There are times I am VERY ashamed of living in the US
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Thanks, Paul. We can always count on you for to bring things into a rational perspective. Now for my typical irrational rant - there is probably very little about the U.S. that Cris Hansson isn't ashamed of. I mean, if making a simple, honest mistake in the attempt to make some small, humble effort at defending our borders is enough to set the guy off, one cannot help but wonder how he feels about anything American. People like him are the reason this country has virtually open borders. "My job is to protect America" George W. Bush.
Stan Shannon wrote: I mean, if making a simple, honest mistake in the attempt to make some small, humble effort at defending our borders is enough to set the guy off, one cannot help but wonder how he feels about anything American. Protecting your borders against Canadians / people with dark skin? Targetting potential terrorists would be a better idea.
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And incidents like THIS makes that come out : http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1035777769334&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News[^]
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Compared to Bush's press conference yesterday... now THAT was something to be ashamed of. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.
Sensitivity and ethnic diversity means celebrating difference, not hiding from it. - Christian Graus
Every line of code is a liability - Taka Muraoka
Microsoft deliberately adds arbitrary layers of complexity to make it difficult to deliver Windows features on non-Windows platforms--Microsoft's "Halloween files"Hmmm, I actually found myself quite proud of it. "My job is to protect America" George W. Bush.
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Stan Shannon wrote: I mean, if making a simple, honest mistake in the attempt to make some small, humble effort at defending our borders is enough to set the guy off, one cannot help but wonder how he feels about anything American. Protecting your borders against Canadians / people with dark skin? Targetting potential terrorists would be a better idea.
Dan Bennett wrote: Protecting your borders against Canadians / people with dark skin? Well, considering Jim Carrey, maybe we should be, and considering all the dark skin people we are allowing to flow freely across our Southern border I think you would hard pressed to argue that we are trying to select them out as a matter of policy. Dan Bennett wrote: Targetting potential terrorists would be a better idea. And you think that can be done without ever making a mistake? "My job is to protect America" George W. Bush.
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Dan Bennett wrote: Protecting your borders against Canadians / people with dark skin? Well, considering Jim Carrey, maybe we should be, and considering all the dark skin people we are allowing to flow freely across our Southern border I think you would hard pressed to argue that we are trying to select them out as a matter of policy. Dan Bennett wrote: Targetting potential terrorists would be a better idea. And you think that can be done without ever making a mistake? "My job is to protect America" George W. Bush.
Stan Shannon wrote: Well, considering Jim Carrey Ok, point taken. Stan Shannon wrote: considering all the dark skin people we are allowing to flow freely across our Southern border I think you would hard pressed to argue that we are trying to select them out as a matter of policy. Isn't that more to do with having a huge border to police than policy? Stan Shannon wrote: And you think that can be done without ever making a mistake? No. But it won't be helped by officers who can't tell the difference between a real and fake passport. I'm all in favour of good immigration control, I just prefer it to be done in a professional manner. This is clearly not just an American issue, the UK immigration/customs service has long had a reputation for being heavy handed and considering themselves above the law.
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Compared to Bush's press conference yesterday... now THAT was something to be ashamed of. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.
Sensitivity and ethnic diversity means celebrating difference, not hiding from it. - Christian Graus
Every line of code is a liability - Taka Muraoka
Microsoft deliberately adds arbitrary layers of complexity to make it difficult to deliver Windows features on non-Windows platforms--Microsoft's "Halloween files"Marc Clifton wrote: THAT was something to be ashamed of. ??? He was just restating his stand on the issues, in a very calm and organized manner. BW "We get general information and specific information, but none of the specific information talks about time, place or methods or means..." - Tom Ridge - US Secretary of Homeland Security
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And incidents like THIS makes that come out : http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1035777769334&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News[^]
So you're shaming the entire nation based on allegations of a single instance of non-physical abuse by a couple of civil servants?? :confused: Come to think of it... I'm ashamed you live in the US too. ;P Mike Mullikin :beer:
Women: You can't live with them, and you can't get them to dress up in a skimpy Nazi costume and beat you with a warm squash. - Emo Phillips
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And incidents like THIS makes that come out : http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1035777769334&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News[^]
Incidents like this does make one mad. However, having travelled to many places in the world and of course re-entered the US a billion times, I have come across really friendly immigration officers and real jerks too. This hold true for Holland, France, Belgium, India, Canada, and the US. I think there are some people who just feel super empowered by their position. Reminds me of an old saying which loosely goes like "In his own domain even a jackal becomes a lion." My experiences are quite varied. There are times when the US immigration has treated me better than the Indian immigration (I have an Indian Passport). So while incidents like this are a shame, I think it happens all over and is the result of individulas in most cases rather than a national policy. So I would not go far enough to say that an incident like this make me ashamed of living in the US. In fact one thing is for sure. When something like this happens in the US, it gets the right media coverage and usually some remedial action is taken. Which is usually not true for most other places that I know of. But then again I could be wrong. :-)
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And incidents like THIS makes that come out : http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1035777769334&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News[^]
Unfortunately, being people, we often make mistakes. Also, sometimes people just really suck at their jobs, no matter what their position is. BW "We get general information and specific information, but none of the specific information talks about time, place or methods or means..." - Tom Ridge - US Secretary of Homeland Security
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So you're shaming the entire nation based on allegations of a single instance of non-physical abuse by a couple of civil servants?? :confused: Come to think of it... I'm ashamed you live in the US too. ;P Mike Mullikin :beer:
Women: You can't live with them, and you can't get them to dress up in a skimpy Nazi costume and beat you with a warm squash. - Emo Phillips
LOL
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Hmmm, I actually found myself quite proud of it. "My job is to protect America" George W. Bush.
