I saw this posted on the One Bag, One World site. Tourists banned from U.S. over Twitter jokes? I want the ones watching out for our collective safety to be careful, but from what was reported in the article, the concept of using common sense and basic judgment has been abandoned. The stereotyped image of bureaucrats who make decisions based on the least common denominator and primarily to protect themselves is often true. We badly need an instant appeals process for situations like the one described. How tragic to force someone back home for something posted on Twitter that any fool could see was not in any way a threat.
Posted by
Fort Wayne, IN, USA
2349 posts
If you put every thought in your head out there for everyone in the world to see, sometimes it'll backfire on you. And you need to watch your step with any bureaucrat, whether at immigration, the BMV, or the local school secretary. These things must be done delicately. I do really like the idea of an appeals process, rather than a quick decision and back you go. Uh, oh, I just realized that my own post is...public.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
It's not just US immigration. A couple of years ago a guy in Britain was criminally prosecuted, heavily fined and lost his job because he was angry about flight delays and tweeted a facetious remark about blowing up the airport.
Posted by
Des Moines, IA
2193 posts
Any country has the right to refuse entry to anyone for any or no reason. Perhaps this proves the oft-argued point that the government does, in fact, have a sophisticated apparatus for monitoring electronic media. As for a couple of knuckleheads that weren't allowed to enter, who cares. Tabloids pay people for their stories, and this originally ran in a couple of tabloids. Who knows how much of it is true or what was omitted?
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
What this shows is the authorities inability to THINK. I would find it embarrassing, "destroy" in context it seemed to be used does in fact sound like party to me, and the other comment was harmless. Get a grip and THINK,, the real terrorists are alot smarter then the people who made the descision to kick out two young folks. It is runaway paranoia, and not wise caution, and yes, an appeal process needs to be installed for situations like this, but that would require someone to THINK..
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
And you know, when I hear stuff like this it does freak me out, I sent my 15 yr old daughter to Germany last summer to stay with relatives,, not worried about how she would be treated in airport.
This summer she will be flying alone to Hawaii to stay with family friends, and I am honestly more worried about the American security freaking out on her for accidently packing a nail file in her carry on,, or making her have a body search,, cause I have heard way too many horror stories about your airports,, last one from one of my over 80 yr old lady clients!!!!!( she had too many bobby pins in her bun and set off an alarm, was forced to stand out her WHEELCHAIR and stand with arms exteneded while searched and scanned and berated for wiggling,, cause she has a shake!) That left me steaming. And also shows how stupid the personal is..
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Hey James,, well ok its not Hawaii, but its about 9 c out today and sunny on my island,, at least better then parts of Canadas 30+ centimeters of snow and -15-20 c temps,, we ARE the warm isle of Canada!
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Yes heard my beloved Paris was getting blasted too,, relatively speaking anyways,, not blasted like being blown up,, lol
Posted by
Des Moines, IA
2193 posts
Scared about US airports? Maybe, but wasn't it in Vancouver a few years ago where a Polish guy who had no immigration issues and no criminal record was shot with a taser multiple times and died? And I think it was in Toronto last year – another Polish visitor with no issues was detained for days for no reason...relatives in Winnipeg had to pay thousands to bail him out. Where was the instant Canadian appeals process for these guys??? And what is it with Canadian immigration and Polish citizens anyway? I'm not defending the US system in any way...just pointing out it's not the only one with problems. BTW, it's been in the upper 50s and 60s here...very strange.