 Johanna_G says: What is wrong with the United States of America? Is it the stimulus-response mechanism of experiencing terror → making war on terror → terrorizing? Are the United States of America a hysteric or paranoid nation? I wonder if Erla Ósk Arnardóttir Lilliendahl (that's her correct name) will experience any excuse on the part of the U.S. administration, and I wonder if those responsible will be removed from office. If not, I would be inclined to declare the U.S.A. a closed mental hospital. Hardly an appropriate way to win friends and influence people. Not that my own country (Canada) would win any awards lately for rolling out the welcome mat .... hell our sadistic dumb-ass federal police tazered a just landed immigrant killing him in the process. this way i believe there will be no God that would like to bless America. (the leading nation of the free world ??? ) Did she overstay her visa in 1995? People have to play by the rules or they will find themselves being treated like a criminal. I feel sorry for her, but, did she know there could be a problem before she tried to enter USA? Rather than governmental declarations and the whole published political blah-blah, it's the experiences of all the world's JANE and JOHN DOEs which design the public opinion like a mosaic. The world's view on the United States of America seems to need some crucial amendments. For this purpose, the U.S. will either have to deliver oodles of rose-tinted glasses for the usage of everyone throughout the world, or the U.S. will have to commune with their heart: the Constitution. Mrs. Arnardóttir's story horrifies and disgusts me all the more, as it didn't take place in Morris's Dalton City (setting this as an example, I avoid a hint at southern and midwestern districts), no, it took place at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport! You mean they actually handcuffed and jailed someone who broke the law? What the hell is this country coming to? You mean they actually handcuffed and jailed someone who broke the law? What the hell is this country coming to?No kidding. People who overstay their visas ought to be in prison, if not summarily executed. So should people who get parking tickets, make mistakes on their tax forms, drank alcohol during Prohibition, had sex with someone of another race when anti-miscegenation laws were in effect, etc. So should people who get parking ticketsHmmm, now what happens if you have an unpaid traffic ticket? If caught, they cuff you right where you are (in front of other people and everything), then they haul you off to jail where you remain until the matter is resolved. Oh my, the poor lady suffered the same fate as someone who had an unpaid traffic ticket. I suppose next you will compare it to water boarding. I feel for the lady, seriously. I once had an unpaid traffic ticket and got pulled over. I was cuffed right there on the side of the road, hauled off to jail, and my car was towed. It was embarrassing and inconvenient, but it was my own damn fault. It wasn't the end of the world and it didn't make the US a bad place. Comment Pop for n2 and Dorine n2sooners, your sarcastic remark might base on abstract thinking. "Broke the law" - that's correctly abstracted from the concrete case and its weightiness. But just this correct abstraction is too unsubtle to be the base of justice and of treating a delinquent justly. Commendably, jklugman has already pointed that out. Dorine, I think you are mistaken in two respects. People have to play by the rules or they will find themselves being treated like a criminal. Just having read n2sooners's reply on jklugman's comment, I can't resist to add: Your story, n2sooners, is another tessella in my view of your country. Authority there seems to be dependent of treating offenders in an inappropriate, disproportional way. Security forces there seem to attract megalomaniac scalawags magnetically. And people seem to knuckle under gladly: It wasn't the end of the worldMaybe. But such stories make the US a place I don't want to visit ever. Those of you who are saying, "well, she broke the law, she got what was coming to her," have you actually read the whole story at the source? If you have, do you honestly think you could look this woman in the eye and tell her that (1) her ordeal was justified on the basis of her "crime," and that (2) it actually makes Americans safer to treat people this way? it actually makes Americans safer to treat people this way?In your opinion what treatment was "over the line"? Actually she broke the law; perhaps the chains were a little much but she should learn to respect the laws of whartever country she is in! Ahhh, she damn well, bloody right, heaven's to betsy,cold as a hard fact, unbelievably stupidly, without a skerrig of moral and righteous observation...BROKE THE LAW. I say...hanging. Nup...that's too good for her. She's Icelandic. Blonde jokes for a week! Followed by a stint at Guantanamo Bay where the flag flies highest for fair treatment! Learn to respect the laws of whatever country you are in... 1. Yeah! But handcuffing and chaining might not have been enough. Remember: an Icelandic woman is as tough as leather! So they should have... 1.1. ...marked her neck with a persona-non-grata brand, 1.2. ...flogged her, 1.3. ...tarred and feathered her, 1.4. ...scalped her, 1.5. ...sent her to Guantánamo for a while. Have I forgotten anything? Ah, yes, the most efficient: They should have... 1.6. ...forced her to eat some Coca-Cola-soaked marshmallowburgers until she can't help rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's. Then, sure, a visitor will have learned to respect the laws of a blessed country. Learn to re... I'm not even sure if what is done to this woman is completely legal. (Of course foreigners can be detained without charge: that's what makes Guantanamo possible.) Just because someone wears uniform does not mean that his/her actions are legal. America get off your high-horse. It is not uncommon for American citizens to overstay their visas when abroad and in many case they are not jailed for the violation. I know of Americans here in Egypt who after 3 months of being here, their visa expired for two months, go and apply for a tourist visa and all they pay is a small fine. No handcuffs, no police hauling them off to dirty little cells. In Thailand, it's the same story (although from I hear, the Thai gov't. is cracking down). America should learn to extend the same courtesy that their citizens receive. American is a country in love with punishment and the implements of sadism. Well, you guys are right. I have seen the light. They should declare hand cuffs and actually detaining someone as torture. We shouldn't be able to even raise our voices at someone who breaks the law unless they killed someone. Then they should get a stern talking to and sent home to think about what they have done. Good Morning, Johanna G. I am deeply sorry for the treatment you received here. And I hope your visit in 1995 was a pleasant one. Thank you for being so civil about all this. You said "we"~what were your companion/companions up to while you were in chains? Hopefully, they were able to contact the Icelandic Embassy for you. And the United States owes you a huge apology. By the age of 12 years, Icelanders speak three languages. Icelandic, unchanged from the time of the Vikings, then Danish and lastly, English. How do I know this? I lived at Keflavik with my husband from 1982 to 1985. AT, because we were military and lived aboard the NATO base there. As you kn... My Apologies~~~to both Johanna G. & Erla Ósk Arnardóttir Lilliendahl and to her father, Arnar....I addressed my comments to Johanna in error. Haven't slept well thinking about Pakistan Leader's 'death and others since Christmas Day. Respectfully, Ok, it appears what is lacking here is a little bit of common sense. The "crime" as I understand it, was outstaying a visa by 3 weeks many years ago. Did she try to claim welfare during this period? Did she embark on a one-woman crime spree? Probably not. I agree that those who break the law should be treated as criminals, but this to me shows en exercise of simply petty minded bully brutality. Unlike many I don't judge America on the actions of its military or administration, just like I believe that any other customs official would have simply asked her to pay a standard fine and possibly refuse her access to the US. Simple, just escort her back to the terminal and on the next flight... Respect between human beings? All Jesus asked of us was to love one another~~so, 2000 years ago, we hung him from a tree. So, how can we expect people to change now~~especially as we have become less and less compassionate? It is not our governments or our military~~it is us! Respectfully, Most people in authority are unfit. Especially those who work for Homeland Security. that's an awful story...why not get her to the police station (no cuffs, no chains...simply tell her that she has problems), get someone from her embassy and resolve this matter in a civilized way? usa might be far ahead of many countries with their money and technics, but mentally...USA is in middleages. There really was not need to chain here hand-to-foot. Merely telling her to sit somewhere while the whole thing gets straighten out would have sufficed. What was she going to do, bolt and run around the airport like a crazy person, thats just stupid. And arrest is rare in misdemeanor cases (and not needed when the law is purely administrative) so no, you don't get handcuffed for not paying parking tickets, thats b.s.. You been watching to many movies n2. And arrest is rare in misdemeanor cases (and not needed when the law is purely administrative) so no, you don't get handcuffed for not paying parking tickets, thats b.s.. You been watching to many movies n2.It was actually an unpaid out of date inspection sticker ticket (or maybe a speeding ticket, was long ago), and yes, you do get handcuffed. And if you can't pay the fine when you arrive at the station, you get to sit in jail until things are worked out. I do think the leg cuffs were a bit much, but by the reactions here, you would think she was sentenced to jail time for giving a stuffed animal the wrong name or something. you don't get handcuffed for not paying parking tickets, thats b.sWrong. First, he said traffic ticket, not parking ticket. Second, a bench warrant can be issued for your arrest. Look it up. Guys, what's a big deal a foreigner being treated this way for allegedly breaking the cryptic immigration laws of United States? The citizens of this country are no exceptions when it comes to being a suspect. The America of pre-911 is long dead, we just need to wake up. The USA is now somehow much safer because some bullying sadistic assholes chained and humiliated this woman? you handcuff a criminal who is likely to run or is dangerous, not a scared woman on the airport.. you handcuff a criminal who is likely to run or is dangerous, not a scared woman on the airport..As far as I know most law enforcement agencies require that if you are arrested you are handcuffed without exception regardless of the crime. @BitDrifter is it also true for this: 'A chain was fastened around my waist and I was handcuffed to the chain. Then my legs were placed in chains.' ? A bench warrant only compels the person to appear before court, its not the same thing as a traffic ticket. Failure to comply with the warrant is what gets you arrested, its all under the quaint subject of Habeas Corpus. Many times the police officer has a choice or whether or not to use handcuffs when it comes to misdemeanors (the one big exception is the DUI, as a policy most police agencies arrest you on the spot). I have being in traffic situations when I was not arrested and even answered a bench warrant, again no arrest and certainly no cuffs (I merely showed up to court and dealt with it). If they used handcuffs on you, that shows how paranoid they where, unless you had a warrant fo... @ratilfar When you sign your traffic ticket you are agreeing to show up in court at a certain day and time.. The fine is the bail amount, and if you pay that bail amount before your court date you are not required to show up in court (as it relates to traffic tickets) if you do not pay your bail, and do not show up in court on the assigned date a bench warrant can be and usually is issued for your arrest. At this point a cop can arrest you on sight. Again, look it up. @Negush I would imagine not for most local police agencies. But it probably is standard procedure for the situation she found her self in with the DHS. and do not show up in court on the assigned date a bench warrant can be and usually is issued for your arrest.As worded this is not entirely accurate, so to correct: and do not show up in court on the assigned date a bench warrant can be and usually is issued that allows for your arrest. Which proves my point. You don't get arrested just for a traffic ticket, there is a procedure to be followed, its is when the warrant is issued that the arrest becomes possible. The statements above seem to suggest that merely having an unpaid traffic ticket is enough for the arrest. A judge must make that determination, even if is a pro-forma exercise. You said you don't get handcuffed for not paying a traffic ticket, my point was you can, and you can. What choice did homeland insecurity have.It was either "take the deal" or open up 5 more cases.  And in fact you don't. And in fact you don't.Wrong, I know personally two people who both had unpaid speeding tickets. Further you also have n2's experience. So unless we are both lieing, you are simply wrong, I'm sorry. The statements above seem to suggest that merely having an unpaid traffic ticket is enough for the arrest. A judge must make that determination, even if is a pro-forma exercise.I don't know about all states, but the ones I do know about a bench warrant is automatically issued if you fail to appear to court. It is standard procedure. You can show up late to pay the ticket and they won't arrest you on the spot. And they don't hunt you down or even come to your home looking for you (unless it is something more severe). But if you are pulled over for something else and the officer is told you have a warrant when he runs your license, then you will be arrested. And with most age... OK, here's a true story of how much trouble you can get into for not payin' parkin tickets-- When i lived in Berkeley in the 60's i accumulated about 30 parking tickets and never paid 'em, bein' the scofflaq that i was....4 yrs. later I moved to Sonoma County and was livin' there with my new wife and baby and took them to the market, dropped 'em off and went on my way and was sdtopped by a CHP'er who was very uptight about my turnsignal bein burned out...it may have had t'do with my hair and the peace decals on my VW van...any way, he ran my license and when the cost of my Berserkeley tickets went over $100, he cuffed me, very tightly, called for a tow-truck, hauled my sorry ass to the coun... What does having a bunch of traffic citations have to do with "profiling"? Commenting other clips (this one and this one), I wrote that I admire the spirit and dreams of the United States of America, to a large extent. As a German, born in 1944, I am grateful to the US-American people for all the efforts and sacrifices made for Germany's freedom's sake. I'll never forget this - notwithstanding my animadversion on Bushism and certain other dubious phenomena in the USA. I maintain this attitude of mine but, at the sight of some comments here, I venture to question ironically whether the U.S. be really the wor... Welcome to America ... You're Under Arrest It was about five years ago. I was returning from Pakistan and standing in the immigration line at JFK, completely exhausted after a 20-hour flight. When my turn came up at the counter, the INS agent looked at my papers, typed a few things into his computer, and then asked me to follow him to a large room at the side of the immigration hall. I was informed that I was being detained. Two agents handcuffed me and led me to another smaller room. When I asked what I had done. They said things like, "Oh, you know what you've done. We know who you are." |
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