I take for granted the following things about GWB - He is worried about the security of Americans. - He considers Saddam a threat with or without weapons. - He wants Saddam removed at any cost. I have a few issues with GWB: The illogical manner of the pursuit in achieving the objective of removing Saddam. If he is going to make it an issue of a UN resolution, UN should authorize a war. America is not the enforcer of UN resolutions. There was the precedence of Bosnia for attack to prevent ethnic cleansing (could have been used - but US have long argued that no-flyzones take care of it). There was the precedence of Afghanistan, if there was a threat to US. Why did they not pursue those? Whose support did they want? Instead of going to the UN, GWB should have gone to NATO - and extended the Afghanistan project to be extended to Iraq. If it is security of American people, then he did not need the UN resolution at all. If someone points a gun at you, the last thing that you think will be how others will judge you. You want to live first to be judged. Whether Saddam is a threat or not is not my point at all. If Saddam is not a threat, and he is a good guy, and GWB is indeed reckless; there would have been/should be countries willing to stand up for Saddam, when USA attacks Iraq. If thera=e are people who believe that; and are unwilling to take that extra step, they should shut up. Whining about problems have never solved anything. My article on a reference-counted smart pointer that supports polymorphic objects and raw pointers
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Incidents like this does make one mad. However, having travelled to many places in the world and of course re-entered the US a billion times, I have come across really friendly immigration officers and real jerks too. This hold true for Holland, France, Belgium, India, Canada, and the US. I think there are some people who just feel super empowered by their position. Reminds me of an old saying which loosely goes like "In his own domain even a jackal becomes a lion." My experiences are quite varied. There are times when the US immigration has treated me better than the Indian immigration (I have an Indian Passport). So while incidents like this are a shame, I think it happens all over and is the result of individulas in most cases rather than a national policy. So I would not go far enough to say that an incident like this make me ashamed of living in the US. In fact one thing is for sure. When something like this happens in the US, it gets the right media coverage and usually some remedial action is taken. Which is usually not true for most other places that I know of. But then again I could be wrong. :-)
Ranjan Banerji wrote: So while incidents like this are a shame, I think it happens all over and is the result of individulas in most cases rather than a national policy. I'd have to agree with that. Ryan He who laughs last thinks too slowly.
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And incidents like THIS makes that come out : http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1035777769334&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News[^]
You should also be ashamed to be in IT because programmers/developers/IT engineers make a lot of mistakes and cause bugs/crashes every day. Unless you mean that they did this act of discrimination because there was a memo from George W. Bush to take this one person and discriminate/humiliate/mentally torture her. The officers made a mistake; and whatever the law provides as remedial measures needs to be done; but this is just an excuse for you. You semm already ashamed to be a US citizen, even before this happened. My article on a reference-counted smart pointer that supports polymorphic objects and raw pointers
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Thanks, Paul. We can always count on you for to bring things into a rational perspective. Now for my typical irrational rant - there is probably very little about the U.S. that Cris Hansson isn't ashamed of. I mean, if making a simple, honest mistake in the attempt to make some small, humble effort at defending our borders is enough to set the guy off, one cannot help but wonder how he feels about anything American. People like him are the reason this country has virtually open borders. "My job is to protect America" George W. Bush.
Stan Shannon wrote: "My job is to protect America" George W. Bush. It seems rather that Bush's job is to drive this economy into a hole while ignoring worldwide sentiment against a war with Iraq. He isn't protecting America, he is making this country more vulnerable to terrorist attacks by inciting the vengence of people that already hate us with a passion, all to further his own personal vendetta. He should be removed from office on the grounds of psychopathic behavior. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.
Sensitivity and ethnic diversity means celebrating difference, not hiding from it. - Christian Graus
Every line of code is a liability - Taka Muraoka
Microsoft deliberately adds arbitrary layers of complexity to make it difficult to deliver Windows features on non-Windows platforms--Microsoft's "Halloween files" -
Stan Shannon wrote: "My job is to protect America" George W. Bush. It seems rather that Bush's job is to drive this economy into a hole while ignoring worldwide sentiment against a war with Iraq. He isn't protecting America, he is making this country more vulnerable to terrorist attacks by inciting the vengence of people that already hate us with a passion, all to further his own personal vendetta. He should be removed from office on the grounds of psychopathic behavior. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.
