After hours without sleep and threats against their lives and the lives of their loved ones, Powderly and the other Americans began to crack.which can be compared/contrasted with recent police action in st. paul (and of course guantanamo), but also the larger image and reality in china.
“That’s when I started to realize that I’m really good at being a douche-baggy art star, but I’m really bad at this secret agent business,” he said.
I had no idea they had the authority to sentence a citizen from another country, I mean, you didn't even have a trial I assume. No, no I didn't have a trial and I wasn't charged with a crime. There is no judicial process, they simply pick you up and put you in detention and you pretty much just have to do whatever the hell they want. It's really amazing what absolute power means. They feel like they have absolute power in the U.S., and it's true if you're an Arab being suspected of terrorism, this country has absolute power and you have no rights. But for us white folks it's a really absurd concept that you can be detained indefinitely without ever being charged with a crime.While the intentions might have been good, I am dumbfounded by the ignorance of both interviewer & subject. Apart from the whole Arab being suspected of terrorism daftness, I've got my brand spanking new US Passport here: page 6, Item #6 is:
AVOID VIOLATING FOREIGN LAWS. Remember, while in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws...And there was similar, if not identical, entry in my old passport.
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That particular export is generally shipped along with bombloads of encouragement. What the hell was this guy thinking? What did he think would happen?
I started to realize that I’m really good at being a douche-baggy art star,
Except the "gy art star" part.
posted by three blind mice at 7:22 AM on September 3, 2008 [12 favorites]