Fingerprinting when arriving?
#16
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Re: Fingerprinting when arriving?
Originally posted by effi
.... If you have nothing to hide then why worry about it.
.... If you have nothing to hide then why worry about it.
And to your question what's so great about becoming a citizen: living in a country for many years and apparently planning on staying (as it sounds in your case) and not taking part in the country's political course looks to me like a very poor thing to do. Voting is one of the most important rights in a democracy. Waving them is for me not taking one's democratic responsibilities seriously.
I don't want to attack you, but I really think you should reconsider your choice. It doesn't mean that you have to give up your old citizenship (most European countries allow now dual citizenships).
#17
Re: Fingerprinting when arriving?
Originally posted by effi
I think that you will find when you eventually get a job that the Americans do not appreciate you airing your views on their countries policies, president etc. especially if you are not a citizen.
I think that you will find when you eventually get a job that the Americans do not appreciate you airing your views on their countries policies, president etc. especially if you are not a citizen.
Mind you, I'm in San Jose, California, where, despite electing the Governator, the people are pretty open-minded and tolerant. Your mileage may vary in Dogshit, Arkansas.
Cheers,
Pat
#18
British/Irish(ish) Duncs
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Cambridge MA, via Mississippi and Belfast Northern Ireland.
Posts: 700
Re: Fingerprinting when arriving?
[i]Originally posted by effi [/iWhat is so great about becoming a citizen by the way?
by the way i have under the rules associated with terrorists when as a unionist i helped negotiate the Good Friday agreement(in a very small way).
those seem like good reasons to me,
regards,
Duncan
#19
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Re: Fingerprinting when arriving?
Originally posted by Bookworm
Why I have something against it? Probably where I come from this is strongly associated with being a suspect. I don't like being treated as one if the only "reason" is that I'm not a US citizen.
And to your question what's so great about becoming a citizen: living in a country for many years and apparently planning on staying (as it sounds in your case) and not taking part in the country's political course looks to me like a very poor thing to do. Voting is one of the most important rights in a democracy. Waving them is for me not taking one's democratic responsibilities seriously.
I don't want to attack you, but I really think you should reconsider your choice. It doesn't mean that you have to give up your old citizenship (most European countries allow now dual citizenships).
Why I have something against it? Probably where I come from this is strongly associated with being a suspect. I don't like being treated as one if the only "reason" is that I'm not a US citizen.
And to your question what's so great about becoming a citizen: living in a country for many years and apparently planning on staying (as it sounds in your case) and not taking part in the country's political course looks to me like a very poor thing to do. Voting is one of the most important rights in a democracy. Waving them is for me not taking one's democratic responsibilities seriously.
I don't want to attack you, but I really think you should reconsider your choice. It doesn't mean that you have to give up your old citizenship (most European countries allow now dual citizenships).
#20
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Re: Fingerprinting when arriving?
Originally posted by Duncs
You get to vote for one thing. You get to express your opinion without being told to go home. You cant be arrested by the FBI and held indefinately without being informed of why or actually charged with any specific offence, or getting to see a lawyer, or come before a judge, purely on the say so of the Attorney General for in his (subjective)belief associating with terrorists.
by the way i have under the rules associated with terrorists when as a unionist i helped negotiate the Good Friday agreement(in a very small way).
those seem like good reasons to me,
regards,
Duncan
You get to vote for one thing. You get to express your opinion without being told to go home. You cant be arrested by the FBI and held indefinately without being informed of why or actually charged with any specific offence, or getting to see a lawyer, or come before a judge, purely on the say so of the Attorney General for in his (subjective)belief associating with terrorists.
by the way i have under the rules associated with terrorists when as a unionist i helped negotiate the Good Friday agreement(in a very small way).
those seem like good reasons to me,
regards,
Duncan
#21
British/Irish(ish) Duncs
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Cambridge MA, via Mississippi and Belfast Northern Ireland.
Posts: 700
Re: Fingerprinting when arriving?
Originally posted by effi
do you really think my vote would have made a difference.
do you really think my vote would have made a difference.
By the way the fundemental principles of freedom are not subject to my national background.
But hey maybe things would be better if before crossing the Delaware and winning the battle of Trenton Washington had said 'i got a letter here from some fella Thomas Paine in england but hey hes not an american so we are not interested in his views.'
i am not trying to be rude but you are getting frustrating, you are not called sparkster are you?
regards,
Duncan
Last edited by Duncs; Dec 4th 2003 at 4:18 am.
#22
British/Irish(ish) Duncs
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Cambridge MA, via Mississippi and Belfast Northern Ireland.
Posts: 700
Re: Fingerprinting when arriving?
Originally posted by effi
who has seen first hand what terrorism can do (IRA).
who has seen first hand what terrorism can do (IRA).
regards,
Duncan
#23
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Re: Fingerprinting when arriving?
Originally posted by effi
I know sweetie, my husband is a dual national. After the last debaucle they called an election, do you really think my vote would have made a difference. The retard was going to get in no matter what. Still though it does not give non US citizens the right to get in their faces and point out what is wrong with their country. Would you do the same thing in other parts of the world? I think not.
I know sweetie, my husband is a dual national. After the last debaucle they called an election, do you really think my vote would have made a difference. The retard was going to get in no matter what. Still though it does not give non US citizens the right to get in their faces and point out what is wrong with their country. Would you do the same thing in other parts of the world? I think not.
By the way, I lived in so many different countries, both as a child and as an adult, I had to submit the countries on a separate paper when I filed for my visa because it didn't fit in the space provided on the form... The US is just the last on my list So, I think I do have a right to have an opinion on a law that treats me as suspected criminal. Not for anything I've done but simply for something I am.
#24
Re: Fingerprinting when arriving?
