Quote:
Originally posted by Bamboozled
I don't think you'd find a person more relaxed then me  . What in my post inferred that I was stressed? 
Well, I think it was the use of words like "vehemently defending" and "rolleyes."
Well, I'm not surprised that that's all you read. I read the same rant, but I think you're leaving out a major portion of what this thread was about. I'm curious to hear your take on the whole racial aspect that PM_Mama introduced. Or did you just gloss over that part? Or do you agree with her?
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I only agree with her to the extent that it is surprizing that a Customs Agent would allegedly treat PM's friend the same way she might treat a "profiled" person. As I recall Librasoul (I think -- hope I'm not falsly attributing here) agreed somewhere above that this is not racist under the context
By the way, the fact that we may or may not read something differently doesn't make either of us wrong or bad. I'm a little touchy about the, "Well, I'm not suprpixed," comment. I think there is an underlying edge to that comment. What, if anything, are you implying?
But is it really beside the point? As a white man in this country, you're not directly affected by profiling and therefore, I don't expect you to understand where I'm coming from. And just because we all know that it's happening, doesn't mean that it's a moot point. Let's be real... PM_Mama felt that because her friend was white, and didn't look threatening, she was immune from harrassment, even though she did not have the appropriate paperwork. That's ridiculous. So if her friend had been Arab or Indian or African American, she would have understood, right?[/QUOTE]
Making some assumptions here aren't you.? Do you know that I'm a "white man in this country?" Truth is that I pretty much am, however I do have a fairly significant Native American heritage. That it has never been an impediment, so I'm not playing that card -- just wanted to point out that you're making assumptions about someone you know little or nothing about. What is more distressing is that I'm over fifty and heavily discriminated against in the workplace. However, that has noting to do with a Customs Agent being nasty, does it?
As for the paperwork, I lived in Detroit and crossed the border many times and have never -- ever -- been asked for a birth certificate. It's real easy of selectively enforce "rules." That shouldn't be a surprize to you.
Again, see my comment above about her friend vis a vis profiling. It IS surprizing that a young white woman would be treated that way. There is nothing in that comment which in any way condones profiling.
That's like saying Huckleberry Finn was about a boy on a raft. Most of us don't "like" things that make us uncomfortable. I only make personal attacks when warranted and frankly, I'm not here to make friends. I'm here for healthy dialouge and perhaps debate. Building walls? If speaking my mind builds walls, then so be it. I will not hesitate to jump in when I detect impiety or blatant ignorance. Fortunately, I'm not the only one that feels this way. [/QUOTE]
You're right. He painted fences, too.
Guilty. I'd rather not deal with things that make me uncomfortable. However, as a manager, a father, a husband, etc., I can't hide from most of them. Attacking people in "public" generally isn't a way to further a cause or argument, though. It took me a long time to learn that. As for "healthy dialogue," I'm highly in favor of that, but, again, experience tells me that attacks accomplish little.
In terms of walls, they impede communications no matter how you look at it. They should be avoided whenever possible.
Finally, if you're suggesting that I'm ignorant, you may be right. I don't really think I'm all that intelligent, but I don't think that life's experiences have left me dumb. There's a difference.
Hope you are having a happy holiday season, despite our hopefully respectful disagreement.