Why isn't Canada far behind?
Did you read any of the recently posted experiences of newly landed immigrants? Every single one says the immigration officer was polite and to-the-point. I have yet to read anything on Canadiandesi where someone had a horrific experience with immigration because of a rude officer.
When people land here, they're greeted with a "Welcome to Canada" by most immigration officers. Try finding a brown guy in the U.S. who can say the same.
Not to say that there aren't any idiots in Canada but the problem is far less pervasive. Maybe its our desi mentality of saluting those who kick our guts that makes us give such rave reviews of the U.S. despite the blatant discrimination.
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Are you there?
Thank You BL for stating the obvious, that most people choose to ignore 
DT
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Microsoft - Which end of the stick do you want today?
Location: Ottawa (Now in Bangalore)
Posted on: 10-04-04 13:10:36
BL... its nothing to do with "licking the *****".. cos of a "desi mentality"...
Lets go back to your basic chemistry classes.. Potassium permanganate, just one crystal, can turn water purple !. If the US had policed their airports more vigilantly then maybe 9/11 wouldnt have happened. Unf they didnt. And "some brown skinned middle-east origina ppl" took advantage of that and the rest is history.
Its very easy to lose trust ( and thats what the US had before..) and very difficult to gain it. I was never mis-treated before Sept 11. and even after Sept. 11 (Oct 11th, 2001 ) when I was flying back from Germany to PIttsburg, I was never mistreated at the airport. I guess my passport saved the day ( The Ashok Chakra ) 
and I did not have a middle eastern accent and last but not the least I did not have a "Muslim sounding " name ( just to clarify, I am not an Islamophobic).
BUt the jist of the reply is, deeds justify actions. If the "brown skinned middle eastern ppl" want to pursue with their deeds..then its but pertinent that other "brown skinned ppl" will pay the price !
There was an incident abt a Canadian Desi.. who got deported back to India..cos of her name, even though she had a Canadian Passport..and nope, she wasnt a Muslim but a Catholic !! (I think it was Berna Cruz )..
Blue... If paranoia helps me to prevent terrorist attacks then so be it.
Just wait and see what happens in Spain and the rest of the European countries... Paranoia will seep in and "Genuine immigrants" will be treated with disdain, all cos of the "illegal immigrants"...some of whom go on to become trouble mongers !
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Ott. Nerd,
I think you missed my point. I took exception to the stement that CANADA WAS NOT FAR BEHIND in this. What is the basis for that?
Despite all the harrassement, a lot of people will bend over backwards to go to the U.S. Now I know that it has something to do with the lure of the mighty greenback, but it also has to do with the fact that many a time its the "Jo laat marega, usko salaam maro!" instinct.
If you think about it, the U.S.'s policy of branding every brown guy a suspect is nothing short of disastrous. And the number of cases is on the rise everyday. They are losing the sympathy of the very people who support them because of this. Where the hell is the sense in detaining everybody named JOHN DOE if one JOHN DOE is on some list? If this is "intelligence", I can only wonder what kind of retards are in charge of this.
The example you gave was of a Canadian lady being mistreated in the U.S., not in Canada.
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Are you there?
Location: Ottawa (Now in Bangalore)
Posted on: 10-04-04 15:43:15
Yes, It was a Canadian lady being mistreated...and not to forget Maher Arar..I think it was the RCMP that sent information to the US immigration authorities !
I Think citizens of a Govt that issues passports to Al-=Qaeda combatants (yeah that guy and his family who were hurt in Pakistan), should and will be Scrutinized by the US authorities.
The manner in which they are doing it may not be the most efficient manner. However this is a stop gap arrangement. As you are aware the so called "bio-metric" passports are coming out. That should remove these "inconveniences" that all JOHN DOE's have to face cos of one bad JOHN DOE.
You are either that person in the passport or you are not that person 
Fingerprint's , retinal scans etc. do not lie ..
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"Aur Vaise Bhi, Sharafat ki jab kapde utarti hai, sabse zyaada mazaa shareefon ko hi aati hai"....(From The Dirty Picture)
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This is a Useful Health related Tip
http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=3865
Please visit
http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/quran/verses/009-qmt.php for some interesting Information ! (Especially 009.005 )
Quote:
Orginally posted by Ottawa_Nerd
However this is a stop gap arrangement. As you are aware the so called "bio-metric" passports are coming out. That should remove these "inconveniences" that all JOHN DOE's have to face cos of one bad JOHN DOE.
You are either that person in the passport or you are not that person
You think?
I hope these passports are also outfitted with AALs (Attitude adjusting lasers). Once in the hands of an American immigration officer, they automatically fire towards the brain to calm him down and the words "Its ok if another brown guy gets into "OUR" country" keep playing over and over again in his head. Maybe they should also come with a small chip that plays Jazz while he/she inspects the passport.
The point I'm trying to make is I'm not taking issue with Americans trying to safeguard their country, that is their fundamental right. My issue is with rude and racist immigration officers who exploit their authority to get even. And not everybody is like this, but I get the impression from the incidents I hear that many are.
I for one am all for making America safer, and I honestly don't mind putting up with some inconveniences in this regard. I personally think that America is the world's only hope against dictators, fundamentalists and bigots. You take America out of the picture today and you'll see a lot of bigots running havoc in the world with no one to stop them.
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Are you there?
Location: Ottawa (Now in Bangalore)
Posted on: 11-04-04 21:26:37
BL...Hope you watched the movie "Homeland Security" on NBC last night (April 11, 2004).
I think it was carried by all Canadian channels as well !. So much so for tolerance Guess.."brown-skinned" guys will be remembered for some more time !
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"Aur Vaise Bhi, Sharafat ki jab kapde utarti hai, sabse zyaada mazaa shareefon ko hi aati hai"....(From The Dirty Picture)
Warning !! SCAM ALERT !!
http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=4169 & http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=1379
This is a Useful Health related Tip
http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=3865
Please visit
http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/quran/verses/009-qmt.php for some interesting Information ! (Especially 009.005 )
