Canadian SF Author beaten and arrested at Border Crossing.

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I'd hate to think what the US Embassys in the Middle East look like.

I can tell you that. About two years after the original Gulf War I was out there.

On the way back, there was a kerfuffle at one of the desks as they found a gun shape under X-ray. They pulled it out and laughed as the little toy went "whizz-Whizz". They were also carrying assault rifles around with them, so you tended to laugh as well.

One guy tried to smuggle in a wine-making kit, but as it's a dry country, they just took his passport and kicked him out.

This sort of thing wouldn't even occur to any Middle Eastern regime. Especially to someone crossing a land border. If you were suspected of being a terrorist though, don't expect to see daylight for some time.

I'd like to see the version of events that doesn't paint the police as over-zealous goose-steppers though. I wonder if it exists yet.

He must have done something. Maybe he got out of the car, which he should have known not to. And i am starting to hate all this anti america talk over here. From a 3rd person point of view it's the guy's fault maybe he was cocky or something and everyone jumps on the conclusion it was the police's fault.

TBF LCP, no-one's knocking that he did something wrong. But beating him up, pepperspraying him, denying him legal counsel, torturing him, denying him human rights and then trumping up charges is the police's fault, if true.

 

[Jak The Great]

Its a very biased article, but all forms of US security, whether it be at the borders, airport security, immigration desks or Embassy's is SO tight that it's a little scary.

how is it biased? i really think everyone in this thread should look up the definition of the word bias. bias has nothing to do with americans made to look bad, it seems every time someone points out how bad the american system is, they are being biased. the same thing happened with the american girl who was found guilty of murdering the british girl in italy, the italian legal system was called biased as well.

I think you need to look it up as well. That article only presented one side of the argument; we do not have the border guards account of what happened. therefore it is biased.


From Wikipedia:

Bias is a term used to describe a tendency or preference towards a particular perspective, ideology or result, when the tendency interferes with the ability to be impartial, unprejudiced, or objective.[1]. In other words, bias is generally seen as a 'one-sided' perspective.

also, how is this an example of how 'bad' the American system is? It was an isolated incident. Last time I checked, we weren't beating every single Canadian that tried to cross our borders.

 

[ThaBenMan]

Holy crap. That really sucks for that dude.

I've never even read any of his work, but I donated $10 toward his defense fund. No one deserves that (assuming that's really what happened, but I believe him). And he's a cat lover, too, so even if that's what my donation goes toward, it was well spent.

 

[zelda2fanboy]

This country's only hope is the libertarian party. Live Free or Die.

 

[Treblaine]

Outrageous.

Everybody knows you shouldn't cause any trouble at a border or airport but this is a DISGUSTING over-reaction.

A lot of people need to be fired because of this. I want to see pensions torn up. I want the ban-hammer to reach the people at the top. And America's leaders BETTER do this and act soon as I can see shit like this tarring America's reputation immeasurably and permanently.

I never saw the point in Homeland security either, it was in response to terrorism yet the FBI are perfectly placed for that job, Homeland Security is an agency with WAY too much power, LACK of experience and it is now clear a COMPLETE lack of oversight if something like this is ever allowed to happen.

The entire agency should be liquidated.

Leave Terrorist-Hunting to the FBI, at least those guys are halfway competent.

 

[Booze Zombie]

America pro-freedom?
Not since the musket stopped being used as the army's weapon of choice, from what I can see.

I'd say America sounds very much like Stalinist Russia, now.
Of course, I don't think Russia had this "suing" culture, which is just a blight on existence.

 

[Jark212]

"Shock and Awe"

That's not a policy, that's a lifestyle.

 

[Treblaine]

He must have done something. Maybe he got out of the car, which he should have known not to. And i am starting to hate all this anti america talk over here. From a 3rd person point of view it's the guy's fault maybe he was cocky or something and everyone jumps on the conclusion it was the police's fault.

Lets get this clear RIGHT NOW, this is not "America's fault". A country is not defined by the actions of a few, even if they are law enforcement officers.

