New security measures being introduced on Jan 5, 2004 will require visitors to the United States to be Fingerprinted and Photographed.
My initial reaction to this was negative; While growing up in Canada, the only people (then) who were fingerprinted were criminals, or people accused of a crime. Nowadays we do fingerprint our children to aid in childsearch, but this program is voluntary (at least on the part of the parent).
I was born in Northern Ireland, and travelled frequently to Belfast in the late 80's and all through the 90's during the height of the 'troubles' there, airport security in both Heathrow and Aldergrove airports were among the tightest on the planet at that time, perhaps only slightly less stringent than security in Israeli airports, security personnel were armed with automatic weapons, and there were numerous vehicle checkpoints to pass through which involved gates, speed ramps, stop points, all while being covered by cement bunkers containing heavy machine guns (.50 cal). Security checks were much more than perfunctory, pat downs were 'very' personal, and all baggage and carry-ons were thoroughly inspected; but throughout it all, the British security personnel performed their jobs professionally, courteously, and were at all times respectful of the public. While terrorism is new to the United States, it is nothing new to many parts of the world. On a trip to Buffalo this summer I was subjected to 20 minutes of 'grilling' by an abusive and arguementative customs official.
I have absolutely no faith in airport security, they've deemed that a 1½" nailfile on a nailclipper is dangerous and must be broken, yet a 7" stainless steel pen is no threat. A determined person or person(s) will circumvent whatever measures they institute at airports.
On reflection, perhaps fingerprinting is a good thing, and perhaps in the United States it has become a routine thing, necessary to cash cheques, etc. but it will take me some time to get used to the idea; and perhaps I will choose to vacation elsewhere while getting used to the idea.
-------------------- Mike O'Neill
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. - Arthur C. Clarke
posted
Some bank already thumbprint their customers in the name of security. Fortunalty these banks are finding this onerous to their customers. And customers are refusing to do it. these banks had to quietly "modify " the policy to only non customers cashing checks.. What a farse.. A crook simply sands his thumb until there is no print.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5278 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hey Curtis, I do that all the time at other banks when cashing checks. I use super glue on my thumb to hold the sand. I'm simply not interested in playing their bank games when a customer writes out a check made out to cash. When I get home I use 'Un-Cure' to remove the glue!
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
Mike there's talk in the UK of ID cards for everyone at the moment and its still the same here the only folk that get printed are crims, now its talk of DNA id's, its a lot less messy than finger printing, I really don't have a problem with the security issues as long as its done with courtesy althoughj I did have to laugh this year when we went on holiday to tunisia and the wife had to throw away her nail clipper, really small pair attached to the house keys. glad you had a good experience with the British Army, they are generally regarded as the best when it comes to peace keeping duties, witness their succeses in the Balkans and Iraq, its their exemplary professionalism and more than anything their sense of humour and compassion, but still they are the toughest and best military in the world.
-------------------- Steve Broughton Alpha Grafix Signs Lowfields Road Benington, Boston Lincolnshire, England Posts: 315 | From: Boston, Lincolnshire, England | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I gotta laugh about that story! Our own government (General Accounting Office) says the system will be expensive, it probably won't work to reduce terrorism and it really doesn't sovle the problem of terrorists already in our country. Also, in it's current form, there's no way to update the visitors information to verify that they have left the country. I don't think homeland security is really our government's motivation to spend this money. That's why I'm against the majority of what our government's ben doing lately. If we really wanted to make the U.S.A. a safer place from terrorists, it would have been done. I feel they should reassign the D.E.A., A.T.F. & I.N.S. so they can help local, state & federal law inforcement agencies to better perform their duties and help with hunting terrorists. Added for humor and thought - They should legalize & tax pot so we can afford to pay for this latest war on terror. Also, If everyone owned a gun, a terrrorist would think twice before pulling off any type of attack.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
There are much better ways stop bad guys than to finger print the entire population. Finger printing is as effective same as taking away a 1.5 inch nail file from a nail clipper yet allowing batteries, computers, and stainless steel in pens abaord. Believi me, Im not a weapons expert but I know how to turn everyday items in to a weapon. And so does the enemy. I can kill with a simple sheet of newspaper and that is no boast.
