Quote:
Originally Posted by Picara
So do you have problems with every younger customer service employee, wherever you go? If that were true, every older passenger would be having problems with customs agents, not just you.
I still believe most problems are the fault of the attitude of the passenger. If you want to be polite and accomadating, you experience will be better. Like I said, there are those that they no doubt profile, but a middle aged white mother is not on the list.
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I don't think you have a clue what you are talking about. Sorry, but you don't. I have travelled back and forth to the States on business and pleasure most of my adult life and the attitude of Customs people is so hostile now that my husband and I have decided not to travel to, or through, the U.S. until things change.
We are white, middle-aged, polite, possess no criminal records, and know enough to keep our mouths shut and never volunteer anything unless asked. And yet we have been harrassed, treated like criminals, searched, and abused at more than one U.S. airport. And we weren't even staying in the U.S., these were transit flights to Australia and Europe!! Friends of ours who happen to have brown or black skin have been treated far worse, and they didn't have criminal records or anything else, either.
I've had good experiences (and bad) in the past with Customs' officials on both sides of the border, but 9/11 seems to be an excuse for far too many to abuse their power. Until things change, we won't be back, however much we'd like to visit.
There was a show about Windsor, Ontario, a border town and people on both sides of the border were bitching about how the current nastiness toward people who are clearly NOT terrorists is hurting business, especially the Americans. One trucker was getting out of the industry because he couldn't deal with the everyday hassles. I really don't think all of us are the problem -- it's a mindset to see how unpleasant they can be, which doesn't have a whole lot to do with their actual job.
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