However, it WILL become America's fault if the abusive officers are not brought to justice and America's leaders - whoever has the elected authority - NEED to take swift and affirmative action to right this wrong... or else I guarantee you thing will enter popular vocabulary like Guantanamo Bay.

The President would be the elected official with overall oversight of Homeland Security... I hope Obama isn't so busy accepting a Nobel Peace Prize for sending 30'000 troops into Afghanistan that he has lost all perspective. Hell, he got elected for dealing with shit like this, hopefully this is where he can show what he's capable of.

 

[Treblaine]

America pro-freedom?
Not since the musket stopped being used as the army's weapon of choice, from what I can see.

I'd say America sounds very much like Stalinist Russia, now.
Of course, I don't think Russia had this "suing" culture, which is just a blight on existence.

You clearly have never been sued for libel in an English Court.

And Muskets FTW.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

Of course it's biased.

From Marriam-Webster: [http://m-w.com/dictionary/bias]
Bias
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): bi·ased or bi·assed; bi·as·ing or bi·as·sing
Date: circa 1628
1 : to give a settled and often prejudiced outlook to
2 : to apply a slight negative or positive voltage to (as a transistor)

Definition number one is what we're looking at here. In reality, everything ever written is biased in one way or another, simply because of the fact that it is written by a person with preconceived views on the issue. In this case the bias is very obvious due to the article beginning with "My friend, the wonderful sf writer Peter Watts was beaten without provocation and arrested by US border guards on Tuesday." Note especially the words "My friend, "wonderful sf writer," and "without provocation."

Bias: it is everywhere. This article is more biased than most, yes, but that does not necessarily make it wrong. The border guards could indeed have acted out of line, or they could be justified in their actions. I'm inclined to believe the former, but that might be because the article only gives one side of the story and that's all the information I have.

So, to answer your original question: it is biased because it gives one side of the story in a very inflammatory and nonobjective way.

actually definition #1 is what the americans were doing, not the article, maybe you should read it.

yes it was his friend and after MANY times of this kind of thing happening to citizens over the years since the whole homeland security dept got created, the guy took his friend's side. this isn't an isolated incident, it just happened to someone with the ability to expose this.

this isn't something new, it's happened a bunch of times, heck even Henry Rollins has his own stories with homeland security and how they've hassled him.

also if you look it does say both sides of the story, it does give the claim of what the guards were saying. it's part of the charges they laid against him

 

[LCP]

I'd hate to think what the US Embassys in the Middle East look like.

I can tell you that. About two years after the original Gulf War I was out there.

On the way back, there was a kerfuffle at one of the desks as they found a gun shape under X-ray. They pulled it out and laughed as the little toy went "whizz-Whizz". They were also carrying assault rifles around with them, so you tended to laugh as well.

One guy tried to smuggle in a wine-making kit, but as it's a dry country, they just took his passport and kicked him out.

This sort of thing wouldn't even occur to any Middle Eastern regime. Especially to someone crossing a land border. If you were suspected of being a terrorist though, don't expect to see daylight for some time.

I'd like to see the version of events that doesn't paint the police as over-zealous goose-steppers though. I wonder if it exists yet.

He must have done something. Maybe he got out of the car, which he should have known not to. And i am starting to hate all this anti america talk over here. From a 3rd person point of view it's the guy's fault maybe he was cocky or something and everyone jumps on the conclusion it was the police's fault.

TBF LCP, no-one's knocking that he did something wrong. But beating him up, pepperspraying him, denying him legal counsel, torturing him, denying him human rights and then trumping up charges is the police's fault, if true.

exacly if true. i will not pick side untill i know what really happened.

 

[Wayte]

In sweden they do make bombs which are illegal for them to use but ok for the US to use according to a journalist bloke I met in the EU once.

Also in response to balls : terrorism is bandied about by the US so much it has no meaning. My country was liberated by 'terrorists' so I don't have a lot of sympathy for americans fearing terrorists

America pretty much was too, which is why it pisses me off we're so "AW LAWDY TERRISTS GIT EM!"