We are all in for another surprise if everyone believes that terrorists are stopped by common every day security means.
The FBI and CIA are stopping atacks every week. We the general public just dont hear about them..
Im more concerned over the incompetence of certain high level cronies. Especially those who refused to listen and rewrote warning reports submitted by field agents who knew something was up.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5278 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
geez Bruce, I thought you would understand the reason I super glue my fingers with light sand or aluminum oxide, its so they slide better when pulling a long line.
I had 6 friends die in the WTC, persons I grew up with, lifetime buddies.
I never felt that banks should fingerprint or that real estate agents should have your social security number along with your bank account numbers when looking to rent, unless of course they give you theirs. At the same time I never figured that this finger printing thing had anything to do with terrorism until I read it on the BB, and thats the truth.
I live in a small city which seems like a province of California but is totally out of touch with the rest of the United States problems, so I don't get the news first hand as to why finger printing is done at banks but thanks to all of you, I've been enlightened.
To me its not hard to live 100 years behind in times, I don't read newspapers or watch the news, I don't clip coupons and almost everything that comes to my rural mailbox which isn't a bill gets put into the paper shredder for use in the wood stove. I do however buy Presto Logs for the stove because they are environmently friendly.
Later
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
To relate to Mike's post regarding "weapons" and airport security...
Anyone ever taken CD's on a plane, or seen someone with CD's? Ever broken a CD?--and perhaps cut yourself on it? Sharper than darn near anything else out there.
On our trip to Fred's Meet in Oklahoma this year we went thro a total of 17 full checks ... I know ... I counted them
From La to Dallas they picked up a small pair of nail sissors Sue had in her make-up bag which she forgot to put in check-on luggage bags. Content with finding that they let her go. Next leg Dallas to OK security found another pair (same bag!) Duh!!!!
But the "biggy" was the fact I went thru all 17 checks with a double edged razor blade in one of those "old" holders and was never picked!!!! It became a joke really. I was waiting for them to realise what it was. They were welcome to take the blade as I had another packet in my other luggage.
Oh, and the stainless steel ball pen and the bunch of sign brushes with 8" handles never raised a question
I guess in a way, we here in the states have been getting "fingerprinted" for some time. With social security numbers, school records, driver's licenses, bank accounts, credit cards and all the other record keeping that is done throughout our lives, our identities are well know to many. Sometimes, wether we want them to or not. With the internet presence we all share on this BB, casual visitors get our business information as well. Our "ELECTRONIC FINGERPRINT", akin to Orwells "Big Brother", is well intrenched in our society and has been for most of our lives. I recently had my online "identity" stolen on my email account by someone, and after three days of hassles, got it restored. The ease of stealing it grows more every day. (Doug pointed that out on his "Ebay account" post as well.)
Sadly, the US borders were not as secure as we had hoped just prior to Spetember 11th 2001, and the terrorists who launched the attack by hijacking planes in Boston, MA entered the country from Canada. Not too far from where I live. Since then, we have had to re-evaluate many of our security issues.
If people travelling here from other countries have a hard time accepting the recent turn in border security from a country who historically has had very open borders and welcomed travellers and immigrants, they should remember this... There were people from all over the world killed on 9/11/01 at the World Trade Center. If fingerprinting prevents that from happening again, those travellers who enter the country with good will will also be secure as our guests.
Imagine someone crossing the border, and the car behind had terrorists in it. That happened once...God forbid it should happen again. Rapid
[ November 08, 2003, 10:27 AM: Message edited by: Ray Rheaume ]
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
glad you had a good experience with the British Army, they are generally regarded as the best when it comes to peace keeping duties, witness their succeses in the Balkans and Iraq, its their exemplary professionalism and more than anything their sense of humour and compassion, but still they are the toughest and best military in the world.
![[Dunno]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic