No morals... no entry!

[dubman]

cacophony gets her BLD streak at the end there...

[BeautifulBurnout]

Originally Posted by cacophony

i guess i'm the only one who doesn't see a problem. the US has a program that lets folks from SOME and not all countries on on sort of a preferred access basis. he didn't need to apply for a visa, he could get right in if he merited the fast track to the front of the line.

there are laws (whether i believe in them or not) about the acquisition, transportation, and usage of certain narcotics. he admits that he is a current user of these narcotics. goes to reason that during his stay he'd probably want to get his hands on a hit or two.

he's still welcome to apply for a visa. he just misses out on the fast-track quickie express lane because he participates in activities that violate the law of the land he's interested in visiting.

where's the real harm? where exactly is the shame? i've been plenty ashamed of this country over its immigration and international travel screening practices. but i fail to see this as a good example of one of those embarrassing incidents. call me cynical, but it seems to me that this story is conveniently supportive of this author's view of himself as a hedonist of his self-styled "underworld." it's terribly useful PR which he can use to support his claims of living the most sinful, decadent life, isn't it?



oh yeah. i'm really going to miss out on hearing more from this douchebag.

Oh, I dunno. I suppose it is perfectly proper for you to want to keep out an unsavory character like him from the country who is the number one porn producer in the world and is central to the international trafficking of cocaine. Makes perfect sense.

By the way, does the US ever let any Dutch visitors in at all, because drug-taking and prostitution are legal in Holland, so presumably everyone from Holland must lack moral turpitude in that respect, mustn't they?

his claims of living the most sinful, decadent life...

Yeah, really good reasons to refuse people entry too. Maybe he should have repented and found christ at the airport and they would have let him in. Seemed to work for your drug-using, adulterous Presidents in the past.

You can't understand why it irritates us so much? I can put it in two simple words for you: double standards.

[cacophony]

histrionics aside, i get the whole frustration over double standards. still, i expect double standards. from every bureaucratic institution on earth. without exception.

i'm just saying, no one denied him a visa. did you read that part in the story? he was only denied the fast track entrance. so what? so they created some mythical moral standard that they want the fast tracked entries to adhere to, in order to feel like they've provided some semblance of "national security." so what? so they want to regard the quick entry method as a "be on your best behavior" gift to upstanding "moral" members of the world community. so what? at what point does any nation owe you less screening? i don't see you crying for the people who are citizens of nations who aren't on the fast-track eligibility list.

it's like going to a party at someone's house and announcing at the door that you quite enjoy setting rugs on fire. and then getting mad when the person hosting the party says, "yeah, i kind of like my rug the way it is. i'm not sure i want you here. why don't you hold up a second and give me your lighter and matches before you come in."

and of course, this guest is now holding press conferences and having his publicist use the denial of matches to promote his book, "a lifetime of setting rugs on fire, one man's journey into pyromania."

seriously. so what?

[Strangelet]

Originally Posted by cacophony

seriously. so what?

OK, I don't think you understand what it means to be denied entry. Its not some happy fast track system that he doesn't get to participate in. For the rest of his life he's got a red flag on his profile (yes they keep profiles) and if any border guard here on out asks him if he's ever been denied entry (yes they ask) he's got to say yes at which point he'll more than likely be denied entry twice. Then he's got to only travel to the states when it is only absolutely necessary, or like my wife (because she's currently in that position, having been denied entry twice after being searched and detained for hours) has to travel with her Father (not me, that's suspicous) to an entirely different city like Vegas to make it look like a harmless vacation. At which point we can rent a car and drive to where we really wanted to go. Because the third time means you have to get a congressional appeal to remove a lifelong travel ban into the country.

So, artistic and lifestyle differences aside, its a big fucking deal, because like that old german said, first they came for the jews and then I said nothing.....

in conclusion, fuck the INS and homeland security, thanks.

[cacophony]

well i'll agree that the red flag part is retarded. but that means it's retarded for everyone, not just this douchebag. i guess i feel like this guy isn't exactly the posterchild for wrongful persecution, so it's a little ridiculous to hold him up as the example. your wife makes a much better example. i'm sure there are hundreds of people a day who would make a better example.

i can try and try and try but i just can't seem to squeeze out a tear for this guy.

Originally Posted by Strangelet

like that old german said, first they came for the jews and then I said nothing.....

GODWIN'S LAW! thread is over!

Originally Posted by Strangelet

in conclusion, fuck the INS and homeland security, thanks.

i don't disagree with this sentiment.

[Strangelet]

Originally Posted by cacophony

GODWIN'S LAW! thread is over!

LOL cacophony. touche.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by cacophony

well i'll agree that the red flag part is retarded. but that means it's retarded for everyone, not just this douchebag. i guess i feel like this guy isn't exactly the posterchild for wrongful persecution, so it's a little ridiculous to hold him up as the example. your wife makes a much better example. i'm sure there are hundreds of people a day who would make a better example.

i can try and try and try but i just can't seem to squeeze out a tear for this guy.

I don't think the question is about whether or not this guy is someone we're all a fan of, or whether or not he's a perfect example, it's about whether the criteria is legitimate, and I don't think it is. We keep him out because he's supposedly unsavory, while meanwhile one of our own most celebrated writers was Hunter Thompson.

[cacophony]

ehhhhhhhhh feels like a stretch. it's a little more complicated than simply saying "apples and apples!"

[BrotherLovesDub]

Originally Posted by cacophony

oh yeah. i'm really going to miss out on hearing more from this douchebag.

C+

You start out fairly strong with the sarcastic "oh yeah" comment. not a bad opening but you left out other signifiers like exclamation points or curse words. good choice to use douchebag, that word is strong right now, glad you didn't opt for the weak-hearted "d-bag" contraction some people are using. i'm encouraged by your name calling and sarcasm but i need to see more from you in the future. Try to work in some "fucking fuckers" and "cockfarmers" into your rants in the future. Remember, you need to make a huge sweeping statement that offends the maximum number of people possible. Here's an example of how your statement could have made a bigger impact on the thread:

"Oh yeah! Goody fucking goody. Another fucking douchebag cockfarmer trying to tell me how to live my life? FUCK OFF YOU FUCKING FESTERING HEMORRHOID LICKER. You probably listen to Radiohead while fucking baby dolphins. Grow some balls ¥ou ginormous douchebag!"

That's just an example. I've not even read the thread but you can pretty much use that type of rant for anything. If you need additional instruction, i'll be in my office during the usual hours.

[cacophony]

yes, sir. i'll do better next time, sir. sorry, sir.