oudeis on 21/12/2009 at 07:30
According to (
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/12/11/dr-peter-watts-canad.html) this story, Dr. Peter Watts, a Canadian sci-fi writer who consulted on the story to Homeworld 2 and the upcoming Crysis 2, was given the full Homeland Security treatment by US Border Patrol
when he was returning to Canada. It's hard to believe that there isn't more to the story, simply because he is Canadian and this occurred at the Canadian border, but according to the comments* this sort of thing is rife at certain crossing areas. When did this start? Has it always been like this and I've just never heard of it? This is just incomprehensible to me.
The article has links to his website, where you can contribute to his legal defense and/or download his novels in pdf format.
Cue the '
Canadian Bacon' jokes. Or something.
*I have to admit that the moderator's response to some of the more annoying posters and the accompanying links to the Time article on disemvowelling were inappropriately amusing to me.
demagogue on 21/12/2009 at 07:53
"Border guard" just sounds like one of those quintessential power-trip jobs where the person feels bigger in proportion to how much they can be an ass to normal people and get away with it ... worse than traffic cops. Maybe they go to the same border-guard school whether they'll be posted to the Mexican or Canadian border and just feed off each other. And rhetorical question: how many do you think joined because of 9/11 to help secure America?
That said, if this thread is going to have any snarky cheap-shot replies to put things into perspective: Canadians are almost universally treated better overseas than Americans.
That really doesn't make anything better. :(
Kolya on 21/12/2009 at 10:31
This sort of security seems pretty dangerous.
TBE on 21/12/2009 at 10:38
Something tells me there is more to the story.
Border crossings are one area where you want to comply with every single instruction verbatim. Why did he have to get out of the vehicle? I'm guessing they asked him to get back into vehicle, and he probably threw a fit, which is why they gave him a smack-down. I'm just guessing here, but I don't think they'd beat the tar out of a guy unprovoked.
I've been across many borders w/guards. I've always been treated fairly. I've always acted appropriately as well. Minding the P's and Q's.
Kolya on 21/12/2009 at 11:09
The fact that you crossed borders several times without getting beat up hardly proves this story wrong.
During the cold war I crossed the Polish, Russian, Hungarian, Checheslovakian and Rumanian borders several times and I've always been treated fairly. I've always acted appropriately as well.
Inline Image:
http://img2.pict.com/ff/4a/c4/2262553/0/communist.gifAerothorn on 21/12/2009 at 13:03
What I don't get is that they claim they will have to have a legal face-off with the Department of Homeland Security. If the case is as described, why on earth would Homeland Security waste its time pursuing the charges? Or do they have to back up charges made by any border control guard?
Fringe on 21/12/2009 at 16:32
.
Quote Posted by TBE
Just present your papers and keep your eyes down, citizen, and you have nothing to worry about.
TBE on 21/12/2009 at 19:40
Exactly. DO NOT get out of your vehicle when they ask you to remain in it.
DO NOT act like an asshole to the very people granting you permission to cross their border.
Any questions?
Gingerbread Man on 21/12/2009 at 22:07
I used to get jacked by the authorities on my return to Canada way more than on the exit. Shit, one time I was a hair away from saying (obviously ill-advisedly) "Bitch, I have been a citizen of this country longer than YOU have. What are you, 23?"
ercles on 21/12/2009 at 22:37
After crossing the border into Canada many times, I have a shitload of respect for those guys, they don't mess around. The fact that the RCMP seem pretty fucking crazy undoubtedly has a big impact on my perception of the whole situation though.
