OK Calm down everyone, and nobody would get banned from this forum (so Champ, you can shove it).
I'm neither Canadian or American citizen, so hopefully I can give a fair opinion.
Both Americans and Canadians takes it for granted. But, USA and Canada ARE too countries, thus for safe, you NEED your passport to cross the country, or in this case, birth certificate (remember, this is for only Canada and USA). Driver's license would not enough proof that you're citizen.
Yes, that is correct, even the non-US or non-Canadian citizen can get their driver's license. I have an Iowan driver's license, and I am not a US citizen.

PM_Mama, you'd never know how strict the imigration people are. Congratulation, you just have a truly international experience. Please take this as a lesson in the future.
The immigration people need to be strict, or at least to scare people (maybe in their job description?). You'll be surprise if you go to another country, and you have to have answers on every questions they might ask, or be able to show everything they want. I've been in 16 countries so far, and of course by experience, I know better than just debating with them. NONE in my experience to see really friendly and nice immigration personil that welcome me in their countries, or offer me drink. As strict as they can be ...

When I arrived in Canada with my friends couple years ago, the lady asked me where would I stay in Montreal. Too bad, I didn't have the address of the youth hostel we would stay on, so I told her that I need to see my friend to get the address of the place. She looked at me, and as b**ch as she could be ("borrowing PM_Mama's term ;) ), she sent me over the immigration office to see the "head" of the immigration. I had to wait for two hours, just to see the head, who just asked me the purpose of visiting Canada, and gave the stamp on my passport.

So, next time crossing the border, remember, you need your proof of citizenship, regardless which country you're from. Driver's license is NOT a proof of citizenship, and people work in the immigration need to be b**ch and strict to the rule, If they're not, they need to be reported.

So, if I understand what you are all saying, it's OK for a US Customs agent to be particularly nasty.

How does that make our country and it's citizens look to those who are coming to visit or for business? Like "Ugly Americans?"

One of my daughters was once stopped by a deputy sheriff for a minor traffic violation, and instead of being professional, he was a jerk and made her cry on the way to Homecoming. She was guilty of the violation, but did not deserve to be ridiculed and yelled at. I had worked with the county sheriff in the past, and wrote a letter, and the officer was spoken to -- as he should have been. I asked that he not be diciplined, but I did want him to know how his behavior affected our daughter and how that kind of thing perpetuates the bad image kids have of cops.

I think this situation is similar. It really doesn't make any difference whether the young woman in question had the right documentation or not. The situation must be handled professionally.

Well, you don't make it very difficult for those of us looking....http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung/...chlafen006.gif

CTFU.

LOL you guys crack me up!!!!!

And, PM MAMA, a little rudeness and discrimination can do the body good. :rolleyes: Since this is such a foreign experience for you.

Having passed through many a customs check point in my lifetime, i can tell you without a doubt cutoms people can be dickheads. I have been searched, with cause, and without, it's something that goes along with the new international policies of many countries. I traveled into the middle east a few years ago, if you want strict customs officials goto Tel Aviv, while waiting at passport control in the airport there are metal walkways above you where men with AK-47's patrol constantly looking for anything suspicous. Crossing back into Canada a few months ago, with all the proper documentation (i am a Canadian citizen i had my birth certificate as well as my Canadian Passport) it took me nearly 45 minutes to get back into my own country. Why? because the world is more on edge now (or at least this part of the world) then it has been since the Cuba missle crisis, and the customs people are the ones who are feeling it. The day you crossed back into the US was the day the the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS--Our version of the CIA/DIA) released a report stating multiple Al Qaeda cells were operating out of this country. I guarentee that this report would have put the US customs and Immigration people on high alert. So your right maybe the customs officer was being a bitch, thats fine, there is absolutly nothing you can do about it, just sit in your car, smile at their questions, answer them as truthfully as possible and then wish her a good night as you drive off.

geez--

as much as i think the customs official was right and pmmama overreacted, what the heck does racism have to do with anything? i think that's quite nervy of you to blatantly say she is prejudiced. what right do you have to say that???

yes i have read her previous posts, as i have those of everyone else. but some of you have nerve....

Nah, it's just that some of us have better prejudISMadors.

Do I need to bump that thread?

Um...okay. I am not one of the "sensitive ones" that makes EVERYTHING a racial issue (but thanks for the generalization, PM Mama, it really says a lot about your character), let me clear that up. I challenge anyone who alleges that to look at my posting history. Find ONE post in a thread that is NOT directly related to a racial issue in which I have played the race card. Please.

But yes, I am nervy. I guess one must be in order to be up front with how they feel. See as much as I criticize PM Mama and her views I at least respect the fact that she is open with it.

I CAN call her prejudiced and I WILL call her prejudiced because of her posting history. Not to mention the fact that SHE HERSELF HAS ADMITTED IT.

No, PM Mama I do not know you, and you do not know me. If you are as direct in real life as you are on GC about your biases, one of two things would happen. Either you would hate me and label me a militant for strongly disagreeing with you, or you would learn to respect me and my experiences, and perhaps become somewhat more open-minded. On GC, you clearly have written me off. Whatever, that's fine. But your token minority friends do not take away from your prejudice, nor do they prove otherwise, no matter HOW vehemently you believe it. Prejudiced people CAN have friends of another race. It is called SURVIVING. Minorities in this country have to do it, and believe me, there is plenty of prejudice in the minority community as well.

As for the topic, you know, it is funny about the people that did not catch PM Mama's remark about fair skinned and blue eyes, or whatever it was. Maybe y'all feel the same way and that's why you guys are getting defensive about it. If the customs lady was a "bia" then she was a "bia." But I think in the original post, PM Mama was more concerned with being profiled (and equating that with rude behavior) than anything else. Then when people started calling her on it, she tried to change it up. It's all good though.

Don't you mean PREJUDISM

LOLL

mama miaa pm mama, iz youre famille in the maffia?
y ur at it fixx me some lasanya!!! yummmy

See, that's why librasoul is my girl ... always saying what I'm thinking. I don't expect most of you to empathize with the whole profiling issue, but don't try to sweep it under the rug either. If PM_Mama hadn't indicated that her friend shouldn't have been deemed as a potential terrorist because she has "extremely light brown hair, pale complexion, and blue eyes", race never would have come into play. So what, a person with black hair, dark complexion and dark brown eyes is fair game? Sound like anyone you know? What I don't get is those of you who are vehemently defending her. Did you all not read the same thing I read? :rolleyes: Boy, do we still have a long, long road to travel....