Comments | bekitty: Welcome Home

bekitty

Welcome Home

Apr 10, 2010 23:47

I, like Catiecat, have recently had a brush with the US Customs and Border Patrol, and been shown the benefits of privilege. Only my experience was a bit more, well, intenseA bit of background: In August of 2007, I moved with my partner David to Knoxville in Tennessee. He'd been headhunted by the folks at Oak Ridge National Laborotory, and he'd ( Read more... )

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Comments 13

pleiadeslion April 10 2010, 12:00:37 UTC

Jesus fucking Christ is all I can say. That must've been absolutely horrific. I'm glad you were able to write about it to inform people what happens.

Immigration in a lot of countries seems to operate above the law. This is by far the worst story I've heard from a friend of the kind of treatment that can happen.

I'm glad you're safe.

tyellas April 10 2010, 21:35:08 UTC

As an American, I am so embarrassed and horrified at what you and everyone else in "immigration detention" had to go through.

A clarification bekitty April 11 2010, 06:27:21 UTC

I have been told by one person who read this blog that I was indulging in "privileged whining", and that I shouldn't complain because other people have it worse than me.

I have to say that I partially agree with the first statement. Yes, of course I'm privileged. I don't deny that. I was treated far more humanely than some of the other women in Tank 6, simply because of the colour of my skin and the fact that I speak English as a first language. I will never be called an "illegal" or a "meskin ( ... )

Re: A clarification adrexia April 11 2010, 07:26:17 UTC

Agreed. There is always someone in the world who has things worse. It still doesn't make wrong things magically right.

I didn't take this as whining at all. Not even a little bit. Thank you for sharing it.

Re: A clarification alex51324 April 14 2010, 22:05:11 UTC

"Privileged whining"? Seriously? Throughout the post you mentioned the ways that privilege was at work--you were treated badly, but still treated better than the Latina women. And it's also clear that you didn't think you were less deserving of being detained than the other women ( ... )

penguinsofalove April 11 2010, 09:39:56 UTC

Oh Urs! What a horrible time you've had, and what a foul situation. Tank 6 sounds like a hellhole and I'm very glad you're going to write to the Ambassador. Many, many hugs from us.

gilraen_surion April 11 2010, 18:45:26 UTC

Just got here through Tyellas blog.
So sorry you had to go through this. Sure other people have it worse, but this is what happened to you and honestly I am finding it somewhat disconcerting that this happens in the so-called free world.

I think it is good you wrote this. It is something one does not consider when traveling. As bad as it was I this good to know it exists and I hope you get over this ordeal soon. You must be absolutely over the top tired.