Discrimination at its best!
More news on Oct. 31st:
- Terror law violates rights: Graham
- Canadians 'treated like criminals' at border
- Canadian held as 'mega-terror' expert
I was happily watching the news when this hit the screen: Ottawa issued a report yesterday telling Canadian citizens born in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan or Syria they should "consider carefully" whether to travel to the United States "for any reason" following the introduction of a law that requires them to be photographed and fingerprinted. Canadians born in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or Yemen are also being cautioned that they can expect special attention from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, according to a Global National report last night.
Ok, and check this: a woman from Syria was deported to her country of birth after landing in JFK Airport, and she has been a Canadian citizen for more than 10 years!!. And she's not the only: more than 13 people have been deported and they were carrying a Canadian passport, but were accused of having links with terrorist organizations (proof, please?). The Foreign Minister, Bill Graham, was almost screaming on T.V. how outraged he is that this kind of discrimination is being made with Canadian citizens because in this country Canadian citizens are Canadian citizens no matter where they come from. Now, if this doesn't violate the human dignity and the autonomy of countries, I certainly don't know what does. Let's see how it goes for me when I have to stop in Miami Intl. Airport, since I'm still NOT a Canadian citizen (I wonder if we Permanent Residents are also protected by the Canadian government).
Ugh! Feels like in those Salem times and the hunt for witches, when everyone was suspicious in the quest for some kind of non-identified evil. Safety cannot be justified with injustice, it cannot.
October 30th, 2002 - 18:52
Absolutely Bea. It’s shameful.
October 30th, 2002 - 18:54
P.S. Did you hear that the first man the US deported back to Syria has not been heard from since. He is now “lost” in Syria, with his family (wife and children) left in Ottawa!
October 30th, 2002 - 19:18
Outrageous, Jennifer. I was alarmed when I saw Bill Graham almost crying trying to explain in French how upset the authorities here are because of the way Canadian citizens are being treated by a country who is supposedly one of its biggest allies. Even my husband that is characterized by his equanimity in this kind of matter said: “Ça pas d’allure!!”
October 31st, 2002 - 07:47
Believe it or not, it’s no different for the citizens of the US. When you leave the country, you have all your information checked when you re-enter [and yeah, that also includes military personnel]. Now however it’s getting more media attention, no big surprise, the media needed something new to harp upon.
As for those that are being detained, deported … an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure … and that holds true for EVERYTHING in life. Maybe if the security had been this tight a year ago as it was supposed to have been, there wouldn’t be the need for it to in the news nowdays.
Just a thought. I mean I know my friend who is from Spain had been working legalling the in the US for 3 years is now no longer in the US because she cannot obtain another visa & green card, it’s sad, it’s scary, it’s reality.
Just be sure to have all your info with you sweetie, I know I had to deal with customs & it was a royal pain last April & yeah, I am a US citizen, so we’re being put through the wringer just like everyone else, really!
October 31st, 2002 - 08:02
I understand the security issue, Mary. But these people are Canadian citizens and if you check the media file you will find that Colin Powell had promised Minister Graham that ALL canadian citizens were going to be treated as people coming from one of their allies. If they are Canadian citizens they MUST be sent to Canada, not to the middle east where they just go to rot in jail leaving families in sorrow here in Canada. That’s why this is being seen as a racist crusade; and it makes me sad because I wonder who’s next.
October 31st, 2002 - 09:01
And they say God blessed America.