Sensitivity and ethnic diversity means celebrating difference, not hiding from it. - Christian Graus
Every line of code is a liability - Taka Muraoka
Microsoft deliberately adds arbitrary layers of complexity to make it difficult to deliver Windows features on non-Windows platforms--Microsoft's "Halloween files"Your opinion. And opinions are like assh*^es - everybodys got one and most of them stink. Richard I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. Albert Einstein
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Your opinion. And opinions are like assh*^es - everybodys got one and most of them stink. Richard I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. Albert Einstein
Your opinion. And opinions are like assh*^es - everybodys got one and most of them stink. And the Constitution guarantees my right to express my opinions. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.
Sensitivity and ethnic diversity means celebrating difference, not hiding from it. - Christian Graus
Every line of code is a liability - Taka Muraoka
Microsoft deliberately adds arbitrary layers of complexity to make it difficult to deliver Windows features on non-Windows platforms--Microsoft's "Halloween files" -
Your opinion. And opinions are like assh*^es - everybodys got one and most of them stink. And the Constitution guarantees my right to express my opinions. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.
Sensitivity and ethnic diversity means celebrating difference, not hiding from it. - Christian Graus
Every line of code is a liability - Taka Muraoka
Microsoft deliberately adds arbitrary layers of complexity to make it difficult to deliver Windows features on non-Windows platforms--Microsoft's "Halloween files"Yep - It sure does but there oughta be an age limit - like a voting age - before one can express it. Also maybe a test - like a driving test. OK OK I'm kidding . I think that the world would really be a dull place if every one thought the same way. Its just that sometimes the logic defies my understanding. Richard I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. Albert Einstein
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Yep - It sure does but there oughta be an age limit - like a voting age - before one can express it. Also maybe a test - like a driving test. OK OK I'm kidding . I think that the world would really be a dull place if every one thought the same way. Its just that sometimes the logic defies my understanding. Richard I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. Albert Einstein
It sure does but there oughta be an age limit - like a voting age - before one can express it. Actually, I partially agree with you. A part of me thinks that going back to old voting requirements would be an improvement. You had to be a land owner (which would have excluded me until just recently), you had to be able to read and write English, and you had to be male. As for an age limit, I think anyone ABOVE the age of 16 should have their freedom of speech restricted. It seems that children have the best pearls of wisdom. Once you hit adulthood, you're basically too brainwashed to be of any use. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.
Sensitivity and ethnic diversity means celebrating difference, not hiding from it. - Christian Graus
Every line of code is a liability - Taka Muraoka
Microsoft deliberately adds arbitrary layers of complexity to make it difficult to deliver Windows features on non-Windows platforms--Microsoft's "Halloween files" -
It sure does but there oughta be an age limit - like a voting age - before one can express it. Actually, I partially agree with you. A part of me thinks that going back to old voting requirements would be an improvement. You had to be a land owner (which would have excluded me until just recently), you had to be able to read and write English, and you had to be male. As for an age limit, I think anyone ABOVE the age of 16 should have their freedom of speech restricted. It seems that children have the best pearls of wisdom. Once you hit adulthood, you're basically too brainwashed to be of any use. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.
Sensitivity and ethnic diversity means celebrating difference, not hiding from it. - Christian Graus
Every line of code is a liability - Taka Muraoka
Microsoft deliberately adds arbitrary layers of complexity to make it difficult to deliver Windows features on non-Windows platforms--Microsoft's "Halloween files"Marc Clifton wrote: As for an age limit, I think anyone ABOVE the age of 16 should have their freedom of speech restricted Which may explain some of the childish things I have read in this forum. As I have often said "It is hard to think about draining the swamp when you are up to your ass in alligators" . The child cares about each and every alligator - I worry about the swamp. Marc Clifton wrote: It seems that children have the best pearls of wisdom. Dream on. Never confuse innocence with wisdom. Both are relative to age. One , however, is a handicap and is forced on us and the other has to be attained - it is not a gift - one has to earn it. Some remain innocent all their lives - never really facing reality - and others shed that "Where have All The Flowers Gone" BS and move on. Old Hippies never die - they become Republicans. Old con me find a home among the Dems. A Place for everybody. Marc Clifton wrote: Once you hit adulthood, you're basically too brainwashed to be of any use. I do believe that many people are brainwashed. They simply refuse to see or accept reality but aim - in principle - for some unobtainable type of Utopia - and are dismayed when they find that it does not - and never did - exist. Oh well - those that can - do. Those that can't - rationalize. Richard I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. Albert Einstein