Friday, June 16, 2006

Propaganda!!!!

I had to make a one-day trip from Toronto to LA. First off, there was the fingerprinting. That's a given considering the high correlation between being a terrorist and one's place of birth!

Later on, while waiting for my flight, I heard this on the CNN: "Are Iranian spies watching New York?" PROPAGANDA!!! And this was announced in the headlines section without further explanation! Ten minutes later, further explanation followed, only to prove that the headline was, expectedly, nothing but random guesses!!! All they knew was that maybe someone was watching some tower, and this may or may not be related to the Iranian government actually spying in New York, which is obviously, for nothing but to plan a terrorist attack!!! Of course this news, or shall I say gossip wrapped with mystery, is announced in the early morning headlines!!!

A few hours later, on the way back to Toronto, I noticed there was a code on my boarding pass, indicating "SSSS". And this is not the first time I have seen this on my boarding card! No! This has happened every time for the past couple of times!! Now what does this code mean? This means that we have been selected for a "Random" security check (Everyone that is marked with this code must be physically screened and have all their belongings searched thoroughly). The selection process was in fact so random that everyone in the special screening area spoke Farsi! (Using the ECE lingo, I guess if the countries were listed on the x-axis, the PDF of this random variable would be a delta function!)

Discrimination, disguised under America’s deep concern for the security of this great nation, and of course world-wide peace…

8 comments:

Siavash said...

loool...good. Funny too, maybe only for ECEs though. I couldn't agree more with you.

Siavash said...

Surely, there are more experiences to a trip to Paris...

Anonymous said...

If someone does not treat me right, I refrain from going to their place. You seem to have experienced this many times, but you still want to go to America. And if I was so patriotic, then i wouldnt be in Canada. I would be back in my favorite country - Iran, with a chador over my head.

Arezou said...

I don't see patriotism this way. If patriotism is only proven by sitting silent in my country with a chador over my head, then yeah I'm not a patriot!!! As you said, of course if someone is not treating me nice I don't go there. Forcing someone to wear chador is sure not nice, and I will not do so to prove my patriotism.

Anonymous said...

I am sure you must have experienced discrimination in Canada too. Then why be in a country that does not welcome you. If I am travelling as an American and if some government requires me to go through security for the greater good, I would be glad to do so and not portray myself as a victim.

Siavash said...

Truly that greater Good, is so great. Apparantly, it is so great that there is no greater good above it either !!!!!!!! :(

Arezou said...

Well I am not victimizing myself. In fact the aim of the post, as indicated by the name of the post, is to explain the propaganda. It is quite understandable that they want to search nationalities whom they don't have an accord with their governments; I have no problem with that. But this is just part of the movement, mainly guided by the media, to create a general feeling of insecurity. This is propaganda when the media steers the public focus to where they intend it to be the new "Hollywood" scene. This is why you hear the gossip being broadcasted by CNN as the headline news.
Also, if in fact they want me to go through special luggage and body search, they can make it clear and not hide it under the name: "random security check".

Anonymous said...

Interesting!!!

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday

to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to

head off potential terror attacks.

A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to

Australia at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and

his ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown.

Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that

some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not

accept that Australia was a secular state and its laws were made by

parliament.

"If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law

or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you," he said on

national television.

"I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws

governing people in Australia, one the Australian law and another the

Islamic law, that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law,

independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the

opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then,

that's a better option," Costello said.

Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said

those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other

country.

Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who

did not want to accept local values should "clear off".

"Basically, people who don't want to be Australians, and they don't want

to live by Australian values and understand them, well then they can

basically clear off," he said. Separately, Howard angered some

Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies

monitoring the nation's mosques.

USA and Canada..... ARE YOU LISTENING?

Quote:



IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It I am tired

of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or

their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced

a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.

However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the

"politically correct" crowd began complaining about the possibility that

our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor

do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming

to Australia.

However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our

country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.

This idea of Australia being a multicultural community has served only to

dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Australians, we have

our own culture, our own society, our own language and

our own lifestyle.

This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials

and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We

speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic,

Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish

to become part of our society, then learn the language!

Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing,

political push but a fact because Christian men and women, on Christian

principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly ocumented.

It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If

God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as

your new home, Because God is part of our culture.

We will accept your beliefs and will not question why, all we ask is that

you accept ours and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.



If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like "A Fair Go", then

you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet.

We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really

don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means keep your

culture but do not force it on others.

This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you

every opportunity to enjoy all this, but once you are done complaining,

whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs,

or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other

great Australian/Canadian/US/British et al freedom, "THE RIGHT TO

LEAVE."

If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here.

you asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.

Pretty easy really, when you think about it. I figure if we all keep

passing this to our friends (and enemies) it will also, sooner or >later

get back to the complainers, lets all try, please.