Had Enough?

[cranston36]

I was coming back down from walking around a quiet town in Canada.
I had sunshine, rain and snow. I had it all for a day.
I drove down to the Canadian border and paid my toll to pass through the tunnel. The border agent was wearing a light jacket and his shirt was open.
Then I went across the border back to my homeland.
The United States of America.
There was a guard wearing heavy body armor. Across from me I saw another guard wearing a helmet and so much body armor that I had pushed him over in a snow pile he wouldn’t have been able to get up, let alone handle a weapon with ease and skill.
I produced my driver’s license but something went wrong.
The guard got on the phone and said, ‘I’ve got a bad number.’
The camera they used to take a picture of my license plate number malfunctioned.
It missed the zero at the end of my plate.
The guard immediately became animated and asked for the keys to my car.
He then asked me to pop my trunk and he searched it. Then he opened the rear door of my car and searched my car. Then he opened the canvas sack I had my clothes and toothpaste in and he searched that.
I had my birth certificate with me but these guys didn’t want to make sure I was an American - they just wanted to violate just about every freedom I have been guaranteed.
What if their equipment had malfunctioned and they tagged me, an American whose settler family ancestry in this nation dates back to 1621 and whose Native American ancestry dates back much farther than that, as a terrorist?
What if they had shot and killed me instead of searching my vehicle?
My wife would have gotten a phone call and they would tell you they did the right thing.
Would you question the motives of man dressed in combat gear and carrying heavy weapons at the border? If you don’t question it now they will end up on your street corners taunting your children and searching your wife.
I’ve had just about enough.
Well, how about you?

[mike_c]

1. American immigration officers suck....

Any immigration officers reading this? Too bad. When I travel abroad immigration officials etc are ALWAYS polite and helpful, even when they're looking in your bags or your car. Coming back into the U.S. immigration officers are ALWAYS nasty, pushy, snide, mocking, and treat their fellow citizens like criminals. I have NEVER had a bad experience with immigration officials in Mexico, several CA countries, or Canada. Likewise, I have NEVER had a pleasant experience with American immigration officers.

[democrank]

2. This is so disturbing.

I can`t for the life of me understand why so many Americans have so willingly given up their rights.

[mentalsolstice]

3. We're going to Canada for the holidays! Looking forward to it! Maybe?

It will be our 3rd time, and our 2nd time since 9/11...We had some unpleasantness (coming back) over our digital camera the last time...we were separated, husband was searched and required to show how the equipment operated. But when I indicated I wanted to stay behind with him, I got (very physically) shoved onto the plane. Hell, he had the car keys...once I got to Atlanta-Hartsfield, I would've been totally lost (ha-ha). Fortunately it was resolved before the plane took off. It bothers me they separate parties like that...they were going to force me to fly without him.

[matt819]

4. I'm afraid to ask . . .

Which border crossing?