Originally posted by Bookworm
I just heard from a friend that the US immegration takes fingerprints from all non-US citizens returning to the US starting from 1st of January. Is that correct? I was chocked when I heard that. I'm going back to NY in January and want to be prepared what to expect on the airport.
Not that immegration officers are polite in the first place, but that might blow me off.
I just heard from a friend that the US immegration takes fingerprints from all non-US citizens returning to the US starting from 1st of January. Is that correct? I was chocked when I heard that. I'm going back to NY in January and want to be prepared what to expect on the airport.
Not that immegration officers are polite in the first place, but that might blow me off.
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interap...orial_0333.xml
#25
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Re: Fingerprinting when arriving?
Originally posted by effi
Like I said before, write to John Ashcroft and tell him you are not happy. I am just a mild mannered grandma who has seen first hand what terrorism can do (IRA). Whatever measures can be taken to keep these people out of the US, then I say, "go for it".
Like I said before, write to John Ashcroft and tell him you are not happy. I am just a mild mannered grandma who has seen first hand what terrorism can do (IRA). Whatever measures can be taken to keep these people out of the US, then I say, "go for it".
A relative of mine was murdered by the IRA, but I still value my freedom and privacy and that of my children and grandchild (who is a born American). Emigrating may mean leaving "your" country behind but since when did it include leaving your brain and becoming a mindless sheep? If we are to integrate into American society we should all be concerned by events around us and what is happening in the country, or are we supposed to opt out of society? Living here isn't a holiday- we are LIVING here. As permanent residents who have almost all the rights of US citizens- of course we have a right to criticize- especially on this forum for British ex-pats, because we can't do that in the workplace (as I said before). You speak like we're all asylum seekers coming in from a war torn or politically oppressed country who should be eternally grateful to the US for taking us in, or something.
Jeeze I had ex-pat friends when living in UK and I never once told them to go home when they criticised the country, I'm glad to say. In fact their opinions usually offered a unique perspective. They were working, raising families, paying taxes and contributing to the system, they had every right to voice their opinion.
BTW my blood pressure is never raised - its always bang on normal- must be all the tea I drink. And I'm very popular with my co-workers- they love my accent You were so busy leaping to conclusions you missed da point!
#26
British/Irish(ish) Duncs
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Cambridge MA, via Mississippi and Belfast Northern Ireland.
Posts: 700
I looked at the DHS info and it seems to apply to visitors so i would hazard a guess that perm residents would not be treated the same. Wont know until someone goes through after jan 1st.
Still doesnt change the point about expressing your opinion in the USA. My wife will tell you you could never shut me up anyhow.
Taffyles. sorry to hear about your relative.
regards,
Duncan
Still doesnt change the point about expressing your opinion in the USA. My wife will tell you you could never shut me up anyhow.
Taffyles. sorry to hear about your relative.
regards,
Duncan
#27
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Originally posted by Duncs
I looked at the DHS info and it seems to apply to visitors so i would hazard a guess that perm residents would not be treated the same. Wont know until someone goes through after jan 1st.
Still doesnt change the point about expressing your opinion in the USA. My wife will tell you you could never shut me up anyhow.
Taffyles. sorry to hear about your relative.
regards,
Duncan
I looked at the DHS info and it seems to apply to visitors so i would hazard a guess that perm residents would not be treated the same. Wont know until someone goes through after jan 1st.
Still doesnt change the point about expressing your opinion in the USA. My wife will tell you you could never shut me up anyhow.
Taffyles. sorry to hear about your relative.
regards,
Duncan
I checked it out too. I'm confused. I'm going end of December and am coming back middle of January. So, I will know for sure. I just wanted to be prepared so I don't blow of steam at the border. Immegration officers here seem to be recruited on the basis "who is the most rude". It actually reminds me a lot of things I remember from Eastern Europe and what I experienced recently by going to those parts of the world, like Ukraine. The parallel was striking.
#28
Re: Fingerprinting when arriving?
Originally posted by Duncs
(p.s. (9/11 might equally have been prevented if President Bush or VP Cheney had acted on the warning in July from CIA head George Tenet that terrorists might try to hijack planes to use as weapons. Instead he took the longest single holiday in presidential history. But hey lets blame the foreigners the good ole boys will vote for that right!!)
(p.s. (9/11 might equally have been prevented if President Bush or VP Cheney had acted on the warning in July from CIA head George Tenet that terrorists might try to hijack planes to use as weapons. Instead he took the longest single holiday in presidential history. But hey lets blame the foreigners the good ole boys will vote for that right!!)
#29
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Re: Fingerprinting when arriving?
Originally posted by Duncs
You are really getting quite annoying now aren't you?
By the way the fundemental principles of freedom are not subject to my national background.
But hey maybe things would be better if before crossing the Delaware and winning the battle of Trenton Washington had said 'i got a letter here from some fella Thomas Paine in england but hey hes not an american so we are not interested in his views.'
i am not trying to be rude but you are getting frustrating, you are not called sparkster are you?
regards,
Duncan
You are really getting quite annoying now aren't you?
By the way the fundemental principles of freedom are not subject to my national background.
But hey maybe things would be better if before crossing the Delaware and winning the battle of Trenton Washington had said 'i got a letter here from some fella Thomas Paine in england but hey hes not an american so we are not interested in his views.'
i am not trying to be rude but you are getting frustrating, you are not called sparkster are you?
regards,
Duncan
#30
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Re: Fingerprinting when arriving?
Originally posted by Duncs
Me too on lots of occasions and it just reinforces my zeal in defending freedom for all regardless of national origins.
regards,
Duncan
Me too on lots of occasions and it just reinforces my zeal in defending freedom for all regardless of national origins.
regards,
Duncan