 

[Del-Toro]

Admittidly he shouldn't have gotten out of his car. But, judging by his picture, the man doesn't exactly look like he's going to pose a threat. Maybe the American policy of "Shock and Awe" spreads to more than just the Middle East?

Actually let me tell you a story that my Driver's Ed teacher told the class I was in about getting pulled over. He was driving a delivery van and got pulled over for speeding. He figured that they'd probably want to check the contents of the vehicle so he got out and started removing the boxes. Not more than 10 seconds later he winds up with a gun about an inch from his head and a very pissed off police officer. Why? Because he got out of the vehicle without being told to do so. He's also only about 4'8", so even if he doesn't look threatening, police and so forth can't afford to take that risk. Again, really not trying to justify things (especially given how people on BoingBoing have apparently decided to label all Americans as facist shits in the comments for this story), but I am explaining that getting out of a car at a police stop, border station, etc. without being prompted to do so is an immediate warning flag to officers.

Also this story is why I don't ever reach over for my registration until the officer gets there. I have my license out but I'm not going to make things difficult because reaching towards the glovebox could mean anything (gun, for instance). It's not a power abuse thing, it's just them being protective of themselves. Course, if I got pepper sprayed for reaching for my glovebox, then yeah that's different.

Actually, I agree with you. It is understandable that an officer might freak out if someone gets out of the car. If they're in the car, you know where they are and they don't exactly have enough space to make sudden movments. So it's understandable that the officers would go for their guns when the author left the car, but does it justify the beating? We won't know of course because the article is clearly biased in favour of the author

Exactly, I mean, you have to try and understand the position those officers are in, since they tend to be prime targets and since they are the ones who are supposed to be dealing with the types of people who do carry a weapon concealed or in a glovebox, they probably can't afford to take any risks, most of those guys have families to support.

 

[hungoverbear]

Hmm, i've never had trouble crossing the US border but i guess the Vermont border guards are more relaxed than the Michigan ones ?

It might be an overzealous border guard, or it might be a mix of that and a smartass comment who lighted up the fire...

I live in Michigan and i have to say that our border gaurds are huge dicks. They are very agressive, love to make a mess of your suitcases and vehicle, and they try to intimidate the hell out of everyone, even 14 year olds! (not a joke!) They suck and are the number 1 reason why i despise going to canada.

 

[SimuLord]

America pro-freedom?
Not since the musket stopped being used as the army's weapon of choice, from what I can see.

I'd say America sounds very much like Stalinist Russia, now.
Of course, I don't think Russia had this "suing" culture, which is just a blight on existence.

That's just totalitarianism American-style: We've privatized it. Instead of secret police, we've got lawyers.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

I'd hate to think what the US Embassys in the Middle East look like.

I can tell you that. About two years after the original Gulf War I was out there.

On the way back, there was a kerfuffle at one of the desks as they found a gun shape under X-ray. They pulled it out and laughed as the little toy went "whizz-Whizz". They were also carrying assault rifles around with them, so you tended to laugh as well.

One guy tried to smuggle in a wine-making kit, but as it's a dry country, they just took his passport and kicked him out.

This sort of thing wouldn't even occur to any Middle Eastern regime. Especially to someone crossing a land border. If you were suspected of being a terrorist though, don't expect to see daylight for some time.

I'd like to see the version of events that doesn't paint the police as over-zealous goose-steppers though. I wonder if it exists yet.

He must have done something. Maybe he got out of the car, which he should have known not to. And i am starting to hate all this anti america talk over here. From a 3rd person point of view it's the guy's fault maybe he was cocky or something and everyone jumps on the conclusion it was the police's fault.

TBF LCP, no-one's knocking that he did something wrong. But beating him up, pepperspraying him, denying him legal counsel, torturing him, denying him human rights and then trumping up charges is the police's fault, if true.

exacly if true. i will not pick side untill i know what really happened.

actually when they search your car, like they said they did in the article, you have to get out of your car. so him getting out of the car was the right thing for him to do.

this isn't the first time i've heard of stuff like this happening. so i'm taking his side, you usually see them backtrack and apologize after a couple weeks.

 

[park92]

he probably shouldnt have gotten out of the car