Well done, America.

[changeling]

You know, what outsiders experience most about a country, what makes the news, is generally about that country's politicians and bureaucrats. In this article, a UK journalist documents how she was interrogated, detained and deported for not having a journalists visa. One of the guards she encounters tells her she's lucky that she's not in "places like Iran". Her comment in the article:

The irony is that it is only "countries like Iran" (for example, Cuba, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe) that have a visa requirement for journalists. It is unheard of in open societies, and, in spite of now being enforced in the US, is still so obscure that most journalists are not familiar with it. Thirteen foreign journalists were detained and deported from the US last year, 12 of them from LAX.

The American bureaucracy must be slowly throttling its tourist trade, because I for one have been very nervous at the thought of going to America -- not because I fear a "terrorist attack", but because of the atmosphere of fear post-9/11 (although us Aussies look at that and think, "What happened on the ninth of November?") that has caused a whole lot of public officials to treat everyone non-American (and probably somewho are) as not just a potential threat, but an actual one.

Brr. Howard may be a creepy bastard who's just legislated against gay marriage, but at least he hasn't instituted anything like this yet. So long as you're not arriving "illegally" in a boat (and the wrongness of our immigration policy is a whole 'nother rant), you're pretty fine.

Comments

[missaustralia.livejournal.com]

I've got two views on this. One one hand, the US is also introducing finger-printing and photographing at the customs point for tourists on the visa-waiver program (of which Australian and NZ citizens apply). Personally, I have no problem being photographed or fingerprinted, but I don't want the US doing it. I'd be much happier if it were my own country. The US trusts Australia enough to have a visa-waiver program, but they don't trust our passports to say who we are? And if everyone who goes to the US needs to be fingerprinted, then I can't see why everyone who leaves the US (ie US tourists) shouldn't be fingerprinted as well.

Having said that, I've been to the US since 9/11 (ninth of November? What happened then?) and entered at LAX, and had to go through scary customs and all that, carrying food and chocolate and all sorts of semi-illegal stuff, and had no problems at all. Everyone was actually really nice to me. Of course, I'm just a little white girl, no threat to anyone, but nor did I see anyone else being harassed or unfairly questioned. And I was watching closely while I was in line.

And boo Howard. I'd make that much more articulate, but I think I just used up all the intelligence I have on a Sunday afternoon.

[jessindistress.livejournal.com]

*sighs*

Then again, if they bring in that "ID card for Australians..." *sighs some more*

~Jess

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

What, like Singapore has? I will be running for the hills in that case...

[scott-wells.livejournal.com]

I am afraid of my own country. I really wish there was something I could do to put intelligence, common sense, compassion and wisdom back in our government....

I am very afraid and ashamed.

[naewinter.livejournal.com]

Did you hear that Molly Meldrum got deported from the US?

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think I did. What was the reason again?

[dark-prophet.livejournal.com]

I used to travel to America, no more. I don't want to be fingerprinted and photgraphed and put on file for merely entering a country, nor do I wish to be treated like a criminal for doing the same.

At the same time, I do not want to enter any country for anything short of offering humanitarian aid, that has destroyed so much of its due process and human rights.

[vonlooney.livejournal.com]

I think the important caveat there is 'yet'. Give Howard time... Couple it with opposition impotence... Voila! Bye bye liberties.

There is a quasi-Utilitarian trend in the US, UK and Australia at the moment of doing whatever's required in the name of 'national security'. Don't forget the ASIO legislation which allows for detaining, without charge, anyone over the age of fifteen for at least 24 hours - and without legal counsel. Human rights? Bugger those - this is 'more important'.

Besides, Howard is Bush's lapdog. I would be surprised if we didn't follow the press visa scheme soon.

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, all too true.