Benny_

What would happen if I was to gesture to Mr Customs in a US airport?

Not leading, just asking. My experience of Chicago and New York customs officers is that I apparently look like a risky character, but then I suppose you get the same when you come here?

CingularDuality

If you did that to a CBP Officer on primary inspection, I'm betting one of the following things would happen to you:

1. You'd get an appropriate response, probably a very sweet polite insult about you and your countrymen (national insults being naturally prevalent among customs and immigration officers).

2. You'd be referred to secondary, where they would take their time completing your inspection.

3. You'd be pulled aside and privately put in your place. The officer would make you sit down, he'd remain standing, put his hand on his hip, and make sure you understand the statutory authority and possible punishments for such a blatant insult of a US official. This only works on people that are somewhat easily intimidated, however.


Here's something to keep in mind in all of these situations. If you're a real jerk to a cop/inspector/officer in the US, they're going to use appropriate force for the situation. They're not going to beat you. BUT, they might escort you from one room to the next. And they might be squeezing your arm uncomfortably hard. DO NOT RESIST. For the officer's safety, once you start to resist, they can use whatever force is necessary to get you back under control. Usually this involves quickly taking you to the floor and deciding on what further restraints are needed. Abusive force rarely occurs. When it does, you see it on national TV. I'm not implying anything in this post, just telling you what could happen...

Benny_

I'm sure it's a thankless job, but what the pilot did was fairly stupid. Frankly screw him, he deserves what ever. He shoulda known better.

Tempus

Did you guys even see the picture? All he did was hold up the little card with his middle finger as the only one showing. While still making his point, it was rather subtle. It's not as if he just stood there and flipped everyone off..

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Benny_

I only read the first few lines and then jumped in with my posts. I can't be arsed to read CNN, it makes my eyes hurt, too many primary colours for my liking.

I'll still say screw him. Not because he's American, not because he did something truly bad, but because he's an idiot for doing it.

If it leads to the discussion around why Brazil are taking the measures vs. US etc etc then fine. But he was in the wrong.

Tempus

Yes, everyone who protests something is an idiot..

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FROM THE TACTICAL GAMER PRIMER.
3) Support game play in a near-simulation environment. Where the focus of play would not be solely on doing what it takes to win, but doing so utilizing real-world combat strategy and tactics rather than leveraging exploits provided to players by the design of the game engine.

Wolfie

Whether or not it was appropriate, it was his right to express himself. Flipping the bird is just an expression, something that is protected by the US Constitution. If any punishment needs to be leveled, it needs to be done by his company (non-professional image/behavior while on the job, etc), not by a foreign country that is using him as a political scrapgoat.

Arresting and sending him to trial for exercising his right to expression is excessive, especially since Brazil is mad at the US because we are requiring travelers to have *gasp* a visa to enter our country....

HSantal

Sure it's his right. And yes it may be protected by your constitition.
But he wasn't IN America. Once you set foot in a foriegn country all bets are off. The rules and laws of that country apply. Not yours.

No. Thats not what it says. What it says is Is it the visa they are complaining about or the fingerprinting? Two totally different points I'd say.

My 2 cents and you get what you pay for.

Wolfie

Um, it is the same point. Those with visas wouldn't have to go through the fingerprinting and pictures taken.

CingularDuality

:?:

ALL foreign visitors that are required to have visas are getting their prints and photos taken... I don't understand what you're trying to say here...

If they don't have to have a visa, then they aren't getting printed...

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Wyzcrak

Read people. READ. Santal's question was simple. Are people without visas and fingerprint records upset that they have to get visas, or that they have to get visas and fingerprints? If you're not going to read the question, don't try to act like you're answering it.

And how the HELL can you pull that crap about US Constitution? He was in BRAZIL!!!

Continuing Benny's analogy, I don't see the big deal if this guy was a tourist. But he's an agent of our government. That holds him to a higher standard. He's a paid professional, and he was performing his profession, on the clock, when this happened.

There's no excuse for it. As a matter of fact, I can't think of a single MADE UP STORY that WOULD justify it. I hope his punishment is reasonable, but it's very frustrating to see people claiming that no punishment is necessary.

How am I supposed to raise my 15 year-old kid to understand that adults are accountable for their decisions when he sees our government officials blatantly insulting other government officials in other countries and not being held accountable for it?

People in our military are to be held to a higher standard if they're going to be revered with the higher respect that they get from me and everyone else in this country. That's how life works.

Wyzcrak

CingularDuality

I was under the impression that this guy was a civilian pilot that worked for American Airlines. Am I wrong?

If it was a military pilot, on some sort of official business, then I wouldn't expect him to be fingerprinted.

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Wolfie

Um, he is not a government official.

Wolfie

I thought the identification process (fingerprints and photos) was being done to those that are on flights with no visas. Those with visas don't have to go through this process because the US Customs already has the information it needs about them. Or am I mistaken?

HSantal

Agreed.

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