Alas, poor US, I knew you well

[mandragora]

Prompted by today's news that apparently all visitors to the US will shortly have to submit to having their fingerprints and mugshot taken upon entry to the US's fair *cough* shores.

Oh sure, the US is hitting the poor and non-white countries first (racist? Much!). But apparently the exempted countries from this outrageous invasion of civil liberties will lose their exemption by the end of 2004.

And, if so, bye bye US. I won't be visiting you any more.

This saddens me more than I can say. I've been to the US several times from my first visit in 1981 to my most recent last October. And it now looks like it may well be my last.

No more fannish cons in the US. No more (and this saddens me deeply) visits to friends I've made there. But, please, do come to Europe, where we don't make you have you fucking fingerprints taken!

But. Jesus. To photograph and fingerprint everyone who visits the country. What is this? The Stalinist Soviet Union mark II?

ETA: I'd be pretty reluctant to visit the US even if the exempted countries remain free from the mugshots and fingerprints. Because to target all citizens of any country in this way is utterly abhorrent. Shame on you home of the 'free', shame on you. Shame on your fucking Government, anyway.

Comments

[foolme8.livejournal.com]

I was uneasy even when ID cards came under discussion here, so all that in the US is really making me itch. The way things are happening, bit by bit, in plain sight, it kind of makes you understand the answer to that favourite question in history class - how could they let it happen?

And considering how we've got a govt that thinks it is perfectly ok to take children away from asylum seekers as a negotiating tool, my humble opinion on the state of the world - mad!

Happy New Year, by the way! - hope you had a good break :)

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

The way things are happening, bit by bit, in plain sight, it kind of makes you understand the answer to that favourite question in history class - how could they let it happen?

I know, it's scary. The only comfort is that I can't somehow see any of our present politicians going quite as far as those in the US. Although Blair is a true believer - genuinely believes that he's doing the right thing. Last time we had one of those was in the Thatcher years. Hmm, maybe I should sign up for Prozac right away.

And a Happy New Year to you, too. I'll have to organise a get together that you Will Come Too soon ;)

[foolme8.livejournal.com]

*g* I'll be there, come hell or high water or pesky things like study! I want to see those fridge magnets :)