all jumbled up in my head...

[tikiaceae]

I haven't slept much in the last four days so this post probably doesn't make much sense but I also wanted to write this down. So please excuse the jumbleness. I make jokes about race quite a bit in RL

Comments

[azicrow]

To be honest I was kinda absolutely terrified about even going anywhere near US control. I really wanted to come with but the idea of ...
I know I joke about being turned away or sent to Gitmo or something but honestly? It scares the crap out of me. Especially considering what happens to my brothers and...I mean that's why "analysis of explosives" was the fist subject I put in the "do not choose" portion for a project. IT's just not worth it.

So although the idea of going to the US was exciting (well sort of - somehow I always get the feeling that they'd see me in a scarf and be all glary) I'm kinda glad I didn't have to face border control. I know it probably makes me a bit cowardly but if I had to face them I honestly think I would've burst into tears.

Whilst they're locking me in internment rooms.

That also might be why that was the bit that made me cry in my name is Khan.

[tikiaceae]

I mean that's why "analysis of explosives" was the fist subject I put in the "do not choose" portion for a project.

God. Yes. That's kind of like waving a sign saying put my name on The List!!!!

if I had to face them I honestly think I would've burst into tears.

Which is why I always think about questions they might ask and have COHERENT answers ready. Just in case. People saying you have nothing to worry about if you have nothing to hide? Don't know what they're talking about.

My Name is Khan... Let's never ever talk about that film, ok? I can still feel the headache I got from all the crying I did.

[azicrow]

LOL Who knows, I might already be on it.

People saying you have nothing to worry about if you have nothing to hide? Don't know what they're talking about.

Oh my God yes! When someone says that I just feel like they don't get it. When I travel like that it's like this weight pressing on your shoulders, like you've suddenly become aware of absolutely everything every bit of you is doing down to your little fingers because you're aware of how wrong it could all go and how helpless you really are against an entire country. Even though you've done nothing wrong. You're just either visiting a friend or coming back from holiday.

I can't stand that I have to feel thankful for being allowed to come back home. It takes away any power you have and makes you feel like a criminal when you're not. Like you don't have the same rights as everybody else.

[tikiaceae]

I get where you're coming from. Like you're looking at yourself and your behaviour from a different POV. Mostly my other POV is a racist twit and makes me want to hide and not come out of the house ever.

Like people from this post.

[reginagiraffe]

I fucking HATE feeling relieved and *thankful* when I walk past the Immigration desk despite having done nothing wrong.

FWIW, I feel like that, too, and I'm white. But I totally acknowlege that you understandably have an extra layer of anxiety.

FWIalsoW, I'd love to meet you in person some day. Maybe we'll have to aim for London.

[tikiaceae]

I'd love to see you! And see if you aren't secretly tall. :)

Dude. London, yes. Maybe Korea even?

[mydocuments]

Thank you for re-posting this lady's story. As an American, a white American, I've never thought twice about traveling, and I've never really stopped to consider how difficult it might be for me to enter a foreign country. But... it's something that I really should stop to think about.

I'd like to think that the people who work for the immigration center and the jails are nothing but uneducated rednecks, because let's face it, that's 95% of who works low level corrections/detainment, but... I know plenty of educated, cultured folks who probably would roll their eyes at your friend's story and ask "well, what did she think was going to happen?"

It's appalling the way she was treated, and it's appalling the way that the Latina women she was detained with were treated. I don't necessarily support widespread immigration to the US, but I disagree wholeheartedly with the idea that those immigrants should be treated as anything less than people. Those immigration officials should be ashamed at their lack of compassion.

[tikiaceae]

I've never really stopped to consider how difficult it might be for me to enter a foreign country.

I don't think you'd have much problem entering a country. Unless you're talking about North Korea or something...

"well, what did she think was going to happen?"

I'm no longer shocked to hear stories like this. Angry. Bitter. Scared. But not surprised. Which is sad in itself.

[morganmuffle]

Yesterday I was reading about the horrible treatment of a disabled woman at an American airport/on an American airline, today it's immigratio issues. It's completely and epically rubbish.

I know I'm about as priviliged as it gets in such situations and yet I still get nervous going through American security, but it never really occurs to me in any other country (except Russia but that was a bit different).

Bleuch. I'm sorry you're not getting to go to New York and sorrier still that any part of that is relieving for you :-(

(just read back that last sentence... sounds like I just want you to be epically miserable without relief... you know I don't mean that right? I've mostly got my fingers tightly crossed they bring the original Broadway cast to the West End like with Hai *nods* )

[tikiaceae]

they bring the original Broadway cast to the West End

Yes. THAT'd solve ALL my problems! \o/

And you. You do know you're my white fangirl shield, right?

[morganmuffle]

It really really would, and if it's doing well I don't see why it's SO unlikely *crosses fingers tighter*

I had some idea yes. Nice to know I'm occasionally useful.

[tikiaceae]

I only love you for your (lack of) colour. *nodnod*

sadly, I don't feel I can argue with you for feeling that way.

[raveninthewind]

I'm a US citizen and legal and all, and I still get nervous going through US Customs/across the border. Whenever I have crossed the border in a car, I've experienced greater scrutiny from the US side than the other direction, and also greater scrutiny than people crossing with me who were Caucasian. It's stressful, and all my documents are in order (law-abiding middle class woman that I am). This state of affairs is ridiculous and SO WRONG on many levels, I can't even stand it.

Also, I posted when it happened, but when my 80-year old, tiny, 88-lb Japanese mother visited a couple years ago, she got pulled out for a special screening. (No one else got pulled out.) She was travelling as non-white, you know. *significant look*

Re: sadly, I don't feel I can argue with you for feeling that way.

[tikiaceae]

They were obviously worried your mother might be a ninja...

How dare we travel around the world as if we have the same rights as white people? How dare we, eh? *stabbity stab*