sister locked in holding cell in british airport :(:(

[TeamNausea]

I'm sorry for the situation that your sister is in but your argument that she is "albino white" and therfore couldn't be a terrorist is ABSURD. Have you heard of a few places called Bosnia, Serbia, Albania and Chechnya (sp)? All of these countries have large muslim factions. Now the majority of these are not fanatical (ie terrorists) but there is the distinct possibility that they could be. This is part of our problems as Americans we have such a narrow view of what our "enemies" should look like.

I'm not trying to chastise you but rather illustrate a broader piont. I appoligize for the slight threadjacking. I wish your sister the best and as was said earlier contact the American Consulate and this issue will get resolved post haste (hopefully).

I really dont think thats what he was aiming for..... Merely(sp) describing his sis

[-Carnifex-]

Actually, not really. Travel has always required a minimum of planning. Nearly ALL countries have always required that travellers have a return ticket on them. If you don't know when, you have to buy an open ended one (often mucho bucks). This is to prove to the authorities that if you become broke and destitute, you can at least drag your sorry behind back home and not become a burden to the host country.

Anybody who thinks you can just show up in a country with no tangible proof you're prepared/capable to leave AND is admitting to getting married is either ignorant, nieve, or stupid.

Once married, it's not going to be easy for the sister to either stay in Britain or the husband to go to the US. Either country will require paperwork and back ground information and will have complex immigration procedures to follow.

That was in reference to the one way ticket, etc. thing.

[PsychoBaller]

Foreigners suck... and so do their countries...

-da "just my opinion, i could be wrong" baller

[FutureMagOwner]

so this is one of those "joys of marriage" everyone is always telling me about?

[SlartyBartFast]

Foreigners suck... and so do their countries...

-da "just my opinion, i could be wrong" baller

Hmm. Never had to deal with the Anal Retentive types from US Immigration and Customs services from an outside viewpoint then.

You may think we suck, but from my viewpoint, things sure aren't any greener on your side of the line.

[SlartyBartFast]

That was in reference to the one way ticket, etc. thing.

If you're talking about 9/11 changing the way customs and immigration treat 0ne-way ticket holders, you're absolutely wrong.

If you are visiting a country that doesn't require a visa as a tourist, you have ALWAYS been required to be able to prove that you had the means to support yourself for the intended duration of your stay and that you had the means to return home after that stay ended. If you look it up, you'll even find the formula for the minimum amount of easily available credit/cash you need to be allowed to visit. Usually a base minimum plus an amount for each planned day.

Travelling to the US and Europe over many years, one of the requirements/questions/demands during the customs interview/clearing has often been showing my plane tickets and clearly indicating the return portion.

[-Carnifex-]

If you're talking about 9/11 changing the way customs and immigration treat 0ne-way ticket holders, you're absolutely wrong.

If you are visiting a country that doesn't require a visa as a tourist, you have ALWAYS been required to be able to prove that you had the means to support yourself for the intended duration of your stay and that you had the means to return home after that stay ended. If you look it up, you'll even find the formula for the minimum amount of easily available credit/cash you need to be allowed to visit. Usually a base minimum plus an amount for each planned day.

Travelling to the US and Europe over many years, one of the requirements/questions/demands during the customs interview/clearing has often been showing my plane tickets and clearly indicating the return portion.

Not sure why you're telling me this, I really don't care.

Try rereading what he wrote. She was detained for being a security risk at the American airport.

[chairman_mao]

I really dont think thats what he was aiming for..... Merely(sp) describing his sis

I didn't really think so either but it is one of those things that just gets me fired up and I felt the need to rant at that moment in time. But I'm better now

[SlartyBartFast]

Not sure why you're telling me this, I really don't care.

Try rereading what he wrote. She was detained for being a security risk at the American airport.

Well, there's the title of the thread ("sister locked in holding cell in [b]

[MrHanky04]

she met this guy online?

edit. wait, i guess can't get over this.. she met him online?!?! and now they plan to marry?!?!

[brianlojeck]

I suspect Black people might just disagree with that.... Perhaps they are the newest but not certain that counts as "largest".

Funny tidbit. My wife (who is Black) and myself (who is white) used to fly quite a bit. She got "randomly" checked at EVERY SINGLE FLIGHT, and I never did.

since 9/11, she hasn't even drawn as much as an upwards glance from the screeners.

[Albinonewt]

This is part of our problems as Americans we have such a narrow view of what our "enemies" should look like.

It's not a matter of what they should look like, but rather a matter of what they tend to look like. It is of course possible that a white terrorist could have hijacked a plane and crashed it into the world trade center. But just because it's possible doesn't mean that's what happened. The unfortunate fact of the matter is that the majority of the terrorists targetting American interests have been Fundamentalist Islamic Muslims.

Not all our enemies are of course, but enough are that if I'm on a plane with a radical muslim born in Syria the chances are higher that he's a terrorist then me.

[Albinonewt]

Funny tidbit. My wife (who is Black) and myself (who is white) used to fly quite a bit. She got "randomly" checked at EVERY SINGLE FLIGHT, and I never did.

since 9/11, she hasn't even drawn as much as an upwards glance from the screeners.

Lot's of individuals report similiar incidents as well. My wife has gotten checked on every plane we've been on for the past three years, and I've never been checked. I don't know why that is, but it's just one of those weird things to happen. I wouldn't read too much into it.

I would like to point out though that the airport screeners are prohibited from taking Middle Eastern ethnicity into account when randomly screening passengers. I've paid attention on every plane I've been on I can pick out the people that are going to be screened. If you're a older black woman with a child or two, count on getting stopped. If you're an elderly white guy, count on getting stopped. And if you're a young attractice demale count on getting stopped.

[brianlojeck]

It is of course possible that a white terrorist could have hijacked a plane and crashed it into the world trade center.

There are three successful terrorist attacks on American soil that I can think of off the top of my head.

1: WTC Parking Garage Bombing
2: WTC destruction
3: Oklahoma City bombing

just based on that limited sample, one could easily estimate that 1/3 of the terrorists that hate america are white corn-fed home-grown types.

Just because our current enemy is muslim doesn't mean our ONLY enemy is muslim.

[Mr Pink]

Foreigners suck... and so do their countries...

-da "just my opinion, i could be wrong" baller

My sentiments exactly

Pinki tha Limey