Customs
#6 Ok, so flitting from country to country in Europe was very easy—No official border crossing from Germany to France for example (is this the EU at work? Dunno), I just drove to France. When we initially arrived in Frankfurt, I practically had to wake up the dozing and grumpy agent, but he just grabbed my passport, stamped it, and there were no problems. In Iceland you had to go through a passport control booth, but basically she just told me where to go for my connection (nice little “kill two birds with one stone move”). I have already mentioned the fun little security team at the Cologne-Boon airport. It’s like they are saying “Sure, c’mon in to our country. Enjoy yourself”! SO…
When you get to the United States, then begins the dog and pony show. In other places, you have the opportunity to actually get off the plane, go to the bathroom, maybe throw on a clean shirt, get a snack or a drink, etc. Not in the US. The passengers are immediately routed through customs as they disembark. The pleasant flight attendant’s voice on the intercom is rapidly replaced by a young American man’s voice stating with practiced emphasis: PLEASE MOVE DIRECTLY TO THE CUSTOMS AREA. DO NOT MAKE ANY TEXT MESSAGES OR TELEPHONE CALLS IN THE CUSTOMS AREA. DO NOT REMOVE ANY OF YOUR CLOTHING. HAVE YOUR CUSTOMS FORM AND PASSPORT OUT AND READY. ETC.
What kind of peacock feather show is this? I ask myself. I’ve been traveling for 20 hours, I’m strung out on airline coffee, and hey, at least I’m a US citizen, so my questions are easier—while these bastards are giving Swedes and Icelanders a thorough body cavity search in Minnesota, WE’RE NOT PATROLLING WHAT NEEDS TO BE PATROLLED. This is just stupid. It’s like the country is saying “WE’RE KEEPING AN EYE ON YOU.” Meanwhile, 2% of industrial shipping containers are being searched (if we’re lucky) after moving onto US soil from our bays.
I was ashamed. I was ashamed of the fear mongering. It felt like a propaganda parade. “Look how ‘together’ we are here”! I was embarrassed. (I awas also embarrassed just about every time I saw American kids during our travels. Always the loudest. You can pick ‘em out at 100 yards).
I’m not trying to bash my country. However, I have seen some alternatives, and I am sad that my country is not willing to try them. I am proud to represent the USA when we go abroad, because our governement is also not very popular over there, and it's a good thing to be an ambassador. American tourists get a lot of sympathy and well-wishing--Europeans realize that regular people have nothing to do with the governement--but Europeans all roll their eyes when anyone mentions Bush. I don't blame them.
When you get to the United States, then begins the dog and pony show. In other places, you have the opportunity to actually get off the plane, go to the bathroom, maybe throw on a clean shirt, get a snack or a drink, etc. Not in the US. The passengers are immediately routed through customs as they disembark. The pleasant flight attendant’s voice on the intercom is rapidly replaced by a young American man’s voice stating with practiced emphasis: PLEASE MOVE DIRECTLY TO THE CUSTOMS AREA. DO NOT MAKE ANY TEXT MESSAGES OR TELEPHONE CALLS IN THE CUSTOMS AREA. DO NOT REMOVE ANY OF YOUR CLOTHING. HAVE YOUR CUSTOMS FORM AND PASSPORT OUT AND READY. ETC.What kind of peacock feather show is this? I ask myself. I’ve been traveling for 20 hours, I’m strung out on airline coffee, and hey, at least I’m a US citizen, so my questions are easier—while these bastards are giving Swedes and Icelanders a thorough body cavity search in Minnesota, WE’RE NOT PATROLLING WHAT NEEDS TO BE PATROLLED. This is just stupid. It’s like the country is saying “WE’RE KEEPING AN EYE ON YOU.” Meanwhile, 2% of industrial shipping containers are being searched (if we’re lucky) after moving onto US soil from our bays.
I was ashamed. I was ashamed of the fear mongering. It felt like a propaganda parade. “Look how ‘together’ we are here”! I was embarrassed. (I awas also embarrassed just about every time I saw American kids during our travels. Always the loudest. You can pick ‘em out at 100 yards).
I’m not trying to bash my country. However, I have seen some alternatives, and I am sad that my country is not willing to try them. I am proud to represent the USA when we go abroad, because our governement is also not very popular over there, and it's a good thing to be an ambassador. American tourists get a lot of sympathy and well-wishing--Europeans realize that regular people have nothing to do with the governement--but Europeans all roll their eyes when anyone mentions Bush. I don't blame them.
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