ones country gone...

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unfortunetly more or less agree, kids these days (I am 20) are not taught nationalism in school and are not very likely to develop it on their own (i know i didnt)

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is it dying everyday with the conclusion of the WWII generation.

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no, you still have the South

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Have we become soft

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yes

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when did it become a bigoted hate crime to want more for the Glory of Ones Country?

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if glory comes from driving the national debt to truly epic proportions while simultaneously screwing over the entire populous of more than one country id say its a crime, but thats just me

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In closing I love my country, I just don't like where some people want to take it.

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agree whole-heartedly, and i get the feeling that each of us probably doesnt want the other in control

just my opinions.

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Originally posted by copilot:
I live in the U.S. and have started to see that I'm afraid all the time about a large variety of different things. Maybe the fear is just a distraction. Is anyone else starting to feel this way? I know this isn't about Firefly but in a way the U.S. is a lot like the Alliance. Our government isn't listening to us or our founding ideology. Remember the Constiution anyone? We have voice but no one is
listening. Does anyone else care?

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